Webequie Supply Road Project Description

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Webequie Supply Road Project Description Webequie Supply Road PROJECT DESCRIPTION Webequie First Nation The Picture is a Placeholder Only July 2019 661910 Webequie Supply Road Project Description Table of Contents 1 General Information and Contacts .......................................................................... 1 1.1 Nature of Designated Project and Proposed Location ............................................................. 1 1.2 Proponent Contact Information ................................................................................................. 1 1.3 List of Parties Consulted During Preparation of the Project Description .................................. 2 1.4 Information Regarding Whether the Designated Project is Subject to Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Requirements of Another Jurisdiction ............................................... 5 1.5 Information Regarding Whether the Designated Project is Taking Place in a Region that has Been the Subject of an Environmental Study ........................................................................... 5 2 Project Information .................................................................................................. 7 2.1 General Description of the Project ............................................................................................ 7 2.2 Relevant Provisions in Regulations Designating Physical Activities Subject to CEAA .......... 10 2.3 Components and Activities of the Designated Project ........................................................... 10 2.4 Emissions, Discharges and Waste ......................................................................................... 13 2.5 Construction, Operation, Decommissioning and Abandonment Phases and Scheduling ..... 15 3 Project Location .................................................................................................... 17 3.1 Description of the Designated Project’s Location ................................................................... 17 3.2 Project Alternatives ................................................................................................................. 19 3.2.1 Construction Camps .................................................................................................. 19 3.2.2 Aggregate Source Locations and Access Roads ...................................................... 19 3.3 Land and Water Use ............................................................................................................... 22 4 Federal Involvement – Financial Support, Lands and Legislative Requirements .. 26 4.1 Proposed or Anticipated Federal Financial Support ............................................................... 26 4.2 Federal Lands ......................................................................................................................... 26 4.3 Federal Permits, Licences, or Other Authorizations ............................................................... 26 4.4 Provincial Permits, Licenses, or Other Authorizations ........................................................... 27 5 Environmental Effects ........................................................................................... 30 5.1 Physical and Biological Setting ............................................................................................... 30 5.1.1 Vegetation and Surficial Geology .............................................................................. 30 5.1.2 Hydrology ................................................................................................................... 30 661910 July 2019 . i Webequie Supply Road Project Description 5.1.3 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 30 5.1.4 Fisheries .................................................................................................................... 31 5.1.5 Climate ....................................................................................................................... 33 5.1.6 Anthropogenic Uses .................................................................................................. 33 5.2 Changes to Fish and Fish Habitat, Aquatic Plants and Migratory Birds, as defined by the Respective Federal Legislation .............................................................................................. 33 5.2.1 Fish and Fish Habitat as Defined in the Fisheries Act ............................................... 33 5.2.2 Migratory Birds, as Defined in the Migratory Birds Convention Act........................... 33 5.2.3 Species at Risk as defined in the Species at Risk Act .............................................. 34 5.3 Environmental Changes That May Occur on Federal Lands, in Other Provinces, or Outside of Canada ............................................................................................................................... 40 5.4 Effects on Aboriginal Peoples from Changes to the Environment as a Result of Carrying Out Designated Project ................................................................................................................. 46 6 Proponent Engagement and Consultation with Aboriginal Groups ....................... 50 6.1 Past Consultation on Related Projects ................................................................................... 50 6.1.1 Matawa Winter Road Re-Alignment Study ................................................................ 53 6.1.2 Noront Eagle’s Nest Mine EIS/EAR ........................................................................... 54 6.1.3 Consultation on the All-Season Community Road Studies ....................................... 55 6.2 Engagement and Consultation with Indigenous Groups on the Proposed Project ................ 59 6.2.1 Indigenous Communities to be Consulted ................................................................. 59 6.2.2 The Webequie Three-Tier Approach to Consultation ................................................ 62 6.2.3 Planned Methods of Engagement with Indigenous Groups ...................................... 64 6.2.4 Indigenous Traditional Knowledge ............................................................................ 66 6.2.5 Consultation Activities and Events Conducted to Date ............................................. 67 6.2.6 Key Comments and Concerns Expressed by Indigenous Groups/Community Members to Date ....................................................................................................... 73 7 Consultation with the Public and Other Stakeholders ........................................... 