NWT Diamonds Project Environmental Impact Statement
Summary DIA MET NWT Diamonds Project Summary of Environmental Impact Study
BHP Diamonds Inc. 1600 - 1050 West Pender Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3S7 Telephone (604) 683-6921 Facsimile (604) 682-2667
BHP Diamonds Inc. 1102 - 4920 52nd Street Yellowknife, NWT X1A 3T1 Telephone: (403) 669-9292 Facsimile: (403) 669-9293
DIA MET Minerals Ltd. DIA MET 1695 Powick Road Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 4L1 Telephone: (604) 861-8660 Facsimile: (604) 861-3649
NWT Diamonds Project
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction 1
Project Description 7
Project Setting 23
Northern Concerns and Project Impacts 29
Environmental Management 45
Conclusion 51
NWT Diamonds Project Preface
This is a Summary of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NWT Diamonds Project, a
joint venture between BHP Diamonds Inc. and its Canadian partners the Blackwater Group. The joint
venture partners believe that this project, the culmination of more than ten years of prospecting in the
North, will become Canada’s first diamond mine.
The Proponent of the NWT Diamonds Project is a joint venture of BHP Diamonds Inc. (51%) and the
Blackwater Group (49%). The Blackwater Group is composed of Dia Met Minerals Limited, Charles
Fipke, the Canadian geologist who originally discovered diamonds and his prospecting partner,
geologist Dr. Stewart Blusson. BHP Diamonds Inc. is part of BHP Minerals. BHP Minerals employs
15,000 people in 30 countries. BHP Minerals is a business group of The Broken Hill Proprietary
Company Limited (BHP). BHP is Australia’s largest industrial and natural resources company. BHP
Diamonds Inc. is the Operator of the project on behalf of the project Proponent.
This EIS Summary and its four supporting volumes are being submitted to the Federal Environmental
Assessment Review Panel in compliance with project specific guidelines issued by the Panel on May
23, 1995. This report represents three and one half years of intensive sampling and exploration, more
than two years of environmental baseline work, more than three years of extensive community consul-
tation and more than two years of detailed engineering design. Detailed information and analysis is
provided in the four accompanying volumes of the EIS plus a number of appendices. These volumes
are titled Project Description, Environmental Setting, Environmental Management and Environmental
Impacts and Mitigation. These volumes outline the details of the project, the nature of the potential
impacts of the project and methodsthat the Proponent will use to address and mitigate these impacts.
NWT Diamonds Project
Introduction developed in the world, all of them in Africa, Siberia or Australia...none in Introduction Kimberlite Pipes North America. Despite these odds, Canadian geologist Chuck Fipke and his Diamonds are crystallized carbon formed prospecting partner Dr. Stewart Blusson at depths of 150 kilometres or more spent over ten years systematically
below the earth’s surface under prospecting in the North for diamonds. conditions of great heat and pressure. Fipke and his associates criss-crossed the u Erupting kimberlite passes through a North searching for the source of
diamond indicator minerals,
forming layer brightly colored chrome
and carries diopsides and garnets,
the diamonds which are associated with
to the surface. kimberlite pipes. On foot
The erupting or in a light aircraft,
kimberlite Fipke tracked the trail of indicator
forms a minerals across the barrenlands along the
carrot-shaped volcanic cone, which is
often referred to as a “pipe”. In the
Canadian North, the crater surfaces of the
kimberlite pipes have been eroded by
glaciers to become small lakes.
Discovery and Partnership
Gem-bearing diamond pipes are so rare
that only 15 major mines have been
Page 1 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
westward migration path of ancient in the Lac de Gras area and started staking
glaciers. In 1983, to finance his minerals claims. Fipke and Dia Met then 110° continuing quest for diamonds in the sought out BHP, a premier international
North, Fipke formed Dia Met Minerals mining company, to be the
Ltd., headquartered in Kelowna, British Operator of the project. The joint
Arctic Cir 65° Columbia. venture agreement was signed in cle
R Great Bear e n i Coppermine
Lake m r
e
August 1990. With BHP as the p
p
o In 1989, Fipke found indicator minerals C Great Slave NWT DiamondsDiamond Project Lake Yellowknife Operator, the first diamonds were Northwest TTerritorieserritories discovered by drilling near
Point Lake in the fall of 1991.
Since the initial discovery, a total of
44 kimberlite pipes have been identi- 0 500 km 0 500 Miles fied on the Proponent’s claim block.
Five of these pipes are considered
Timeline - Project Events and
16 14 12
10 8 Meetings 6 Field trips 4 Frequency of Meetings Frequency 2
AM A S JFMAJJAS JFMAMJJAS 1990 1991 1992 1993
Op
dF at Point Lake formed between Koala Campgroun JV Diamonds discovered Staked Mineral Claims inter Drilling Program inter (Leslie,Drilling Fox, Program Koala) Bulk Sampling Report W W Environmental UnderProtocols Dia Met & BHP Minerals
Page 2 NWT Diamonds Project
to be economically viable under existing the North to inform residents of its 110° u fiscal and regulatory regimes. With activities and to invite local input on the
approval by the Government and joint project development.
venture partners, the dream of creating a Arctic Cir 65° cle diamond mine in the NWT is on the The value that Aboriginal peoples place R Great Bear e n i Coppermine
Lake m r
e
p
p on their traditional ties to the land was o verge of reality.
Great Slave C NWT Diamondsnds Project Yellowknife LakeYellowknife Northwest Territories emphasized at meetings attended by the Approach to Mine Development Proponent in Aboriginal communities and
The Proponent has been actively
addressing northern environmental
0 500 km requirements for the past several 0 500 Miles years. Commencing in 1992 the
Proponent initiated a series of public
meetings at communities throughout
Communications Program
16
14 Frequency of Meetings 12 10 8 6 4 2
ONDJ FMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJ 1994 1995
en Op ox – start F d Appointed
EIS Submitted ground Panda - endScoping Meetings EARPUnderground Panel Fox - end EIS Guidelines Released Project DescriptionProcess Plants Report Operational DIAND recommends EIS Under Underground Panda – start 727 jet lands at Koala Camp Koala, Fox, Leslie, Misery) inter Drilling Program (Panda, Draft EIS GuidelinesKoala, Released Fox, Leslie, Misery) W Winter Drilling Program (Panda, Page 3 NWT Diamonds Project
In 1989, Fipke found indicator minerals activities and to invite local input on
in the Lac de Gras area and started the project development.
staking minerals claims. Fipke and Dia
Met then sought out BHP, a premier The value that Aboriginal peoples place
international mining company, to be the on their traditional ties to the land was
Operator of the project. The joint venture emphasized at meetings attended by the
agreement was signed in August 1990. Proponent in Aboriginal communities
With BHP as the Operator, the first and elsewhere. Speakers emphasized
diamonds were discovered by drilling the importance of maintaining water
near Point Lake in the fall of 1991. Since quality, safeguarding the Bathurst
the initial discovery, a total of 44 kimber- caribou herd and ensuring that the
lite pipes have been identified on the project avoids causing permanent
Proponent’s claim block. Five of these damage to the land.
pipes are considered to be economically
viable under existing fiscal and regulatory The Proponent has strived to identify
regimes. With approval by the and understand the applications of
Government and joint venture partners, traditional knowledge and its various
the dream of creating a diamond mine in uses in project planning. This has
the NWT is on the verge of reality. involved many visits to Aboriginal communities by the Proponent, invita-
Approach to Mine Development tions to the Aboriginal people to tour
the Lac de Gras project site and visits The Proponent has been actively address- by the Aboriginal people to mines ing northern environmental requirements operated by BHP on Navajo Nation for the past several years. Commencing land in the United States. in 1992 the Proponent initiated a series of
public meetings at communities through- The Proponent has encouraged the out the North to inform residents of its
Page 4 NWT Diamonds Project
The project has been designed on the into the project design and management u principle of partnership with the local philosophy.
communities and respect for the land.
