Côté Gold Project Baseline Studies Fact Sheet Booklet

Baseline Studies Overview

IAMGOLD Corporation () is planning to develop the Côté Gold Project (the Project) located approximately 20 kilometres (km) southwest of , 130 km southwest of , and 200 km northwest of Sudbury.

This booklet provides information on the baseline studies being carried out for the Project.

What is a baseline study? A baseline study is prepared by a project proponent (or their hired consultants) to describe the current physical, biological and human environment conditions at a project site and surrounding area prior to the development of a project. The Côté Gold Project study area, defined separately for each discipline, generally includes the Project site and the immediate surrounding area that may be affected by the Project (local study area), as well as additional selected areas as it applies to the Project (regional study area).

Why is it important for the Côté Gold Project? Baseline studies support the environmental assessment process. Understanding the current conditions, challenges and future plans of an area related to the Project provides a basis against which potential effects of the Project can be assessed. These assessments assist in decisions on the design and management of the Project to reduce those potential effects.

Physical Environment Biological Environment Human Environment

The physical environment baseline The biological environment The human environment baseline studies describe the physical baseline studies describe studies describe the socio- conditions and characteristics in the biological conditions and economic conditions in the defined the defined study area around characteristics in the defined study area around and within the and within the Project site. study area around and within Project site. The studies include These studies include air quality, the Project site, by describing describing land and resource use, noise, hydrology (lakes, rivers, the soils, vegetation, wildlife Aboriginal traditional knowledge etc.) and climate, hydrogeology and aquatic biology of the area, and land use, archaeology visual (groundwater), geochemistry as well as estimating the area’s aesthetics and socio-economics. and geology and surface and biodiversity and describing groundwater quality. any nearby protected areas. 2 [email protected] Côté Gold Project

www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com Air Quality Air PHYSICAL BASELINES ENVIRONMENT What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? information How air quality is baseline study? anair quality is What • areas. similar obtained from the Ministry of the Environment and Environment for by the air monitoring station will be supplemented hand and compared to monitoring data first obtain to site Project the and operations toinformation activities. major construction data The prior collected at operated is station monitoring quality air An presence and quantity of particulate matter, metals and other compounds. and within aproject site priorto the development of aproject. The study assesses the Theair quality baseline study documents the air quality indefined a study area around Project site. The results of these measurements are not yet available. Air quality data has been obtained in the study area around and within the Meterological and Air Quality Quality Air and Meterological Monitoring Stations Monitoring [email protected] Côté Gold Project

3 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE Côté Gold Project Côté Gold Project

Noise Hydrology and Climate What is a noise baseline study? What is a hydrology and climate baseline study? Like the air quality baseline, this study describes noise levels in particular locations in Climate describes the weather conditions over a region, while hydrology is the study relation to a project site. There are three classes of acoustical (sound) environment of the Earth’s surface water, especially its movement in relation to the land. The baseline under the Ontario Ministry of the Environment Guidelines (NPC 205/232) – Class 1 Area study describes the current climate and water conditions in a defined study area around (major population centres), Class 2 Area (combination of the typical noise environment and including a project site that could potentially be affected by a project. This includes under Class 1 and 3 Areas), and Class 3 Area (rural areas and small communities). describing rainfall, temperature, where water flows, mapping of watersheds, lakes and rivers, storm events and drainage analyses and seasonal variation in climate and How is noise information gathered? surface water levels. Information generated by previous studies and publicly available information and data (internet, books, published articles, etc.) is reviewed to determine existing noise levels in How is hydrological and climate information gathered? the defined study area. Additional information can be obtained by means of instruments Available public information and data (from government agencies, public archives, such as calibrated sound level meters (SLMs) and ground-sensing data loggers. etc.) is reviewed. Additional information is obtained from the study area by means of meteorological stations and hydrological monitoring stations installed in lakes and rivers. What are the preliminary baseline study findings? • The background sound levels in the defined study area around and including the Project What are the preliminary baseline study findings? site are expected to be typical for rural environment noise levels (Class 3 Area). • The Project site and study area is characterized by long, cold winters and short, warm summers with an annual water surplus (i.e., no drought conditions). • The annual averages indicate total annual precipitation ranges from 800 millimetres (mm) to 900 mm, with about a third of it falling as snow. The annual average temperature in the region ranges from 1.3 degrees Celsius (°C) to 3.7°C; the coldest daily temperatures occur in January and the highest daily temperatures in July. Winds are primarily from the south or southwest during the summer months and from the north and northwest during the winter months. • The Project site is located in the Mollie River and the Neville Lake watersheds. • Surface water level and flow monitoring in the study area, as well as climate monitoring, is ongoing. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL

Ambient Noise Meteorological Station at Monitoring Equipment the Côté Gold Project

4 [email protected] www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com [email protected] 5 Côté Gold Project Côté Gold Project

Hydrogeology Geochemistry and Geology What is a hydrogeology baseline study? What is a geochemistry and geology baseline study? Hydrogeology refers to a part of geology that deals with the occurrence, distribution and Geochemistry is the study of the chemical make-up of the Earth, rocks and minerals, effect of water beneath the ground surface (groundwater). It is a study that describes while geology is the study of the Earth’s structure and composition, its history the current hydrogeological conditions in a defined study area around and including and processes. Geochemical and geological characterization studies describe the a project site that will most likely be affected by a project. This includes determining conditions of a defined study area around and within a project site. This includes the how fast water flows through soil and rock, soil characterization, groundwater level and mineral characterization of rocks, sediment and surface water, determination of potential direction of flow, groundwater pressure and quality. for acid rock drainage (ARD), metal leaching, and description of the area’s structural and superficial geology (information on ground stability, potential for landslides, How is hydrogeological information gathered? earthquakes, etc.). A preliminary review of available public information is conducted (from internet sources, published books and studies, etc.), including information provided by IAMGOLD. This How is geochemical and geological information gathered? provides a framework for the study and information gaps are identified. Experts then Geological information is gathered from government geological surveys as well as specific complete the study by gathering first-hand information in the field through various geological and related investigations of the study area, including aerial photographs and methodologies, including drilling holes and installing wells, to test how fast water flows satellite imagery. Geochemical data is obtained from chemical analysis of rock and soil through the rock. samples gathered in the defined study area, with extensive sampling carried out in the area proposed for mining. What are the preliminary baseline study findings? What are the preliminary baseline study findings? • The Project site area is relatively flat, with soil and till covering bedrock. Rainwater filters down through the soil and becomes groundwater, which in turn flows • Preliminary results suggest that the geological conditions in the study area towards local surface water bodies (e.g. lakes and rivers). The groundwater flow around and including the Project site are stable and typical for this part of the is generally in a north/northeast direction. Shield. • The flow of water through soil varies but generally follows the slope of the land. • Geochemical results suggest that the mine rock and tailings have a low risk of Groundwater dependent features, such as acid generation and metal leaching. wetlands and aquatic habitat, are present. Groundwater is not the main supply for water features in the study area. • The Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s Water Well Records indicate there are six water wells within 15 km of the Project site. These wells are outside the potential extent of effects.

Stacks of Cores PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL

Capped Groundwater Monitoring Well Marking Cores

6 [email protected] www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com [email protected] 7 8 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE [email protected] Côté Gold Project Surface Water andGroundwater Quality Surface What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? information waterand groundwater quality How surface is baseline study? waterand groundwater quality asurface is What • • • submitted laboratory tofor acertified testing to obtain water quality data. widely accepted sampling guidelines. the Once water samples are collected, they are and wells located within the study area. The sampling methods that are used follow waterSurface and groundwater samples are collected from the monitoring stations and the Ontario Drinking Water Standards. Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life, Provincial Water Quality Objectives Water Canadian the as such objectives, and standards water quality provincial and and seasonal changes in water quality. The water quality data is compared to federal trends annual review of a includes and baseline studies other of findings accountinto around and within aproject site prior to the development of aproject. This study takes areastudy defined groundwaterwatera and in surface ofquality current measure the These studies collect water samples for testing over aperiod of one to years, two to ongoing to determine if this is anatural condition. standards and objectives, including some metals and nutrients. Further study is and objectives. In some samples parameters were greater than water quality tested parameters fall below the federal and provincial water quality standards Preliminary water surface and groundwater quality results show that most of the alkalinity, major ions, nutrients, metals, and organics (oil and grease). Water quality parameters that have been analyzed include: pH, hardness, locations. 37 groundwater Water quality samples have been collected from 21 water surface locations and