77 7.1 Public and Other Stakeholder Groups to be Consulted ......................................................... 77 7.1.1 Planned Public and Stakeholder Consultation Activities ........................................... 77 7.1.2 Consultation Activities for Public and Other Stakeholders to Date ............................ 79 7.1.3 Comments and Concerns Expressed to Date by the Public and Other Stakeholders ................................................................................................................................... 79 7.2 Consultation with Government Agencies ............................................................................... 80 7.2.1 Government Review Team ........................................................................................ 80 661910 July 2019 . ii Webequie Supply Road Project Description 7.2.2 Environmental Assessment (EA) Coordination Team ............................................... 81 7.2.3 Comments to Date ..................................................................................................... 81 Figures Figure 1: Example of Minor Watercourse Crossing Structure (Culvert)........................................................ 7 Figure 2: Example of Single-span Major Watercourse Crossing Structure .................................................. 8 Figure 3: Example of Multi-span Major Watercourse Crossing Structure ..................................................... 8 Figure 4: Webequie Supply Road Project Location .................................................................................... 18 Figure 5: Project Area Features and Supply Road Alignment Alternatives ................................................ 21 Figure 6: Watersheds and Subwatersheds ................................................................................................. 32 Figure 7: Webequie First Nation Three-Tier Approach to Consultation ...................................................... 62 Tables Table 1.1: Proponent Contact Information .................................................................................................... 2 Table 2.1: Webequie Supply Road Project Components ........................................................................... 11 Table 2.2: Initial Estimate of Greenhouse Gas Emissions .......................................................................... 15 Table 2.3: High-Level Project Phasing Schedule ....................................................................................... 16 Table 4.1: Federal Permits, Licences and Other Authorizations ................................................................ 26 Table 4.2: Provincial Permits, Licences and Other Authorizations ............................................................. 27 Table 5.1: Species at Risk, Habitat Characteristics and Preliminary
Recommended publications
  • KWG Resources Inc. Risk Rating: Speculative
    July 10, 2013 Equity Research Initiating Coverage KWG:TSX-V $0.055 (07/09/14) Recommendation: Speculative BUY Target Price: $0.20 KWG Resources Inc. Risk Rating: Speculative A New Technology for a New Chromite District: KWG Stock Chart The New King of the Ring? Highlights: We are initiating our coverage on KWG Resources with a $0.20 target price and Speculative BUY rating. KWG is an exploration company with interests in the highly-prospective Black Horse and Big Daddy chromite deposits in the McFaulds Lake area of the Ring of Fire ("ROF") district in northwestern Ontario. More importantly, KWG recently secured control of two provisional U.S. patent applications and underlying intellectual property for the production of chromium- iron alloys directly from chromite ores and concentrates (“the Chromium IP”), which we believe represents a potential breakthrough technology that could be the key to unlocking the ROF. The Chromium IP process uses natural gas as its energy source which compares favourably to existing ferrochrome technology that is more energy-intensive as it uses electricity as its energy source and operates at higher temperatures. We believe that KWG’s most important initiative should be advancing the commercialization of this new Chromium IP process. We believe that KWG should bring in an existing ferrochrome or integrated steel producer with a strong balance sheet as a strategic partner to more quickly advance the commercialization process. Secondly, the Company needs to rationalize its option to acquire an 80% interest in the Black Horse chromite deposit into a clear path to owning 100% in order to negotiate with potential strategic partners.
    [Show full text]
  • 5 Description of and Rationale for Alternatives
    Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference 5 Description of and Rationale for Alternatives This section of the ToR provides a description of how and why project alternatives were developed, and a comparative screening of the alternative corridors considered to arrive at the corridor within which alignment options (alternative methods for implementing the Undertaking) will be considered to select the preferred option for assessment in the EA study and for more detailed engineering investigations and design development. 5.1 Range of Alternatives Considered The Ontario EA process requires that two types of project alternatives be considered: “alternatives to” the Undertaking (i.e., functionally different ways of addressing an identified problem or opportunity to arrive at the preferred planning solution) and “alternative methods” of carrying out the Undertaking (options for implementing the preferred planning solution). 5.1.1 Alternatives to the Undertaking The range of “alternatives to” the Project (i.e., functionally different ways of approaching the opportunities identified by Webequie First Nation to improve the community’s economic and social well-being) was limited by the primary objectives of the Project, as determined by Webequie First Nation: › Establish an all-season corridor that will facilitate the movement of materials, supplies and people between the Webequie Airport and the mineral exploration and proposed mine development activities in the McFaulds Lake area of Northwestern Ontario (specifically, the camps, the drilling/exploration projects and, in the future, mining facilities); › Provide enhanced employment and other economic development opportunities to Webequie community members, while also allowing them to continue to reside in or around their community’s traditional territory, engage in traditional uses of that land, and preserve their language and culture; and, › Provide experience/training opportunities for youth to help encourage pursuit of additional skills through post-secondary education.