An Environmental Management Plan As confirmation of the Company’s
based on the principle of pollution commitment to the principles of environ-
prevention has been developed which mental responsibility, BHP Minerals has
addresses all known environmental won a number of environmental awards
concerns in a comprehensive and for responsible stewardship of the land it
integrated manner. mines in Canada. BHP received a
Citation for Most Outstanding Program of
The project development plan centers Environmental Protection and
around the safe and permanent storage Reclamation for a Metal Mining
of process plant tailings, the control and Company in British Columbia (1979), an
proper disposal of domestic and other Award for Environmental Reclamation
wastes and construction and operation (1980 and 1983) and a Citation for Metal
which minimize surface disturbance. Mining (1986).
An appropriate site reclamation and
abandonment plan is also included.
Operator’s Responsibilities For the NWT Diamonds
As the Operator, BHP undertakes to Project, it is the Operator’s
meet current environmental and regula- intention that, at the end of the
tory obligations and to be ready to apply mine life, a stronger and
improvisional practices to achieve healthier northern community
future standards and requirements. The and an altered but sustainable
principles of continuous improvements environment will be its legacy.
and flexibility have been incorporated
Page 5
NWT Diamonds Project
Project Description ongoing project operations will help to
ensure that the project benefits from both Project Philosophy Project Description scientific and engineering disciplines as
The Proponent is committed to sustain- well as the accumulated learning of
able development and will undertake its generations of inhabitants of the region.
operations with concern for long-term
influences on the northern environment, Throughout the development of the EIS including communities. Pollution the Proponents approach has been to u prevention has been designed into every understand and to integrate the links
functional aspect of this project. Such a between the project, ecosystem integrity,
design approach minimizes any need for social health and economic stability.
subsequent mitigation measures. Special attention has been paid to tundra biodiversity, valued ecosystem
The Proponent has incorporated tradition- components and the project’s cumulative
al knowledge from the Aboriginal groups effects.
in the project planning and the prepara-
tion of this Environmental Impact Regional Study
Statement (EIS). To A major date this knowledge regional has been acquired study of through community issues related meetings, personal to mineral interviews, site visits, development in the Great Slave discussions with employees, funding for Geological Province (GSGP) is being research and land use maps. The undertaken by the Governments of inclusion of traditional knowledge in Canada and the NWT as well as industry
Page 7 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
and Aboriginal groups. This study, While not dependent upon
spanning five years, will develop a the completion of the VICTORIA Cambridge Bay VICTORIA Cambridge Bay BEAUFORTBEAUF ISLAND ISLAND Queen Maud baseline of environmental data and GSGP regional study, it SEA Queen Maud Gulf Gulf Gulf ulf ronation Coronation G examine the links between the various would appear that the Coppermine Umingmaktok Umingmaktok Arctic Circle environmental, social and economic review of the NWT
C o p settings. It will provide a better Diamonds Project is in p Takijuq e Great Bear Lake r Lake
m
i Contwoyto Deline n Contwoyto
e Point Lake Lake
understanding of the possible effects of fact a catalyst for many R Lake Fort Norman Hottah LUPIN Lake MINE LUPIN
MACKENZIE MINE regional development and identify aspects of the regional NWT DiamondDiamondss Project
Rae Lakes Snare LLake
d methods to monitor these impacts. The study. r a Clinton-Colden e o v r R i te ad Lake R in o Clinton-Colden e River r W R r Lake a y Mackay n Proponent welcomes the work being SSnar a Lake B Wha Ti o Mackay ch E Lake Edzo Rae undertaken by this program and has Aboriginal Land RIVER YELLOWKNIFEYELLO N'dilo Claims DettDettaha Lutsel K'e pledged financial and logistical support Fort Providence Lutsel K'e Great Slave for the study. Lake It is important to note that Foort Resolution Hay River NNORTHWEST TERRITORIES historical land claim Fort Smith The Proponent is also initiating and BRITISH HWEST TERRITORIES conflicts exist between COLUMBIA ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN funding a program with most of the the Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 SASKATCHEWAN region’s Aboriginal groups to develop a bands. Both groups are at baseline of traditional knowledge. This various stages of negotiations with the will facilitate future assessment of federal government in an overlapping regional development and assist with area that includes the NWT Diamonds monitoring of impacts. In addition, the Project. The realities of this conflict often project has co-sponsored the first year of create questions that make the communi- a multi-year regional research program cation and consultation process more for the barren land grizzly bear, a vulner- complex for the Proponent. able species of the North.
Page 8 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
Three communities, Inuit of Coppermine and Umingmaktok u Dettah, N’dilo and have settled their land claims in the
VICTORIA Cambridge Bay BEAUFORTFORT Nunavut Land Claim Agreement. ISLAND Lutsel K’e, are part SEA Queen Maud Gulf of Treaty 8, which Coppermine, which is 400 kilometres ulf Coronation G Coppermine Umingmaktok was signed in 1899. downstream from the project, is the only Arctic Circle Dettah and N’dilo community in the same drainage system C o p p Takijuq e Great Bear Lake r Lake m are Yellowknives as the proposed mine. i Contwoyto Deline n
e Point Lake Lake
Fort Norman Hottah R LUPIN Lake MINE Dene communities MACKENZIE NWT Diamondss Project The Metis (those of mixed European and Rae Lakes Snare LakLake while Lutsel K’e is
d oa Clinton-Colden R ter Lake Dene ancestry) live in the Dene in Chipewyan Dene. e River W
y Mackay Snar a Lake B Wha Ti o communities in Yellowknife, and also ch E Wha Ti , Snare Lake, Edzo Rae RIVER YELLOOWKNIFE N'dilo Rae Lakes and Rae- claim an interest in the Lac de Gras area. Dettahah Lutsel K'e Fort Providence Great Slave 0 50 100 km Edzo comprise the Lake Fortort Resolution All the communities were informed that Dogrib Treaty 11 Hay River NNORTHWESTORTHWEST TERRITORIES the Proponent can only address issues Fort Smith Dene, whose treaty BRITISH arising from settled land claims. COLUMBIA ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN was signed in 1921. Discussion of royalties, lease payments Currently the Treaty and land access fees must necessarily 8 band is negotiating treaty Distance from Project Site come from the federal government and 600 lands entitlement while the 600 550 the results of its negotiations with the 500 500 Treaty 11 band is in the
400 various groups. Therefore, the Proponent 400 process of negotiating a 370 350 330 310 310 310 has instituted a policy of inclusion with 300 250 comprehensive land claim.
