Terms of Reference Gahcho Kué Environmental Impact Statement
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Terms of Reference for the Gahcho Kué Environmental Impact Statement Oct. 5, 2007 Table of Contents 1 Introduction............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Regulatory History ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Approach ..................................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Definitions ................................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Legal Requirements..................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Document Overview .................................................................................................................... 4 2 Scope........................................................................................................ 5 2.1 Scope of Development ................................................................................................................. 5 2.2 Scope of Review........................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 MVRMA Scoping Requirements.............................................................................................. 6 2.2.2 Report of Environmental Assessment Scoping Requirements.................................................. 7 3 General Information Requirements..................................................... 8 3.1 Development and Environment Description................................................................................ 8 3.1.1 Developer.................................................................................................................................. 8 3.1.2 Development Description .........................................................................................................8 3.1.3 Existing Environment ............................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Assessment Methods and Presentation...................................................................................... 14 3.2.1 Impact Predictions .................................................................................................................. 14 3.2.2 Significance Determination..................................................................................................... 15 3.2.3 Uncertainty Analysis............................................................................................................... 16 3.2.4 Valued Components................................................................................................................ 16 3.2.5 Traditional Knowledge ...........................................................................................................17 3.2.6 Alternatives............................................................................................................................. 18 3.2.7 Follow-Up Programs............................................................................................................... 19 3.2.8 Presentation and Cross Referencing........................................................................................ 20 4 Key Lines of Inquiry............................................................................ 22 4.1 Introduction to Key Lines of Inquiry ......................................................................................... 22 4.1.1 Caribou.................................................................................................................................... 22 4.1.2 Water Quality and Fish in Kennady Lake............................................................................... 25 4.1.3 Downstream Water Effects ..................................................................................................... 27 4.1.4 Long Term Biophysical Effects, Closure and Reclamation .................................................... 28 4.1.5 Family and Community Cohesion .......................................................................................... 30 4.1.6 Social Disparity Within and Between Communities............................................................... 32 4.1.7 Long Term Social, Cultural and Economic Effects ................................................................ 33 5 Subjects of Note.................................................................................... 35 5.1 Introduction to Subjects of Note................................................................................................35 5.2 Biophysical Subjects of Note ..................................................................................................... 35 5.2.1 Impacts on Great Slave Lake .................................................................................................. 35 5.2.2 Air Quality .............................................................................................................................. 36 Terms of Reference for the ii Gahcho Kué Environmental Impact Statement 5.2.3 Carnivore Mortality................................................................................................................. 36 5.2.4 Species at Risk and Birds........................................................................................................ 37 5.2.5 Permafrost, Groundwater, and Hydrogeology ........................................................................ 38 5.2.6 Waste Rock and Processed Kimberlite Storage ...................................................................... 38 5.2.7 Climate Change Impacts ......................................................................................................... 39 5.2.8 Alternative Energy Sources..................................................................................................... 40 5.2.9 Other Ungulates ...................................................................................................................... 40 5.2.10 Waste Management and Wildlife............................................................................................ 41 5.2.11 Traffic and Road Issues........................................................................................................... 41 5.2.12 Vegetation............................................................................................................................... 42 5.3 Socio-Economic Subjects of Note.............................................................................................. 42 5.3.1 Employment, Training and Economic Development .............................................................. 42 5.3.2 Impacts on Tourism Potential and Wilderness Character ....................................................... 43 5.3.3 Demand on Infrastructure ....................................................................................................... 44 5.3.4 Culture, Heritage and Archaeology......................................................................................... 45 5.3.5 Aboriginal Rights and Community Engagement .................................................................... 46 5.3.6 Proposed National Park........................................................................................................... 46 6 Sustainability and Cumulative Effects Analysis............................... 47 6.1.1 Integrated Project-Specific Analysis and Sustainability ......................................................... 47 6.1.2 Cumulative Effects Assessment.............................................................................................. 47 7 Remaining Issues.................................................................................. 49 8 Deliverables .......................................................................................... 56 Terms of Reference for the iii Gahcho Kué Environmental Impact Statement 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose The Gahcho Kue Environmental Impact Review Panel (the Panel) is conducting an environmental impact review of the proposed De Beers Gahcho Kue diamond mine. The Panel was established by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. The Panel is responsible for assessing the potential impacts of the proposed development, and is an independent body. This is the first time that a proposed diamond mine is being assessed by an environmental impact review established under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA). The Panel has released this Terms of Reference document to provide instructions to DeBeers Canada Inc. (the developer) for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the environmental impact review of the proposed Gahcho Kué diamond mine. The document sets the scope of the development under review, as well as that of the review itself. It provides the developer with instructions on the assessment methods to be used, the type of information that is required, and the presentation of this information. The developer is required to produce an EIS based on the reasonable interpretation of these instructions. If necessary the Panel and the parties