    [Show full text]
  • Webequie Supply Road DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION
    Webequie Supply Road DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION Webequie First Nation The Picture is a Placeholder Only Prepared by: Prepared for: Submitted to: SNC-Lavalin Inc. Webequie First Nation Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 195 The West Mall Toronto, Ontario, M9C 5K1 www.snclavalin.com November 2019 661910 Webequie Supply Road Detailed Project Description PREFACE This Detailed Project Description for the Webequie Supply Road Project (“the Project”) has been prepared in accordance with subsection 15(1) of the Impact Assessment Act (“IAA”) and Schedule 2 of the Act’s Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations (“the Regulations”) of the Impact Assessment Act - Information Required in Detailed Description of Designated Project. In addition, the Detailed Project Description reflects the Webequie Supply Road Project Team’s recognition of issues identified in the Summary of Issues prepared by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) as a result of the Agency’s invitation to Indigenous groups, federal and provincial authorities, the public and other participants to provide their perspective on any issues that they consider relevant in relation to the Project. Information provided by the Agency (posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry) for this purpose included the Initial Project Description. The document that was accepted by the Agency to serve as the Initial Project Description was prepared to comply with the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 and was initially released for public review under the CEAA, 2012 process in July 2019, during the period when the Government of Canada was preparing to bring into force and transition to the new Impact Assessment Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Profiles for the Oneca Education And
    FIRST NATION COMMUNITY PROFILES 2010 Political/Territorial Facts About This Community Phone Number First Nation and Address Nation and Region Organization or and Fax Number Affiliation (if any) • Census data from 2006 states Aamjiwnaang First that there are 706 residents. Nation • This is a Chippewa (Ojibwe) community located on the (Sarnia) (519) 336‐8410 Anishinabek Nation shores of the St. Clair River near SFNS Sarnia, Ontario. 978 Tashmoo Avenue (Fax) 336‐0382 • There are 253 private dwellings in this community. SARNIA, Ontario (Southwest Region) • The land base is 12.57 square kilometres. N7T 7H5 • Census data from 2006 states that there are 506 residents. Alderville First Nation • This community is located in South‐Central Ontario. It is 11696 Second Line (905) 352‐2011 Anishinabek Nation intersected by County Road 45, and is located on the south side P.O. Box 46 (Fax) 352‐3242 Ogemawahj of Rice Lake and is 30km north of Cobourg. ROSENEATH, Ontario (Southeast Region) • There are 237 private dwellings in this community. K0K 2X0 • The land base is 12.52 square kilometres. COPYRIGHT OF THE ONECA EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM 1 FIRST NATION COMMUNITY PROFILES 2010 • Census data from 2006 states that there are 406 residents. • This Algonquin community Algonquins of called Pikwàkanagàn is situated Pikwakanagan First on the beautiful shores of the Nation (613) 625‐2800 Bonnechere River and Golden Anishinabek Nation Lake. It is located off of Highway P.O. Box 100 (Fax) 625‐1149 N/A 60 and is 1 1/2 hours west of Ottawa and 1 1/2 hours south of GOLDEN LAKE, Ontario Algonquin Park.
    [Show full text]
  • 6 Existing Environmental Conditions in the Study Area 6.1 Study Area
    Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment Draft Terms of Reference 6 Existing Environmental Conditions in the Study Area 6.1 Study Area The Project is located in Northwestern Ontario, with the northern end of the road approximately 525 km northeast of Thunder Bay (refer to Figure 1.1). The Project is located on provincial Crown land, Webequie First Nation Reserve land under federal jurisdiction), and the traditional territories of Indigenous communities (refer also to Section 6.4.6 Land and Resource Use). Figure 6.1 illustrates the location of the alternative routes in relation to project area features and sensitivities. Due to confidentiality constraints (including those imposed by Webequie First Nation and Government of Ontario ministries), and the need to respect the wishes of potentially affected Indigenous communities with respect to divulging certain information on the use of lands in the project area, it is not possible to illustrate the location or bounds of a number of features and sensitivities, including First Nations’ traditional territories, individual camps/cabins, species at risk (e.g., caribou ranges), and government-regulated hunting areas (e.g., trapline licences). However, sensitive features and resources are described in general terms in this section of the ToR. The EA will summarize past investigations and analyses of alternative road alignments between Webequie and the mineral deposit area near McFaulds Lake, and will assess the potential impacts of alternative alignments in the preferred corridor for the Webequie Supply Road. The significance of an environmental impact partially depends on the geographic extent. As such, the impact assessment will be conducted on the basis of specific study areas related to the project development, adopting a multi-scale approach for describing baseline conditions (existing environment) and predicting effects from the Project.