200 180 its consultation program for all the Air Distance (km)
100 Two other Aboriginal Aboriginal communities that might be 0 affected by its operations. i T communities are concerned Deline Wha wknifeDettahN'dilo Hay River Rae Lakesello Lutsel K'e Coppermine Y Snare Lake Cambridge Bay Umingmaktok with the project area. The
Page 9 NWT Diamonds Project
General references to “Aboriginal” One of the key components of the
interests are made throughout the EIS. Human Resources Program is a recruit-
For the EIS, the term Aboriginal peoples ment policy designed to give employ-
is meant to include First Nations (Treaty ment preference to Aboriginal people
11 Dogrib Dene, Treaty 8 Yellowknives of the Northwest Territories, then to
Dene, Treaty 8 Lutsel K’e (Chipewyan non-Aboriginal residents of the
Dene)), Inuit and Metis. Where Northwest Territories, then to other
warranted, specific Aboriginal groups are Canadians. To ensure the success of
identified. this policy, an innovative selection
process, based on personal aptitude rather
Human Resources than standard employment criteria, such
as education, experience and qualifica- The Human Resources Program will tions, will be implemented. This will reflect the best practices from BHP’s address concerns such as the one experience as a global employer. The expressed by Chief Charlie Program is JeremicK’a at the Dogrib Treaty designed to 11 Scoping Meeting in Wha Ti address the on March 29, 1995. Chief unique JeremicK’a noted: personnel
issues “I am concerned about the inherent to low level of education of operating a many of the Dogrib. This mine in the might affect their ability to Northwest get jobs”. Territories.
Page 10 NWT Diamonds Project provided with extensive training. The u benefits to employees are opportunities
Hiring will reflect the philosophy that for continuous learning and the acquisi-
“the best prediction of future perfor- tion of transferable skills and knowledge
mance is past performance in similar through a formal certification program.
circumstances.” Potential applicants’ The concurrent benefit to the project is
understanding and acceptance of this the retention of a high-quality, motivated
concept will be actively sought by work force. initiating discussions within the local
communities to explain the interview Yellowknife has been designated as the
process and to point of hire. Employees will be flown
adapt or modify between Yellowknife and the mine at the
it as required completion of their shift rotation, at
based on input Company expense. As some employees will come from smaller communities, from Aboriginal transportation to the mine site will be people. In provided at no cost to these communities, addition, utilizing existing commercial services. throughout the These communities include Snare Lake, life of the project, from pre-employment Rae Lakes, Wha Ti, Lutsel K’e and to mine closure, employees will be Coppermine. The regular shift
schedule will be a two weeks on/two
weeks off rotation, working 12 hour
shifts per day. This rotational work
schedule will permit Aboriginal
employees to maintain traditional
lifestyles concurrent with participa-
Page 11 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
tion in a wage economy. Transportation
Ground Tailings Disposal Pipeline Header
The success of the project is dependent Progressive Reclamation
transportation to Tailings Line Access Cell B Progressive Intermediate Reclamation on the people of the North. The Divers Tailings Disposal Dike B Dam Pipeline Header Panda/Koala Dump Lake Bottom the project site is Sediments Impoundment Cell A Proponent is therefore committed to Panda Pit Ore Cell C Stockpile Haul Road to Undergroun possible only Intermediate Process Plant Mine Panda Pit Dike A Shaft Berm A maintaining a flexible, reasonable and Long Lake Koala Pit Permanent Camp Panda when the Echo Berm B Divers Intermediate Chann Dike C Ammonium Nitrate Storage responsible approach to its Human Emergency Road and Aircr Tailings Control Buildin Cell D Bay winter ice Dump Kodiak East Lake Intermediate Perimeter Dam Dike D
Airstrip Exploration Cam Resource policies. Explosives Little Magazine Lake Existing Samplin road is in Cell E Facility
Outlet Dam Larry operation. The Lake Spillway Moose Lake Airstrip Spillway Leslie Pit Lake Dam Lake Bottom Occupational Health and Safety Sediments Impoundment East Airstrip total road Dump Nero Esker West Dump Lake
Nero Lake
Nema distance from Lake The Proponent views occupational health Exploration Access Road
Hump Yellowknife to Fox Pit Lake and safety as its highest human resource Progressive Reclamation
Lake Bottom Sediments the site is 476 Impoundment
priority. The Operator has an Fox Dump kilometres. Occupational Health and Safety policy
that demands of its managers and During construc- employees the highest standards of tion, an estimated 2,250 truckloads of occupational health and safety. equipment, materials, tools and consum-
ables will be shipped to the site over the The NWT Diamonds Project has a winter road. Transportation requirements comprehensive safety program under during operations will be approximately development that will take into account 2,000 truckloads per year of primarily the special needs of the proposed project fuel and ammonium nitrate prill. such as location, arctic climate and
cultural values of the employees. Air transport will be an essential feature
of project logistics. Chartered aircraft
Page 12 NWT Diamonds Project will be used to finishings can proceed throughout the u transport all winter of 1996/1997. By the close of
personnel to and 1997, the process plant could be process-
Progressive Reclamation Diversion from the site, to ing ore. Dam da/Koala Dump
Panda Pit Grizzly bring foodstuffs Lake ile Haul Road to Underground Panda Pit Mine Shaft Fresh Water Pump The planned work schedule is based on a Koala Pit and other perish-
Panda Diversion Channel able or critical three weeks in/one week out, 70 h/wk ge Road and Aircraft Control Building iak e supplies into the rotational construction schedule. The Airstrip Exploration Camp
Existing Sampling Facility site and to ship construction work force will be housed in
Larry Lake Airstrip a temporary 500 person prefabricated Lake diamonds out
Airstrip Esker Misery Access Road from the site. trailer-style camp. ploration Access Road Paul Lake The existing
Paul Crossing airstrip can Infrastructure
accommodate Besides the mine and process plant, other Hercules C130 buildings and services will be provided and Boeing 727 on site to support the operation. These and 737 sized jets. facilities include a permanent camp to
house a 400-person rotational work force, Construction a diesel power plant, an integrated
Project construction will commence truckshop/ offices/warehouse complex immediately upon receipt of approvals and a security building. Other services and permits. The major objective for the and utility systems such as fuel storage summer of 1996 is to prepare enough and distribution, both potable and process concrete foundations and piling work to water supply, sewage treatment and waste support the erection of building shells disposal will be established to supply before the onset of winter. Once building these main buildings. shells have been erected, interior
Page 13 NWT Diamonds Project
All facilities are designed in a compact open pit mining operation will
arrangement that takes advantage of the commence, followed by underground
natural site contours. This arrangement development of at least two of the pipes.