the Côté Gold Project Water SamplingSurface at www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com Soils BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINES What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What How soil gathered? is information asoils is What baseline study? • • • reference. for Guidelines are compared to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Soil Quality for laboratory analysis (typical chemical parameters and metals) and the results evaluation of the area and pits are used to soils. classify Soil samples are obtained previous studies conducted in the area. The resulting maps are checked with avisual Most of the soil mapping is done through the use of publicly available information and and acharacterization and analysis of the metal content of the soil. within aproject site. Mapping of soil is complemented types by mapping of soil depth, A soils study aims to characterize the soil conditions in a defined study area around and Soil pHis primarily neutral, ranging from 6.8 to 7.3. than 2 mdepth to bedrock). the study area, though it is mainly composed of shallow silt-textured soils (less Soil depth varies on average from 0 metres (m) (exposed bedrock) to m in 22 (mainly peat), overlying silt and/or sand. Till has been occasionally detected. In general, the composition of soil in the study area consists of an organic layer [email protected] [email protected] Côté Gold Project

9 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE 10 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE [email protected] Vegetation Côté Gold Project What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? How information vegetation is baseline avegetation is study? What • • identification. identifyand collectplants tothe confirm accuracy of the mapped information and plant photographs and satellite imagery, and checked with avisit to the study area to Act Species Endangered of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, and Species at Risk in Ontario under the provincial relevant information sources, such as the SpeciesOther at Risk Act occurrences. species listed and habitat wildlife Interest, Scientific and Natural of Areas Wetlands, Significant Provincially of occurrence potential the describe and available information. This is used to determine if there are any biological concerns Ministry of Natural Resources and the Natural Heritage Information Centre, and publicly The existing plant information is gathered from databases maintained by the Ontario of habitat with the potential for supporting plant species at risk. mapping of the plant cover (habitat map), listing of plant types study areas(species) for aproposed transmission line to the Project site.and The study includesidentification area around and within aproject site and, in the case of the Côté GoldProject, additional study defined a in plants the of conditionsexisting the describes study baseline This Abitibi Ecoregion (3E-5), within which the Project is located. Ontario, the plant communities within the study areas are of typical the Lake northeastern for (FEC) system Classification EcosystemForest the on Based study area. the in Speciesunder the at were listings Riskobserved other Act or communities, listed species as endangered, threatened or of specialconcern A total of 105 plant species were identified in the study areas.No sensitive plant

, are also consulted. The study area is mapped using aerial Trees at the Côté Gold Project , Committee on the Status www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com Wildlife What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? How information wildlife is baseline awildlife study? is What • • • seasons. (mammals, class amphibians) and reptiles, birds, species to each appropriate during means of aerial and ground surveys using standard surveying methods appropriate out tocarried determine the historical wildlife use. Current information is obtained by reviewA existingof public records,databases studiesand the study specific area to is described. also areas, are Species at Risk Act (SARA), and others. Sensitive wildlife habitats, such as wintering by Species at Risk in Ontario under Act the provincial Species Endangered transmissionline to theProject site. Speciesat Risk are identified thoseas designated site and, in the case of the Côté Project, Gold additional study areas for a proposed relativeabundance and distribution in defineda study area around and within a project The wildlife baseline study describes the terrestrial animals, their habitat use, and wildlife corridor. wildlife Shiningtree Distribution Substation, which is likely opportunistically used as a the existing 115 kV transmission line from the City of corridor Timmins to the Animal activity in the transmission line study areas is greater, especially along species These surveys. include: field through confirmed was areas study the within The presence of four of the 18 wildlife species at risk with potential to occur (3E-5), within which the Project is located. Ecoregion Lake ofthe Abitibi Terrestrial typical are study area the animals within – – – – – – – – rusty blackbirdrusty (Special Concern, SARA). Canada warbler (Special Special Concern, ESA); Concern, SARA; and olive-sided flycatcher(Threatened, SpecialConcern, ESA);SARA; ESA); (SpecialConcern, eagle bald Black Aerial During Bear Survey