    [Show full text]
  • An Assessment of the Groundwater Resources of Northern Ontario
    Hydrogeology of Ontario Series (Report 2) AN ASSESSMENT OF THE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES OF NORTHERN ONTARIO AREAS DRAINING INTO HUDSON BAY, JAMES BAY AND UPPER OTTAWA RIVER BY S. N. SINGER AND C. K. CHENG ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING BRANCH MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT TORONTO ONTARIO 2002 KK PREFACE This report provides a regional assessment of the groundwater resources of areas draining into Hudson Bay, James Bay, and the Upper Ottawa River in northern Ontario in terms of the geologic conditions under which the groundwater flow systems operate. A hydrologic budget approach was used to assess precipitation, streamflow, baseflow, and potential and actual evapotranspiration in seven major basins in the study area on a monthly, annual and long-term basis. The report is intended to provide basic information that can be used for the wise management of the groundwater resources in the study area. Toronto, July 2002. DISCLAIMER The Ontario Ministry of the Environment does not make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the ministry. KKK TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 2. INTRODUCTION 7 2.1 LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA 7 2.2 IMPORTANCE OF SCALE IN HYDROGEOLOGIC STUDIES 7 2.3 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY 8 2.4 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES 8 2.5 PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS 9 2.6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 13 3.
    [Show full text]
  • NORONT RESOURCES LTD. ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM For
    NORONT RESOURCES LTD. ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 April 10, 2017 1 2016 Annual Information Form for Noront Resources Limited – April 10, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION .......................................................................................................... 3 NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS ....................................................................................................... 4 OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ........................................................................................................... 4 CORPORATE STRUCTURE ............................................................................................................................... 5 INCORPORATION AND REGISTERED OFFICE ............................................................................................................................ 5 INTERCORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS ........................................................................................................................................ 5 DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS ............................................................................................................... 5 STRATEGY .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 THREE YEAR HISTORY ..........................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • FRESHWATER FISH in ONTARIO's BOREAL: STATUS, CONSERVATION and POTENTIAL IMPACTS of Development David R
    WCS CANADA CONSERVATION REPORT NO. 2 | AUGUST 2007 FRESHWATER FISH IN ONTARIO'S BOREAL: STATUS, CONSERVATION AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF dEVELOPMENT David R. Browne WCS CANADA CONSERVATION REPORT #2 AUGUST 2007 FRESHWATER FISH IN ONTARIO'S BOREAL: STATUS, CONSERVATION AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT David R. Browne WCS Canada Conservation Reports: ISSN 1719-8941 Conservation Report (Print) ISSN 1719-8968 Conservation Report (Online) ISBN 978-0-9784461-1-6 Conservation Report (Print) ISBN 978-0-9784461-2-3 Conservation Report (Online) Copies of WCSC Conservation Reports are available at: www.wcscanada.org/publications Suggested citation: Browne, D.R. 2007. Freshwater fish in Ontario's bore- al: Status, conservation and potential impacts of development. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Conservation Report No. 2. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Cover photographs: Fish from top: northern pike – Engbretson Underwater Photography; stur- geon – Rob Criswell; brook trout – Mary Edwards; lake whitefish – © Shedd Aquarium, photo by Edward G. Lines; walleye – Engbretson Underwater Photography. Front cover landscape: Justina Ray; back cover: Carrie Sadowski, OMNR Copyright: The contents of this paper are the sole property of the authors and cannot be reproduced without permission of the authors. About Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada) WCS Canada's mission is to save wildlife and wildlands by improving our understanding of — and seeking solutions to — critical issues that threaten key species and large wild ecosystems throughout Canada. It both implements and supports comprehensive field studies that gather information on wildlife needs and seeks to resolve key conservation problems by working with a broad array of stakeholders, including local community members, conservation groups, reg- ulatory agencies, and commercial interests.