also allows for waste heat recovered from
the diesel generators to be used for space Over the life of the project, approxi-
heating requirements. mately 133 million tonnes of ore and 826 million tonnes of waste will be
Limited infrastructure for the satellite mined. Between 35 and 40 million
Misery pipe which is located 29 tonnes of waste rock will be excavated
kilometres to the east of the plant site will each year from the open pits and smaller
consist of diesel fuels storage, a volumes from the underground
truckshop/office complex and a small operations. This rock will be transport-
self-sufficient camp. ed by large haul trucks to waste rock
dumps in the vicinity of each pit. The
Mining Plan waste rock dumps will not encroach
within 100 metres of major water The mine development plan involves five bodies. kimberlite pipes, four of which are
located within a few kilometers of each An underground mine at Panda, lasting other within the Koala watershed north of five years, will be constructed using Lac de Gras. The fifth pipe is 29 sublevel caving methods followed by 10 kilometres to the southeast of the plant years of similar underground mining at site, adjacent to Lac de Gras. The pipes, Koala after the respective open pits have known as Panda, Misery, Koala, Fox and been exhausted. Leslie, lie under lakes of the same names.
After each of the overlying lakes is
dewatered, a conventional truck-shovel
Page 14 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement An added feature of the mining plan is segregates diamonds based on their u the construction of a diversion channel relatively high density. A final stage of
to direct water flows around Panda and X-ray sorting will then be used to
Koala lakes into Kodiak Lake. This separate the diamonds from any
channel also serves as new fish habitat. remaining heavy minerals. The diamonds
will be shipped off site for final cleaning
Processing and hand sorting.
Recovery of diamonds from the ore will Diamond Marketing and Sorting take place in a centralized processing
plant located southwest of the Koala pit. Through its sampling and evaluation
The plant is initially process, the Proponent
designed to handle has become acquainted
9,000 tonnes per day with many of the
on a 24 hours per day, major market partici-
365 days per year pants in the industry,
schedule and an with existing industry
expansion to 18,000 practices and with
tonnes per day is planned in year 2006. various marketing alternatives. As a
Diamonds have distinctive physical result, the Proponent believes that any
characteristics that enable separation from diamond processing and manufacture
the host rock through physical rather than beyond the sale of the rough diamonds
chemical processes. Several stages of is unattractive economically and has no
crushing and scrubbing which will plan to enter into this part of the business.
liberate the diamonds and remove the soft No cutting, polishing or other such down-
clay minerals from the ore, are followed stream processing will be established as
by heavy media separation which part of the project.
Page 15 NWT Diamonds Project
Implicit in this plan is
the intent to do cleaning
and final sorting of
rough diamonds at a site
readily accessible to
potential customers.
While such a site
The Proponent plans to sell rough remains to be selected, it
diamonds on the world market at world is most likely to be Antwerp in Belgium
prices. Sale may be directly to dealers or which is the world’s major diamond
manufacturers; through joint venture center.
marketing entities with
established industry
vendors or agency
arrangements; or by
auction or tender. In any
case, a test marketing
phase will be required for Not only is it important for the proper introduction of goods, the Intermediate Dik development of a reliable customer base marketing effort to be near its
14m 3m 3m and to establish prices for Canadian customers, it is vitally important to 1.6 1 MINE RUN have the needed skills in evaluation, WASTE ROCK 1 1 goods based on tender, auction and direct 1.5
sale methods. All transactions will be sorting and preparation of saleable
subject to the same valuation and auditing parcels to maximize the revenues from
procedures as any other exported goods the project’s product. Such skills take
in international trade. many years to acquire and are not
Page 16 NWT Diamonds Project presently available in Canada. plant. This lake, named Long Lake, was u chosen because of its size and because it
As a means of assuring that the NWT has a small watershed area. The selected
Diamonds Project does obtain the best lake has the added advantage that it is
prices, the final marketing and sales plan within the same watershed as the project
adopted will include a continuous system development and is close to the headwa-
of reference to current market conditions ters of the drainage basin. The storage
through competitive tender or auction capacity of Long Lake will be increased
procedures of a representative sample of by the construction of frozen core dams
rough diamonds being sold. Each step in at the outlet and several perimeter dikes
the process will be open to observation to contain the first 20 years of plant
and audit by relevant Canadian authori- tailings. The lake will be subdivided into
ties. five cells by intermediate waste rock
dikes. The cells will be filled sequential-
Tailings Management ly thus allowing time for the finest
tailings to settle. This tailings facility The process plant tailings will be will also be the source of raw water for separated into a coarse sand/gravel sized the process plant. Clean water discharge fraction and a fine fraction. The coarse from the impoundment will be controlled Typical Cross Section fraction will be trucked to the Koala CRUSHED ROCK TRANSITION — 150mm MAX to ensure that receiving water quality COARSE TAILINGS WASTE — 1-8mm waste dump and Perimeter Dam - Typical Cross Section 1 11 BEACH FROM dumped dry while the 1.5 1.75 2.0 TAILINGS DISCHARGE THERMO-SYPHONS fine fraction will be UPSTREAM DOWNSTREAM
RIP RAP 459m 457m UPSTREAM 458m placed into a medium- SHELL DOWN- STREAM TRANSITION SHELL sized lake on the FROZEN CORE KEY TRENCH property, immediately 0 10 20
Metres west of the processing
Page 17 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
criteria are met. After Long Lake is full, additional research
tailings will be discharged into either the data become
Koala and/or the Panda exhausted open available.
pits. Reclamation will use the appropriate
As the tailings cells in Long Lake plant species in
become consolidated, they will be succession and be
reclaimed by the installation of waste self-sustaining according to the area’s
rock cover and till growth medium. The natural vegetation. As well, maintenance
final revegetation will convert the tailings programs will be developed to treat sites that fail to meet the established standards. basin into a wetland environment over a
base of frozen tailings. Decommissioning and closure will start
after all economically viable ore has been Reclamation, Decommissioning and mined and processed. This will entail Closure removing all structures, burying founda-
Reclamation will provide the major tions and removing culverts to restore
means of mitigating impacts associated water flow patterns. Reclamation
with the project. Reclamation research at operations will, by that time, be limited to
the project site was initiated in 1994. those sites active at the end of operations.
Reclamation activities will be implement- All other sites
ed early in the project life and will will already
proceed continuously as sites become have been reclaimed. available. This will minimize the extent
of the area under active disturbance at
any one time. Early reclamation will also
enable modifications to the process as
Page 18 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement Communications Program and phase of the communication program u Community Involvement specifically for each:
Commencing in 1992, the Proponent • local and regional residents, embarked on a comprehensive communi- particularly the Aboriginal cations program to address the needs for peoples;
Visits to Local and Regional Communities • organizations; 42 40 38 36 • resource users; 12
10 • governmental entities. 8
6
4 The objective of the communications plan Frequency of Visits of Frequency 2 is to consult with each interest group and
to inform them of the proposed diamond i
N'dilo Wha-T Dettah mine. This important process affords Rae-EdzoRae Lakes ellowknifeHay River Lutsel K'e Snare Lake Y Coppermine UmingmaktokNew Mexico Koala Campsite CambridgeNavajo Bay Nation each group an opportunity to express its
unique concerns and allows the
different types of information and the Proponent to listen and learn throughout
changing needs of the different stakehold- the discussions. Given the diversity of
ers. The Proponent continually adapts
and modifies its communication program
to meet these needs.
