Comprehensive Study Report
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Canadian Environmental Agence canadienne Assessment Agency d’évaluation environnementale Comprehensive Study Report Detour Lake Gold Mine Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency November 2011 Photos are credited to Detour Gold © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada This publication may be reproduced for personal use without permission, provided the source is fully acknowledged. However, multiple copy reproduction of this publication in whole or in part for purposes of distribution requires the prior written permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. To request permission, contact [email protected]. Catalogue No.: En106-105/2011E ISBN: 978-1-100-19543-8 This document has been issued in French under the title Rapport d’étude approfondie de la mine d’or de Detour Lake Alternative formats may be requested by contacting [email protected] Executive Summary Detour Gold Corporation (the proponent) The Canadian Environmental Assessment proposes to redevelop an open pit gold mine Agency (the Agency) prepared this with a production capacity of approximately comprehensive study report in consultation with 61,200 tonnes per day. The proposed Detour DFO and NRCan following a technical review of Lake project (the Project) will be located the proponent’s environmental assessment report 185 kilometres by road northeast of Cochrane, and an evaluation of the environmental effects Ontario. The Project consists of an open pit of the Project. Environment Canada, Transport mine, an ore processing plant, and tailings and Canada, Health Canada, and Aboriginal Affairs waste rock storage facilities. It also includes and Northern Development Canada provided site access roads, power transmission lines, additional expert advice. an explosives factory and storage areas, water management facilities, buildings, ancillary mine Valued ecosystem components (VECs) and infrastructure, and associated activities. valued socioeconomic components (VSECs) are notable features of the natural and human An environmental assessment (EA) of the environments that are likely to be impacted Project under the Canadian Environmental by the Project. The key components were Assessment Act (the Act) has been conducted selected and examined during the environmental because regulatory decisions by Fisheries and assessment process. The EA identified and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Natural Resources assessed the following project VECs: air quality, Canada (NRCan) are required. In addition, the local watercourses and their associated lakes listing of water bodies as tailings impoundment and wetlands, groundwater system, vegetation areas is required under the Metal Mining communities and their relation to terrestrial Effluent Regulations. habitats, wildlife and migratory birds, and species at risk. The following VSECs were A comprehensive study type environmental identified and assessed: land and resources use, assessment was necessary since the project’s traditional land use, and public health and safety. metal mill, gold mine, and groundwater extraction elements fall under requirements Based on the analysis of the nature of the listed in the Comprehensive Study List Project and the predicted effects on the VECs Regulations. The proposed project is considered and VSECs, the Agency assessed the potential a major resource project and is therefore subject for the proposed project to have significant to the provisions of the Cabinet Directive on adverse impacts on the environment. This review Improving the Performance of the Regulatory was completed on the basis of the technical System for Major Resource Projects. information provided by the proponent, advice provided by federal and provincial experts, The Project also underwent environmental and comments provided by Aboriginal groups assessments under Ontario’s Environmental and public stakeholders through various Assessment Act. In accordance with the Canada– consultations exercises. Ontario Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, cooperative environmental assessment processes Certain environmental effects were determined involving both jurisdictions were conducted. to have the greatest severity and elicited the CEAA— Comprehensive Study Report: Detour Lake Gold Mine i most concern during the comprehensive study • adaptive management of potentially acid- process; these include impacts to surface and generating (PAG) waste rock to prevent and groundwater resources, impact of acid rock mitigate potential impacts to water quality as a drainage, protection of fish and fish habitat, and result of acid rock drainage (ARD) loss of wildlife habitat. • air quality and noise control measures to reduce offsite impacts to local wildlife and forests The key issues raised during public and • mine infrastructure design and placement to Aboriginal consultations include the protection reuse previously disturbed areas and minimize of wildlife habitat, water quality, site closure and the overall project footprint rehabilitation, and the need for monitoring and • relocation of the operations camp facility to environmental management. avoid important wildlife habitat and cultural sites The following mitigation measures have been proposed to reduce the predicted severity of the A follow-up program is required under the Act adverse effects of this project: to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment and to determine the effectiveness of • in-plant effluent treatment for mill effluent and the proposed mitigation measures. In addition, the extensive process water recycle and associated follow-up program will support environmental water management strategies to protect management systems and support the assessment receiving water aquatic communities of future projects within the boreal forest. • fish habitat compensation plans to mitigate the potential harmful alteration, disruption, and Taking into account the implementation of the destruction of fish habitat mitigation proposed, including commitments • seepage and runoff collection systems to made by the proponent in this report, the collect and monitor the quality and quantity Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency of mine effluent prior to discharge into waters concludes that the Project is not likely to cause frequented by fish significant adverse environmental effects. ii CEAA—Comprehensive Study Report: Detour Lake Gold Mine Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................i List of Acronyms and Short Forms .................................................................. vii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Overview ............................................................................................................1 1.2 Environmental Assessment Context and Process ..........................................................1 1.2.1 Purpose of the Comprehensive Study Report .......................................................1 1.2.2 Federal EA Process ...............................................................................................2 1.2.3 Cooperative EA Process ........................................................................................3 2. Scope of the Project ................................................................................... 3 2.1 Scope of the Project .......................................................................................................3 2.2 Project Components .......................................................................................................4 2.2.1 Activities .................................................................................................................4 2.2.2 Schedule ................................................................................................................4 3. Scope of the Environmental Assessment ................................................... 5 3.1 Factors to be Considered ................................................................................................5 3.2 Scope of the Valued Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Components ...............................6 3.3 Spatial and Temporal Boundaries ...................................................................................7 3.4 Purpose of and Need for the Project ..............................................................................8 4. Project Alternatives ..................................................................................... 8 4.1 Alternatives to the Project ...............................................................................................9 4.2 Alternative Means of Carrying out the Project .................................................................9 5. Consultation ..............................................................................................11 5.1 Public Consultation Activities ........................................................................................11 5.2 Aboriginal Consultation Activities ..................................................................................11 5.3 Summary of Comments Received ................................................................................12 5.4 Consultation Follow-Up .................................................................................................13 CEAA— Comprehensive Study Report: Detour Lake Gold Mine iii