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Polar Bear Provincial Park to the Southern Hudson Bay Polar Bear Population in the Context of Future Climate Change
    The Importance of Polar Bear Provincial Park to the Southern Hudson Bay Polar Bear Population in the Context of Future Climate Change Martyn E. Obbard and Lyle R. Walton Wildlife Research and Development Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Abstract Ontario’s Polar Bear Provincial Park (PBPP) was established in 1970 as a ‘primitive park’. The park protects two critical habitat elements for Southern Hudson Bay (SHB) polar bears (Ursus mari- timus): coastal summer retreat habitat used by all classes of bears and inland maternity denning habitat used by pregnant females. Late-summer aerial surveys indicate that the park provides pro- tection to 70% of the SHB population occupying summer retreat habitat; 23% of the population occupies the Ontario coast outside the park; and 7% occupies islands in James Bay. Winter aerial sur- veys indicate that 91% of dens were found in Ontario (36% within the park, and 55% outside), and 9% of dens were found on islands in James Bay. Preliminary data from satellite-collared bears and summer aerial surveys indicated bears selected treed areas, river banks, gravel ridges, and palsas to construct maternity dens. Gravel ridges were selected closer to James Bay where permafrost features were less common, whereas palsas were selected more often west of the Winisk River. If current trends continue, permafrost features such as palsas may disappear and polar bears will be forced to construct maternity dens in river banks and gravel ridges. These are more common inside the park suggesting that the park may be even more important to the SHB population as a maternity denning area in the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Spider Resources Inc. and Kwg Resources Inc
    SPIDER RESOURCES INC. AND KWG RESOURCES INC. TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE FOR THE BIG DADDY CHROMITE DEPOSIT McFAULDS LAKE AREA, JAMES BAY LOWLANDS, NORTHERN ONTARIO, CANADA. NTS 43D16S½ 86° 14' 11" W 52° 45' 32" N Effective Date: March 30, 2010 Signing Date: June 4, 2010 Richard Gowans, P. Eng. Jane Spooner, M.Sc., P. Geo. Ing. Alan J. San Martin, MAusIMM Charley Murahwi, M.Sc., P. Geo., MAusIMM SUITE 900 - 390 BAY STREET, TORONTO ONTARIO, CANADA M5H 2Y2 Telephone (1) (416) 362-5135 Fax (1) (416) 362 5763 Table of Contents Page 1.0 SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................1 1.1 TERMS OF REFERENCE, PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND OWNERSHIP ..............................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Terms of Reference..............................................................................................1 1.1.2 Property Description............................................................................................1 1.1.3 Property................................................................................................................1 1.1.4 Underlying Agreements and Ownership..............................................................1 1.2 LOCATION AND TENURE.......................................................................................2 1.2.1 Location and tenure..............................................................................................2
    [Show full text]
  • 6 Existing Environmental Conditions
    Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference 6 Existing Environmental Conditions This section describes the existing environmental conditions in the project area (refer to Figure 1.1) and the proposed approach to data collection to develop a fulsome understanding of the existing (or baseline) natural, socio-economic and cultural conditions for the Project. The EA will adopt a multi-scale approach for describing existing environmental conditions and predicting effects from the Project. As such, study areas will be used to define the geographic extent within which to capture the potential direct and indirect effects of the Project. The preliminary study area definitions for the purposes of the EA are provided in Section 8.1. 6.1 General Environmental Setting The Project is located in Northwestern Ontario, with the northern end of the road approximately 525 km northeast of Thunder Bay (refer to Figure 1.1). The Project is located on provincial Crown land, Webequie First Nation Reserve land under federal jurisdiction, and the traditional territories of Indigenous communities (refer also to Section 6.4.6 Land and Resource Use). Figure 6.1 illustrates the location of the alternative routes in relation to project area features and sensitivities. Due to confidentiality constraints (including those imposed by Webequie First Nation and Government of Ontario ministries), and the need to respect the wishes of potentially affected Indigenous communities with respect to divulging certain information on the use of lands in the project area, it is not possible to illustrate the location or bounds of a number of features and sensitivities, including First Nations’ traditional territories, individual camps/cabins, species at risk observations and government-regulated hunting areas (e.g., trapline licences).
    [Show full text]
  • TERMS of REFERENCE Webequie First Nation
    Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment TERMS OF REFERENCE Webequie First Nation Prepared by: Prepared for: Submitted to: SNC-Lavalin Inc. Webequie First Nation Ministry of the Environment, 195 The West Mall Conservation and Parks Toronto, Ontario, M9C 5K1 www.snclavalin.com August 2020 661910 WSR240-SNC-PR-RT-0002 SNC-Submission ToR for Review-2020-08-12 Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................... vii 1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Proponent ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Proponent Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Project Background and Context ................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Purpose and Rationale for the Undertaking and Study ................................................................. 6 1.4.1 Purpose of the Undertaking ................................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 Rationale for the Undertaking ................................................................................................ 7 1.5 Outline of Terms of Reference (ToR) ...........................................................................................
    [Show full text]