The Proponent identified the following
interest groups and tailored the initial
Page 19 NWT Diamonds Project
audio and video tapes were also
employed.
To increase interaction and
promote Aboriginal participa-
tion, the communication
program has evolved since its
the identified groups and their specific inception to include direct community
issues, this interactive
communication process was
critical to the creation of an
effective dialogue between the
parties involved and ultimately
to achieve the Proponent’s goal
of establishing a “good
neighbour” policy for the
mining operation.
involvement through initiatives such as
Community meetings, open houses, Community Mobilization, School
public presentations and environmental Partnerships and Educational
workshops were considered the most Scholarships. effective means of disseminating the
information as well as reaching the Methods of addressing future concerns of
greatest number of residents. Field trips, the interest groups will continue to be
cultural exchanges, joint workshops and interactive and geared to implementing
Page 20 NWT Diamonds Project
solutions where possible by using all of The Benefits Agreements create long- u the above methods. However, not all term mechanisms for ongoing working
issues and concerns can be anticipated, relationship and provide a good
thus the Proponent will address the framework for addressing future opportu-
unique nities and concerns. Benefits will also
concerns of accrue to the Proponent by allowing the
the incorporation of traditional knowledge
Aboriginal into its operations and the creation of
communities important operational relationships.
by commenc-
ing discus-
sions of
Benefits Agreements. The interest of
Aboriginal communities in playing a
larger role in the NWT Diamonds Project
was expressed by Violet Camsell-Blondin
of the Dogrib Renewable Resource
Committee in her speaking notes to the
EARP Panel on April 4, 1995:
“The Dogribs seek greater control over development in our traditional territory because we are the ones who will suffer if there are any negative impacts. Unlike the developers, we and our descendants are not going anywhere.”
Page 21
NWT Diamonds Project
Project Setting The terrain in the project area is charac-
teristic of the tundra with boulder fields Physical Setting Project Description and many lakes interconnected by
The project lies within the Low Arctic streams. There are more than 8,000 lakes
Ecoclimatic region. Summers are short representing one third of the land mass of
and cool and winters are long and the Proponent’s minerals claim block.
extremely cold. Daily temperatures are The land has continuous permafrost, a often below minus 30°C during winter, 250 metre deep layer of permanently u frozen subsoil and rock overlain
by a one metre active layer that
thaws during summer. The most
distinctive physical features of
the land are the eskers, sinuous
ridges of granular material
deposited by glaciers. Eskers
are important to wildlife for
denning and as travel corridors
while summer temperatures can reach for both wildlife and Aboriginal people.
25°C. The average annual
temperature is minus
11.8°C. Precipitation is Esker Rock Outcrop sparse averaging 300 Moraine Sand/ Stream Peat Gravel Bed Covered Ice Permafrost Table Lowland millimeters annually with Lake Bouldery Till Bouldery the majority being in the Till Rock Rock form of snow.
Page 23 NWT Diamonds Project
Biological Setting grayling, round whitefish, burbot and
longnose suckers. Some lakes may have The Lac de Gras area is host to numerous only one dominant species, often lake species of resident and migratory trout or arctic grayling. mammals and birds. Among these are
two key species of particular concern to The project area is 100 kilometres above the people of the north: the Bathurst the tree line. Vegetation is dominated in caribou herd and the exposed barren land grizzly uplands by bears. The two stunted shrubs species represent and grass concerns from two tussocks. Tall perspectives, social shrubs such as and environmental. willows and From a social perspective, potential scrub birch occupy depressions. Wetland project effects on caribou elicited more areas have a complex of water sedges and concern during public meetings than any sedge-willow communities. other species. Grizzly bears are an
environmental concern because they are Socioeconomic Setting designated as vulnerable by The
Committee of the Status of Endangered The Northwest Territories is unique in
Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Canada because of its majority Aboriginal population, its nine official
Arctic fish populations are characterized languages and its short political history.
by limited species diversity, slow growth The territorial economy is split into a
rates and often late reproductive maturity. traditional economy based on hunting,
The main species are lake trout, arctic fishing and gathering and a wage
Page 24 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
economy based on resource extraction, Metis 7% and non-Aboriginals 39%. The u government and the service industry. population of the NWT is growing at an
extremely high rate of 25 per 1,000 According to the Federal Minister of
Indian Affairs and Northern
Development, Ron Irwin, in an address to
the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and
Northern Development on June 15, 1995:
“In the North, the pace of change and rate of develop- people which is almost twice the national ment is startling. We (the average. It is also a young population, federal government) are also with approximately 41% under age 20 looking at the impact of economic development on the and only 3% over 65. people and the environment. In 1994, overall NWT unemployment The growth of diamond and oil was 17%, among the highest in Canada. and gas exploration in the However in small, largely Aboriginal Northwest Territories are all communities, unemployment rates are signs that economic develop- 27% or higher. Unemployment rates are ment activities are on the 7% in Yellowknife, significantly below upswing in the North.” the national average. The population is
growing at a much faster rate than the Residents of the NWT represent 0.2% of economy and unemployment rates are the Canadian population. The population predicted to further increase. is Inuit and Inuvialuit 37%, Dene 17%, Government is the largest employer in the
Page 25 NWT Diamonds Project
NWT, and the largest purchaser of average paying jobs must rely on 1995 Populat northern goods and services. Public country foods to augment their Yellowknife sector employment was 46% of the work household budgets. Hay River Rae-Edzo Coppermine force in 1993. With the governments of Wha Ti Lutsel K'e Canada practicing fiscal restraint, the The NWT Diamonds Project is of Rae Lakes Dettah level of private investment in the NWT is N'dilo interest to people in many NWT Snare Lake Umingmaktok of increasing importance. communities. The four communi- 0 1,000 2,000 Pop ties of Wha Ti, Snare Lake, Rae In the private sector, mining is the Lakes and Rae-Edzo, comprise the NWT’s largest revenue generator, Dogrib Treaty 11 Nation. Considered the contributing approximately 20% of the capital of the Dogrib Nation, Rae-Edzo private sector GDP. Mines and has a population of almost 1,700. The exploration companies collectively other Dogrib communities range in purchase about $50 million in goods and population from 130 to 400. The small services annually in the NWT. Spending traditional community of Snare Lake, by exploration companies peaked at $157 located 180 kilometres west of the NWT million in 1994. Diamonds Project is the closest
community to the project site. The cost of living in the NWT is
expensive when compared to the rest of Three communities, Dettah, N’dilo and Canada. For example, weekly food costs Lutsel K’e are part of Treaty 8. Lutsel are 97% higher in Coppermine and 25% K’e, with a population of 300, is the higher in Yellowknife than in Edmonton. most northerly Chipewyan settlement. When food costs are calibrated against Dettah and N’dilo are the communities incomes, it is again apparent that of the Yellowknives Dene Band, which Northerners not employed in above has a membership of about 1,050.