[email protected] Côté Gold Project (ESA), the

11 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE 12 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE Aquatic Biology [email protected] Côté Gold Project What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? information How biology aquatic is baseline biology study? anaquatic is What • • • device. sampling and/or by agrab sampling device. Benthic invertebrates are also collected with agrab (if any). Sediment samples are collected from the bottom of alake or river by coring nets, etc.). Fish tissue samples are taken from some fish release, seine and catch to for fish assess fish (e.g. theshocking temporarily harmmetal or concentrationskill not do boat, are used. Fish communities are assessed with standard collection methods that habitat evaluation procedures, such as visual inspections of water bodies by foot and in areas downstream and upstream of the Project site and in areference area. Standard Publicly available information and previous studies are reviewed. Sampling is conducted at Riskin Ontario,Species among others. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, the Species at Risk Act or the under listed species the to compared are population. Fish caddisflies) and habitat and flies dragon as such (bugs invertebrate benthic and fish especially – a site project within and around area study defined a in rivers, and lakes as such bodies, water The aquatic biology baseline study describes and characterizes the current biology of limited uncommon. or regionally be to considered habitat contain Overall, the water bodies did not appear to ofor special concern. waterNo bodies were found to species support listed as endangered, threatened setting. geographic and size lakes similar of for typical range the within be to estimated were populations Fish (minnows). species fish small-bodied fish pike (mostlyand yellow northern perch). The other watercontained bodies the 15Of water bodies surveyed, 10 of more species one or sport supported

Aquatic Sampling Aquatic Sampling www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com Biodiversity andProtected Areas Biodiversity What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? information areas and protected How biodiversity is • • • • is collected during vegetation, wildlife and aquatic biology baseline studies. information from primarily obtained publicly from available records. Additional information Information on biodiversity and protected areas near the Project site are collected studies. baseline andmunicipal jurisdictions nearproject a site, based findingstheon of other biological animal species, and protected areas established and conservation by federal, provincial The biodiversity and protected areas baseline study describes the variety of plant and Raptor Stick During Nest Aerial Survey Provincial Park and Motte La Lake Provincial Park. from the Project site to the nearest park border): Spanish River/Biscotasi Lake Two provincial parks have been identified near the Project site (more than 20 areas. study NationalRegional orNo Parks have identifiedbeen within biology the baseline areas. study ecologicalNo reserves or conservation areas exist within the biology baseline values of typical the Lake Abitibi Ecoregion (3E-5). indicate richness and abundance species relative as such indices Biodiversity Moose During Aerial During Moose Survey [email protected] Côté Gold Project km

13 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT BASELINE 14 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT BASELINE [email protected] [email protected] Côté Gold Project Côté Gold Project Land and Resource Use Resource and Land BASELINES ENVIRONMENT HUMAN What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What How landand resource is gathered? use information alandand resource is What use baseline study? • • • stakeholders through interviews or surveys. Resources. Additional information is gathered directly from localland users and other information from government agencies such as the Ontario Ministry of Natural including conducted, is databases and available information reviewpublicly of A harvesting, plant forestry, farming, fishing, hunting, boating. and snowmobiling, camping, include use resource and land of Examples site. project a within and around area study defined a within resources A land and resource use baseline study describes how people use the land and the A largeof the study portion area is under active mining claims or mining leases. management. lake trout for development and trapping. There are many trout lakes in the area designated for recreationpolicies and tourism, timber production, mineral exploration and Land and resource use in the study area is managed by several land use hunting, trapping, and fishing. The study area is used for activities such as forestry, mineral exploration,

Ice Fishing Ice www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com Aboriginal TraditionalAboriginal Knowledge www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? information knowledge traditional How Aboriginal is baseline knowledge study? traditional anAboriginal is What • may be checked by visiting the study area. community may wish to keep private is protected. Traditional land use is mapped and consent from both the community and the individuals and sensitive information that the additional obtain to and current interviewed information. Traditional knowledge information and onlyunder is collected identified are users land current and members First Nations, Métis, provincial and/or federal governments. Knowledgeable community studies and anthropological is reviewed, reports as well as information provided by previous available through information use resource and land traditional Documented practices. The resources that are needed to continue these uses are also described. baseline study include hunting, fishing, harvesting of plants andcultural andceremonial by by considered activitiesin The peoples the affected project. practiced be a Aboriginal land and resource uses in a defined study area around and withinThese baseline studies a describe the current Aboriginalproject (First Nation and Métis) site traditional that could The study is ongoing and the results are not yet available. Conducting interviews Conducting [email protected] [email protected] Côté Gold Project

