Mineral Exploration Guidelines for Saskatchewan
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Mineral Exploration Guidelines For Saskatchewan 2010 2010 1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………page 3 2. Ministry of Environment Contact List…………………………………page 4 3. Mineral Exploration Application………………………………………page 7 4. Best Management Practices Staking BMP-001……..page 11 Grass Roots Exploration BMP-002……..page 14 Clearing Operations BMP-003……. page 17 Temporary Work Camps BMP-004……. page 24 Fuel & Hazardous Materials Storage BMP-005……. page 30 Fire Prevention & Control BMP-006……. page 35 Access BMP-007……. page 39 Water Crossings BMP-008……. page 42 Trenching & Hydraulic Stripping BMP-009……. page 48 Drilling BMP-010……. page 51 Drilling on Ice BMP-011……. page 54 Core Storage BMP-012……. page 62 Restoration BMP-013……. page 64 Community Engagement BMP-014……. page 68 Mineral Exploration in Southern Saskatchewan BMP-015……. page 78 Appendix “A” Private Land Checklist……………………………. page 91 Appendix “B” Requirements for Seismic Exploration...…….…… page 95 6. Closure Report………………………………………………………….page 99 7. Acts, Regulations, Guidelines and Permit Forms……………………...page 100 8. Other Regulatory Requirements……………………………………….page 102 9. Appendix “C” Fire Plan………………………………………………...page 104 10. Appendix “D” Fur Blocks……………………………………………...page 105 2010 2 Introduction The Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration and Government Advisory Committee (SMEGAC) has developed the Mineral Exploration Guideline’s to assist government and industry in the application and approval process for activities on land administered by the Ministry of Environment. This guide provides information to assist in the planning; initiation and completion of a mineral exploration program in a fashion that will help minimize environmental impacts and meet relevant legislative requirements. SMEGAC consists of representatives from The Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Energy and Resources, Ministry of First Nations and Metis Relations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and various mineral exploration companies active in the province. This guideline was circulated and reviewed by various provincial and federal government agencies and the mineral exploration industry during the course of its development. The Mineral Exploration Guideline is a living document and will be revised to reflect improvements and changes to new field procedures or legislation requirements. SMEGAC will be the lead in gathering and evaluating revisions to this document. We encourage stakeholders to provide suggestions for improving these guidelines. Comments and suggestions may be addressed to any SMEGAC representative or to: The Ministry of Environment ATTN: SMEGAC Representative #1-101 Railway Place Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan S9X 1X6 Phone (306) 236-7553 Fax (306) 236-7677 2010 3 Ministry of Environment Contacts LA RONGE Box 5000 La Ronge, SK S0J 1L0 Fax: 306/425-4673 Phone: 306/425-6626 MEADOW LAKE Unit 1 101 Railway Place Meadow Lake SK S9X 1X6 Fax: 306/236-7677 Phone: 306/236-7553 MELVILLE 256-2nd Avenue West Melville SK S0A 2P0 Fax: 306/728-7447 Phone: 306/728-7494 PRINCE ALBERT Box 3003, 800 Central Avenue Prince Albert, SK S6V 6G1 Fax 306/953-2502 Phone: 306/953-2400 SASKATOON 112 Research Drive Saskatoon SK S7K 2H6 Fax: 306/933-8442 Phone: 306/933-6532 SWIFT CURRENT Box 5000 350 Cheadle Street West Swift Current SK S9H 4G3 Fax: 306/778-8212 Phone: 306/778-8260 2010 4 2010 5 Other Important Contacts BizPal -information on obtaining and the requirements for business permits and licenses in the province of Saskatchewan www.bizpal.gov.sk.ca Fire Hot Line 1-800-667-9660 -contact for reporting a wildfire. -website for fire indices can be found at: www.gov.sk.ca/fire/FireDangerMaps -website for fire weather at: www.gov.sk.ca/fire/weather. asp Regional Health Authority -information on services and procedures while operating in remote locations: www.health.gov.sk.ca Spill Report Line 1-800-667-7525 -contact for reportable spills under The Environmental Spill Control Regulations. TIP (Turn in a Poacher) 1-800-667-7561 -contact for reporting hunting, fishing, and other environment related violations. 2010 6 Application Guidelines In order to conduct mineral exploration activities on Crown Land within Saskatchewan, surface disturbance permits are required from the Ministry of Environment before any work can be started. The permits vary depending on the program may include, but are not limited to: Forest Product, an Aquatic Habitat Protection, Work Authorization or a Temporary Work Camp Permits. In order to obtain the appropriate permits an application must be submitted to a Ministry of Environment’s Ecological Protection Specialist. Listed below are general guidelines for the information that should be included on the application. For more detail regarding the content of each section the proponent should refer to the applicable Best Management Practice (BMP) found in the Mineral Exploration Guidelines for Saskatchewan at http://www.er.gov.sk.ca/adx/aspx/adxGetMedia.aspx?DocID=4718,3457,3451,3385,5460 ,2936,Documents&MediaID=20015&Filename=Mineral+Exploration+Guidelines+2007. pdf The Ecological Protection Specialists administration boundaries and contact phone numbers are outlined on the map located in those guidelines. Please keep in mind that the application may be sent to outside agencies. If there is information included in this application that is proprietary, please ensure that you advise the Ecological Protection Specialist and that you submit a separate proposal that can be sent to outside agencies. Required Application Information Any application submitted need only address those information elements in the program application outline, which are pertinent to the actual mineral exploration program. Contact Information • List the applicants name and full mailing address. If the applicant is a corporation please include a recent copy of the Corporate Profile Report to show that the corporation is registered in Saskatchewan. This report can be obtained by contacting the Ministry of Justice’s Corporations Branch at 1-306-787-2962 or https://www.corporations.justice.gov.sk.ca/welcomessl.asp • Provide a list of all of the main contacts for this project. This should include any companies and contractors associated with this exploration program. • During an emergency (forest fire, etc.) the exploration field staff may have to be contacted, so please ensure that there is field staff contact information is included in this section. • If the company has an emergency response plan, please provide a copy with the application. 2010 7 Program Description • Give a brief description of the activity to occur. • Include the mineral (uranium or not uranium) commodity being explored. • Outline the duration of the operation, complete with start and stop dates. • Give UTM locations of all drill sites and camps. Maps • Include maps that show drill pads, camp, stream crossings and existing and new access locations. • Electronic applications complete with maps are preferred. • 1:50,000(for details) and 1:250,000(for overview) NTS maps should be used. • Indicate on a map or maps, what existing trails/roads will be used as well as any trails/roads that will be improved or proposed new trails/roads. Clearing Operations – BMP-003 • Outline any clearing which may be required including: new roads, camp sites, sumps, drill pads, etc., or widening of existing trails. • Indicate what will be done with any merchantable timber that may be harvested. Temporary Work Camps – BMP-004 • Must indicate where the staff will be staying, private accommodations or a camp on Crown Land. • If a camp will be established on Crown Land a Temporary Work Camp Permit will be required. Fuel and Hazardous Materials Storage – BMP-005 • Describe how all fuels, oils and lubricants will be stored and the amounts on site • All fuels, oils and lubricants must be stored in secondary containment, capable of holding 110% of product volume, at all times. Fire Prevention – BMP-006 • If the exploration activities will occur from April 1 to October 31, fire prevention measures must be outlined in the proposal. • A list of all fire fighting equipment and its location must be provided on the form found in BMP-006. • A list of required fire fighting equipment is also listed in BMP-006 Access – BMP-007 • Outline how the camps and drill sites will be accessed • Indicate how many kilometers of existing trail will be used and how many km of new trail will be constructed. Water Crossing – BMP-008 • Must indicate on a map all of the water crossings. • Must outline how each crossing will be established and reclaimed. 2010 8 Trenching and Hydraulic Stripping – BMP-009 • Any trenching or sites for stripping must be identified. • Trenches should be sketched to show as close as possible the locations of each and the dimension. Drilling on Land and Ice– BMP-010 and BMP-011 • All drill hole locations must be indicated on a map, preferably a 1:250,000 or 1:50,000 NTS topographic map. • Size of each drill pad and total number of pads must be outlined in the proposal. • If water is to be withdrawn from a water body and used for drilling, a water licence will have to be obtained from the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. Refer to the back of the Mineral Exploration Guidelines for Saskatchewan for contact information. Drill Mud Management • How do you propose to deal with your drill muds? • If sumps are required for the project where will they be located and how will they be constructed/fenced? Restoration/Reclamation – BMP-013 • Outline how all newly disturbed locations (roads, trails, drill pads, sumps and camp sites) will be restored. First Nation and Metis Community Engagement – BMP-014 • List any contact that may have been made with the First Nation or Metis communities that may be impact by this application. • Provide dates and a list of individuals that were contacted and any concerns expressed by the First Nations or Metis persons. Stakeholder Contacts • Once the application is complete, a list of impacted stakeholders and their addresses will be provided to the proponent. The applicant should identify within their application how they will contact stakeholder.