Page 26 NWT Diamonds Project
has a membership of about 1,050. Yellowknife, the capital of the NWT, is u ation Estimate the largest municipality in the NWT with 17,350 Dettah, with a population of about 3,322 a population of 17,000. People of 1,693 150, lies on the east side of 1,180 408 Aboriginal ancestry account for 17% of 290 Yellowknife Bay about 27 kilometres 263 the population. Government is the largest 156 by road from Yellowknife. N’dilo, 138 128 sector of the economy, employing 43% 75 which has about 150 residents, is a
3,000 4,000 5,000 small community within the City of of the local labour force. Yellowknife’s opulation Yellowknife at the tip of Latham economic growth declined in the early
Island. Most other band members live in 1990’s due to a combination of factors
greater Yellowknife. including government cutbacks in spending and the absence of a major
The North Slave Metis people who live in development project. Over the past few
the Dene communities as well as the City years, mineral exploration, particularly
of Yellowknife have an interest in the diamond exploration, has been the engine
land on which the project is located. Two of growth for the economy of the city.
Inuit communities, Coppermine and Hay River is the fourth largest Umingmaktok, although located outside community in the NWT with a population the NWT Diamonds Project area, have an of 3,400. Considered a transportation interest in the project based on employ- hub of the Western Arctic, Hay River is ment opportunities and environmental the terminus of the only rail line in the concerns. Coppermine is the only NWT. The economy of the community community in the same water drainage has historically been dependent on major system as the NWT Diamonds Project. non-renewable resource projects. As a The population of Coppermine is result, Hay River has developed an approximately 1,200. aggressive private sector providing
services and mining supplies.
Page 27
NWT Diamonds Project
Northern Concerns and Project people historically and at present cannot
Impacts be overestimated. As stated by Dogrib Northern Concerns and Project Impacts Treaty 11 Grand Chief Joe Rabesca on
“Anything that happens in our March 8, 1994 during a meeting in
territory is not just environ- Yellowknife: mental in nature, it impacts
our culture, economy, spiritual “They (the elders) have hunted
relationship with the land” and trapped on the area and (Darrell Beaulieu, Chief, are worried about the caribou Yellowknives Dene band). migration through the area.
The issues of linkages between and There is only one herd (of among components, as opposed to the caribou).” u components themselves, is essential to The project site lies within the migratory addressing the concerns of the Aboriginal front of the Bathurst caribou herd and is peoples. Separating humans from nature located between their traditional spring diminishes each and their complex calving ground east of Bathurst Inlet and interrelationship. their winter range below the treeline.
Caribou Migration occurs during the spring and fall, and occasionally during the summer. Caribou play a central role in the lives of It is important to note that the project site the Aboriginal people. A conservative is less than 0.03% (3/10,000) of the estimate is that the six Dene communities 250,000 square kilometres range used by harvest an average of three caribou per the herd. Furthermore, baseline studies to household annually. Many families date have shown that one percent of the harvest up to six animals per year. The estimated 450,000 Bathurst herd migrates importance of caribou to the Aboriginal
Page 29 NWT Diamonds Project
through the project site. Additionally, sensitive species within the Lac
studies have also identified the presence de Gras area. Preliminary
of one traditional travel corridor of the results indicate that they are
herd (Point de Misere) in the Proponent’s present in low numbers, based
main claims block. on the few actual sightings and
signs of their presence (tracks
Research suggests that caribou are and dens) in the project area. resilient to disturbances associated with
development, but it remains important to Education and awareness of bear
monitor, manage and minimize the effects safety and avoidance will
of development on the caribou. It is the continue to be important aspects
Proponent’s intention to ensure the of the Proponent’s mitigation
effectiveness of all mitigation measures plan to minimize any potential
required to maintain the migration impacts or negative interactions
process. Education and awareness are with people. Additionally,
key components of these measures. knowledge of the bear’s ecology
(habitat, diet, distribution) will continue
Grizzly Bears to be an
important aspect As a result of decreased of the ongoing populations and habitat loss monitoring throughout the world, grizzly program. The bears are considered as a Proponent has species of national and committed funds international concern. As and is participating such, the grizzly bears are in a grizzly bear considered to be the most
Page 30 NWT Diamonds Project study as part of the Great watersheds, being soft, of low ionic u Slave Geological regional strength and slightly acidic. Most
studies. Such studies will add baseline water parameters were below
to a better understanding of detection limits. The sediments of the
the status of the grizzly bears lakes in the Koala watershed do not differ
locally and regionally. substantially from the adjacent
watersheds. Water and Fish
The project area lies within
the headwaters of the
Coppermine River and covers
73 square kilometres, or
approximately one thousandth
(1/1000) of the entire
Coppermine River drainage
basin. Maximum flows are during the
spring freshet, when over 50% of the
annual runoff occurs from melted snow.
These watersheds provide fish habitat Fish are important water quality indica- and are the project’s source of fresh tors as they are at the top of the food water. Local water quality determines chain. The nutrient limiting lakes contain much of the ecological integrity of small populations of edible fish. Detailed nearby ecosystems as well as those fish population estimates were conducted downstream. Natural water composition on six lakes designated for mining and is typical of headwaters of high latitude
Page 31 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
tailings disposal and a further 19 lakes Department of Fisheries and Coppermine Riv and numerous streams were studied for Oceans.
the presence and quality of aquatic life.
Lake trout population estimates for the Fish populations are best
five lakes directly impacted by mining preserved through habitat
varied from approximately 90 mature fish protection, and this will be
in Misery Lake to a high of 260 mature achieved largely through the
fish in Koala Lake. In Long Lake, the water management plan.
proposed tailings disposal site, lake trout Water quality management
population was estimated at approximate- will ensure that effluents
ly 2,000 mature fish. Prior to dewatering from operations meet all
the designated lakes, the resident edible water quality discharge
fish will be harvested with the assistance standards.
of the Aboriginal peoples and distributed Central to the water to the local Aboriginal communities. management is the handling Compensation for the loss of habitat in of tailings water in Long the lakes directly impacted by mine Lake. This involves the containment and development is being negotiated with the recycling of turbid
water and the
discharge of water
that meets all
established criteria.
