WILDLIFE PROTECTION PLAN Ulu Gold Project
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WILDLIFE PROTECTION PLAN Ulu Gold Project Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut February 2021 . ULU GOLD PROJECT WPP i PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY This Wildlife Protection Plan describes what will be done to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat during activities associated with the Ulu Gold Project, located near Kugluktuk, in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, Canada. REVISION HISTORY Revision Date Section Summary of Author Approver # Changes 1 February - New document EDI P. Kuhn 2020 Environmental Dynamics 2 February Changes throughout to Amalgamated EDI S. Hamm 2021 reflect name of project, existing approved Environmental related activities and Hood River and Ulu Dynamics authorizations. WPPs into 1 document for operational efficiency as all activities will be centralized and based out of Ulu. Changes throughout to Update study area reflect amalgamated to include and expanded study expansion to the area. north, for regional exploration. Table 1, Section 1. Updated to reflect current project authorizations. Section 2.0 Updated contact info. Section 1.1, 2.4, 5.1 Update to include use of UAVs/Drones as project activity and a mitigation measure. Section 5.2 Update to include provisions related to workers fishing recreationally. Sections 5.5, 6.5.2 Updated to reflect responses to party comments during NIRB Screening . ULU GOLD PROJECT WPP ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scope ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Site Description ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.4 Plan Management .................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Plan Implementation ................................................................................................................ 5 2.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ...................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Blue Star Personnel, Contractors, Suppliers and Visitors ........................................................... 6 2.2 Managers and Supervisors ....................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Wildlife Monitors ..................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Pilots ........................................................................................................................................ 6 3.0 POTENTIAL EFFECTS ..................................................................................................................... 6 4.0 REGULATIONS AND MANAGEMENT PLANS .................................................................................. 7 4.1 Territorial Legislation ............................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Federal Legislation ................................................................................................................... 7 4.3 Land Use Planning .................................................................................................................... 9 4.4 Caribou Management .............................................................................................................. 9 5.0 GENERAL MITIGATION MEASURES ............................................................................................. 11 5.1 Project Design ........................................................................................................................ 11 5.2 Awareness and Training ......................................................................................................... 12 5.3 Problem Wildlife Reporting .................................................................................................... 13 5.4 Waste Management ............................................................................................................... 13 5.5 Sensory Disturbance............................................................................................................... 14 6.0 WILDLIFE-SPECIFIC MITIGATION MEASURES............................................................................... 14 6.1 Wildlife Dens .......................................................................................................................... 14 6.2 Birds and Bird Nests ............................................................................................................... 15 6.3 Muskoxen .............................................................................................................................. 16 6.4 Grizzly Bear ............................................................................................................................ 16 6.5 Caribou .................................................................................................................................. 17 7.0 REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION .......................................................................................... 22 8.0 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 23 Appendix A. Incidental Wildlife Observation Form . ULU GOLD PROJECT WPP iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Relevant guidance documents including legislation, permits and licences1. ................................. 1 Table 2. Denning season in the Project Area. ......................................................................................... 15 Table 3. Bird species groups and recommended No Activity Buffers for active nests (Government of Canada 2018). ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Table 4. List of caribou-specific aircraft avoidance measures. ................................................................ 22 LIST OF MAPS AND FIGURES Map 1. Ulu Gold Project site map ............................................................................................................ 3 Map 2. Ranges of the Bathurst, Dolphin and Union, Bluenose-east and Ahiak caribou herds relative to the Project............................................................................................................................................. 18 Figure 1. Annual and seasonal ranges of the Bathurst caribou herd as defined by satellite telemetry from 1996 to 2014 (Government of Northwest Territories 2019). .................................................................. 19 . ULU GOLD PROJECT WPP 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Ulu Gold Project (the Project) involves exploration-related activities to assess previously identified gold targets, to conduct prospecting to locate new gold targets, to explore these targets and progressive reclamation of legacy site infrastructure at the existing Ulu property. The Project is located approximately 220 km southeast of Kugluktuk in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut (Map 1) and consists of existing Ulu site infrastructure, including a camp, roads, pads, and airstrip and underground mine development as well as a larger study area, including that previous defined as the Hood River Gold Project area, reflecting regional hydrology (Hood River watershed), terrestrial wildlife range and regional exploration areas of interest (the Project Area); the majority of activities are based out of the Ulu camp and undertaken in the local vicinity. The Project is currently accessible by air but was historically accessed by an overland trail connected to the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road. This Wildlife Protection Plan (WPP; the Plan) identifies wildlife typically found in the area, describes potential effects that Project Activities may have on wildlife and their habitat, outlines actions that Blue Star Gold Corp. (Blue Star) will take to mitigate effects to wildlife and their habitat, and considers various acts, regulations and guidelines (Table 1). The WPP also considers input provided by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA), the Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association, Burnside and Omingmaktok Hunters and Trappers Organizations (HTOs) and the public. Table 1 Relevant guidance documents including legislation, permits and licences1. Document Authority Nunavut Agreement (1993) Government of Canada and Inuit of the Nunavut Settlement Area Species at Risk Act (2002) Environment and Climate Change Canada Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994) Environment and Climate Change Canada Canada Wildlife Act (1985) Government of Canada Nunavut Wildlife Act (2003) Government of Nunavut Bathurst Caribou Range Plan (2019) Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-west, Bluenose-east Barren Advisory Committee for Cooperation on ground Caribou Herds Management Plan (2018) Wildlife Management (ACCWM) Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Plan Beverly Qamanirjuaq Caribou 2013 – 2022 (2014) Management Board (BQCMB) Management Plan for the Dolphin and Union Caribou in Government of Northwest Territories Northwest