15 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT BASELINE 16 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT BASELINE Visual Aesthetics Visual [email protected] Côté Gold Project What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? information How visual is aesthetics baseline study? avisual is What aesthetics • • characterize the landscape in the winter and summer seasons. locations (such as cottages). Photographs from these receptor locations are taken to components, existing topography and landscape as well as the location of receptor affected by the Project. These areas are potentially influenced by the sizeVisual aesthetics of information is gathered the in the areas that haveProject’s the potential to be phases. project various locations that have the potential to components view certain of aproject during the locations near aproposed project site. This is done by taking photographs from avariety A visual aesthetics baseline study characterizes the existing landscape and view from and rivers. and The landscape of the Ontario: area of is typical Northern thick forest, lakes the during visited winter 2013 and site visit. Asummer 2013 identified site visit will also be conducted. were locations receptors 20 Approximately

AMEC Conducting Winter Winter Conducting AMEC Visual Aesthetic Survey www.iamgold.com www.iamgold.com Archaeology What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? How information archaeological is baseline anarchaeology is What study? • • uncover andcharacterize further archaeological sites if appropriate. is conducted using shallow test pits. Full digs areas of certain may be conducted to high probability that archaeological sites and features are identified, additionalfieldwork studies or surveys conducted field in the area around the Project site are reviewed. archaeological If areas with a and inspections, property studies, background Previous site. project proposed a near or society, within and communities non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal for interest or value cultural or may that sites, have and features physical cultural, historical material An archaeological baseline study is undertaken by a licensed archaeologist who identifies Additional fieldwork will be carried out at the historic and pre-contact pre-contact and historic the at out carried sites. archaeological be will fieldwork Additional (Aboriginal) archaeological sites.trails, and pre-contact The studies have numerous sites and features, including ancient portages, Conducting Archaeological Archaeological Conducting Field Studies Field [email protected] Côté Gold Project

17 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT BASELINE 18 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT BASELINE Socio-Economics [email protected] Côté Gold Project What are the preliminary baseline findings? study preliminary the are What gathered? information How socio-economic is baseline study? asocio-economic is What • • • • • information from localresidents in the defined study area. on one or in groups, by phone or in person. Surveys are also typically used to collect identify trends, future plans and challenges. Interviews are generally conducted one with localcommunity representatives and stakeholders provide current information and Publicly available information and census data is reviewed. Interviews and discussions infrastructure (such as education, health care, utilities, transportation systems). demographics (such as age, gender), the economy, and and community services and size population community regional include: conditions Socio-economic defined a in conditions socio-economic study area around current and within aproject site that may likely be affected by the aproject. describes study baseline This services. services. wide range of including community services education, health care and other communitiesAll in the study area are accessible by road and have to access a Unemployment rates in the study area are higher than in the province. declining. are numbers population than for the provincial population. In smaller communities and rural areas, The population is stable in Timmins and Sudbury, but the average age is older sector.well-developed mining services Timmins and Sudbury areas are important service for the region and have a mining. as well as First Nations reserves near the Project site) has along history of The region in the defined study area (including Timmins,Gogama, and Sudbury, IAMGOLD Sponsored Mattagami Mattagami Sponsored IAMGOLD

First Nation Hatchery Nation First www.iamgold.com

www.iamgold.com NOTES: [email protected] Côté Gold Project 19 For More Information: Steven Woolfenden Head Office: Site Office: Manager, Corporate Environmental IAMGOLD Corporation Côté Gold Project Assessments and Approvals 401 Bay Street, Suite 3200 IAMGOLD Corporation [email protected] , Ontario M5H 2Y4 3 Mesomikenda Lake Road, P.O. Box 100 Tel: 416-594-2884 Gogama, Ontario P0M 1W0