Regular monitoring
of key parameters
will alert operators
Page 32 NWT Diamonds Project to possible problems Coppermine River watershed. Mitigation u for which mitigation of lake habitat loss will be partially offset
will be implemented at by measures currently under discussion
the source. Impounded with government regulators. A diversion
tailings must provide a channel will be constructed between
stable, reclaimed Panda and Kodiak lakes, which will
landscape over which mitigate the loss of stream habitat and
natural precipitation migration routes resulting from lake
must eventually flow dewatering. The residual effects of the
freely and enter five open pits will be the creation of
unpolluted into nearby deep, steep-sided, nutrient limiting lakes,
waters. which will re-establish over a long period
of time. Some of the stream habitat
Five lakes will be between the pits will be restored when
dewatered for mining, the lakes eventually refill and drainage
one will be used for occurs. tailings disposal and
one very small lake will be drained and
used as an aggregate
source. The total
lake area lost will be
approximately 890
hectares, or less than
six one thousandths
(6/1000) of the lake
area in the
Page 33 NWT Diamonds Project
Effects on the Land degraded vegetation. A combination of
good mining practices and a comprehen- Throughout each phase of mine develop- sive and successful reclamation program ment, from construction through mine will minimize and mitigate any losses to closure, sound engineering design will the vegetation. minimize the area of surface disturbance.
In addition, those areas disturbed will be Traditional Knowledge reclaimed using innovative methods and
site specific research. As such, the land Traditional knowledge has been defined
will ultimately retain its current land use by the Dene Cultural Institute as:
in spite of these land disturbances. “Knowledge and values which
Vegetation is a key component of local have been acquired through
biodiversity in the sparsely populated experience, observation from
tundra. Vegetation may be affected on a the land or from spiritual
local scale by activities that remove soil, teachings, and handed down
impede soil drainage and compact soils. from generation to genera-
Even with localized impacts, the effects tion.”
will persist for a long time due to the
slow growth and
recovery rates of
tundra plants.
Impacts will be
incurred at all project
stages, and can be
divided into complete
vegetation loss and
Page 34 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement This knowledge is, by its very nature, and use of the land cannot be separated u broad, pervasive and permeates all from responsibilities to cherish, protect
aspects of Aboriginal life. Most and nurture the land. The Dene of Lutsel
traditional knowledge is passed from K’e have expressed this relationship by
generation to generation orally, thus stating that they consider themselves to
recorded information is limited. Through be “guardians” of the land rather than
the consultation program, the Proponent merely “landlords”. Reliance on the
tried to gain some insight into the land is a traditional way of life for
difficult and complex issues surrounding Aboriginal people and the continuation of
traditional knowledge. that relationship is a vital element in their
identity and values. As the community consultation program
progressed, the Proponent perceived In spite of these traditional concepts, the
that the Aboriginal people want to communities also recognize the value of a
continue to live in their home wage-based economy to purchase trucks,
communities and to pursue hunting and snowmobiles, rifles, boats, food and
fishing for both sustenance and clothing to supplement their traditional
traditional purposes. From the lifestyle. Many of the elders spoke of
Aboriginal perspective, management this issue and their concern for their
young people to acquire
better education, obtain
employment, modern job
skills and job training,
while still maintaining
their traditional culture.
Page 35 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
The Proponent is committed to respecting • Caribou and other wildlife will
the Aboriginal traditional lifestyle while be protected as a source of
providing modern training and employ- sustenance and tradition.
ment. Based on what it has learned, the
Proponent has already incorporated • Protection of the environment by
several traditional concepts, which touch monitoring of water, air and the
the core of the cultural identity of the land, minimizing impacts on the
Aboriginal people, into the plan of surrounding subsistence
development for the NWT Diamonds ecosystems.
Project. For example: • The decision to maintain a fly-in
• A two weeks on/two weeks off camp, with no permanent road
work schedule has been access, will prevent a major
implemented to accommodate influx of new settlements in the
traditional lifestyles and Lac de Gras region preserving
subsistence. Aboriginal the traditional relationship with
employees surveyed at the the land and also reducing
campsite overwhelmingly impacts to outfitter groups who
confirmed their approval of this employ Aboriginals as guides. type of schedule.
• Elders were invited to participate • The residents of designated in archaeological surveys to communities will continue to live locate, protect and avoid burial in their own villages and travel and other significant sites. directly to the mine site,
maintaining their ties to family
and community.
Page 36 NWT Diamonds Project To address modern concerns such as • community Mobilization u employment, education and job training, Partnerships, which bring elders,
drug and alcohol abuse, the Proponent young people and organizations
has initiated programs to help provide into the same forum to share
future economic security while reducing traditional skills and customs to
potential negative impacts: create solutions to community
problems • a commitment of preferential
hiring for Aboriginals, ond • a policy of a drug and alcohol- site job training and relaxation of free work place which was strict minimum educational supported by many community employment standards members who view such
problems as a major threat to • preferential hiring traditional lifestyles. requirements to be
applied to contractors J.C. Catholic of Lutsel K’e said; and sub-contractors
“We don’t want to slow BHP • preference to Aboriginal down, we just want to work businesses together with them.”
• scholarship programs for The Proponent believes that these Aboriginal students methods of incorporating traditional
knowledge and culture into the develop- • cross-cultural training ment phase of the mine are only the workshops as learning tools to beginning of a relationship of cooperation share cultural concerns in a and mutual respect. unique work environment
Page 37 NWT Diamonds Project
In its efforts to give full and equal Community meetings and visits to the site
consideration to traditional knowledge in with elders have provided useful informa- more specific ways, the Proponent has tion regarding the identification and the offered to provide funding for a two cultural significance of certain land sites. phase study of traditional knowledge.
Inherent in the proposal is a recognition Six survey areas in the main exploration of the proprietary nature of the and development areas were assessed for knowledge and a desire by the Aboriginal
peoples to have control over the way in archaeological significance. As there are
which the information is collected. It is no NWT guidelines regarding the
hoped that such a study will lead to more determination of the archaeological sites,
sensitivity and awareness of indigenous archaeological significance was defined culture by documenting their concerns, according to British Columbia guidelines, promoting a partnership between the with ratings of low, moderate or high parties and preparing a baseline of significance. Archaeological field traditional knowledge for use in future monitoring of environmental and socioe- research in the survey area identified 50 conomic impacts. sites with varying degrees of significance.
Demographics in NWT Archaeological Assessment 75 years and over 65-74 The archaeological survey conducted for 60-64 55-59 the NWT Diamonds Project was the first 50-54 45-49 40-44 detailed archaeological investigation Age 35-39 30-34 conducted in this area. Treaty 11 and 25-29 20-24 Treaty 8 communities have been kept 15-19 10-14 5-9 informed of the archaeological studies. 0-4
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 Population
Page 38 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement Socioeconomic Assessment Three sites were judged to be of high u archaeological significance, representing “We agree in principle with the Proponent that sustainable repeatedly visited camping locations. development implies a balance Two sites of moderate archaeological between social, economic and significance represented moderately high ecological systems ... and for yields of artifacts with one being a now we agree with BHP’s
possible quarry/lithic workshop, and the tentative conclusion that the key impacts of this mining other was a site with significant buried development are expected to deposits. Most sites were assigned low- be socioeconomic and they moderate or low significance. No archae- will be largely positive” ological sites were identified in the (Mayor Dan Marion of Rae- Edzo). vicinity of Koala Camp, which is the The NWT Diamonds Project will be one main area to be affected by development. of the largest, if not the largest, industrial operations in the NWT for the next Sites discovered during the inventory decade. Based on 1994 unemployment were recorded in detail using the rates, the project is expected to reduce Archaeological Survey of Canada site overall unemployment in the NWT by
Females Total 27,590 entry forms. Detailed maps of the sites 1.4% during the construction phase and Males Total 30,055 were drawn and photographs were taken by 3% during the operations phase.
for future visual reference. The data
collected have made a contribution to the Employment Due to NWT Diamonds Project Year 2000 851 understanding of archaeological resources 900 Induced 800 in this region of the Northwest Indirect 700 Direct Territories. 600 449 500
400
300 199 Number of Employees 200 103 42 58 100
0 NWT Yellowknife Hay First Coppermine Rest Total Page 39 River Nations of NWT Diamonds Project
The City of Yellowknife, with the Summary of All Employment largest population in the region and the Year 2007 First Nations most diverse business community, will 137 140 120 receive the greatest economic benefits 100 80 from the NWT Diamonds Project. 60 40 26 16 These benefits will be in the form of Number of Jobs 20 0 direct employment of its residents and Direct Indirect Induced An average of 830 people will be directly the purchase of goods and services for Yellowknife employed over the 25-year life of the 300 254 251 project. Two out of every three the project. During operations, approx- 200 152 employees are likely to be residents of imately 70% of every purchase dollar 100 the North, and more than half of the for the project is likely to be spent in Number of Jobs 0 Northern employees are expected to be the North, with more than 60% of the Direct Indirect Induced Aboriginals. The Proponent has designed northern purchases expected to be made Hay River 140 its hiring, training and skill development 140 in Yellowknife. Because of the size 112 120 programs to promote Aboriginal and 100 and economic strength of Yellowknife, 80 Northern employment, but the success of 60 50 the net effect on unemployment in the 40
these programs will also depend in part Number of Jobs 20 city will be about 2%, which will not 0 on the participation and commitment of Direct Indirect Induced significantly affect the way of life of the affected Northern communities. Coppermine 57 the residents. 60 50 40 In contrast, the NWT 30 20 11 7 Diamonds Project has Number of Jobs 10 0 the potential to have a Direct Indirect Induced
major effect on the way Rest of NWT 80 66 of life in the local 70 60 50 40 30 20 7 Number of Jobs 10 5 Page 40 0 Direct Indirect Induced NWT Diamonds Project Aboriginal communities. u Hiring by the project is
expected to reduce current
unemployment levels in Additional Requirement at 18,000 tonnes per day local Aboriginal communi- (Year 2007) At 9,000 tonnes per day ties from almost 40% to (Year 2000) 30%. Residents of
Aboriginal communities
have expressed the need for they are initiated by the communities increased participation in the wage themselves, the Proponent has offered to
economy. assist and participate in Community Mobilization programs. These partner-
“The Dene people are not ship programs help communities to build trapping as in the past, therefore, on existing strengths to solve social job opportunities and training problems. At the request of Chief are important” Charlie Jeremick’a, initial mobilization said Elder Joe Migwi at the meetings started in Wha Ti in May 1995, Scoping Meeting in Rae Lakes on with meetings in other communities March 28, 1995. scheduled to follow during the summer.
Increased wages in the NWT Mines by Employment community have the potential to 900
compound existing social 800
problems such as alcohol and 700
drugs. This is of particular 600
concern in the Aboriginal 500
communities where the average 400
earned income could increase by 300 Number of Employees as much as 40%. Recognizing 200 that the solutions to social 100 problems can only be effective if 0 Nicholas Nanisivik Polaris ColomacGiant Con Lupin NWT Lake Diamonds (future) Page 41 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
Economic Assessment Total Public and Private Investment
2,000 The NWT Diamonds Project 1,800 Government will provide substantial 1,600 Business 1,400 economic benefits to the 1,200 NWT and to Canada as a 1,000 800 whole. These benefits $ Millions 600 include jobs and associated 400 wages and benefits; the 200 purchase of capital and 0 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 consumable goods and Source: NWT Bureau of Statistics, 1994 services by the mines; and through the revenues paid directly to the Territorial Contrary to popular perception, this level and Federal governments as taxes and of revenue is not due to the high intrinsic royalties. worth of diamonds, as the estimated
value per tonne of ore mined is roughly Total capital expenditures over the life of the same as for other NWT mines. The the mine is estimated to be $1.2 billion. higher level of revenue is due to the The project does not require any larger scale of the proposed mine versus subsidies from the government. other existing operations in the NWT.
The project is expected to generate For the NWT, the benefits of the project revenues of between $400 million and (direct, indirect and induced) will be a $500 million per year (in 1994$) through contribution of $2.5 billion to the GDP most of its 25-year operating life. over the life of the project.
Page 42 NWT Diamonds Project
Approximately 60% of this contribution The income from the project is estimated u is comprised of wages and associated to be many times greater than
benefits. government expenditures related to any
expanding physical and social
The rest of Canada is also a major infrastructure to accommodate the
beneficiary of the project. From the project. For every $1 of economic
Canadian national perspective, the total benefit accrued by Canada from the
benefits provided are similarly substantial project, the federal and territorial govern-
with a contribution of $6.2 billion to the ments will together have net costs of less
GDP. Revenues to the governments of than $0.05. Canada comprise approximately $2.5
billion.
Page 43
NWT Diamonds Project
Environmental Management BHP Environmental Policies Environmental Management The environmental plan describes BHP has a corporation-wide
the programs and policies ensuring Environmental Policy stipulating a
that project commitment to
activities high standards of
operate to environmental
anticipate, avoid care as it conducts
and control its business
environmental around the world. u
impacts. The BHP’s approach
plan focuses on to environmental
the safe and management
permanent seeks continuous
storage of improvement in
process plant performance by
tailings, the taking account of
control and evolving scientific
proper disposal knowledge and
of domestic and other wastes; construc- community expectations. BHP managers
tion and operations that minimize surface at all levels are responsible for ensuring
disturbance; and the development of
a site reclamation and decommis-
sioning plan. Monitoring operating
performance is a central element of
the management plan.
Page 45 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
environment.
Monitoring requires
measurements that
are statistically valid
with adequate
reference control to
distinguish between
project-related
that organization structures and manage- impacts and
ment systems support the Environmental natural changes in the environment
Policy. (such as cyclic changes in lemming abundance).
Environmental Monitoring The social and economic monitoring
The environmental monitoring program will be largely accomplished through
is an integral component of the the Proponent’s human resources and
environmental management plan. community relations activities. These The purpose of environmental
monitoring is to determine
compliance with permit require-
ments, measure effectiveness of
reclamation efforts, document
effects of the project on the social
and economic well-being of the
community and very importantly, measurements will provide important
to measure natural changes in the feedback concerning the appropriateness
Page 46 NWT Diamonds Project Cumulative Effects u
Cumulative effects arise from
multiple activities happening
concurrently or sequentially
that in combination can have
greater impacts than those
that result from the individual
activities. As the main and effectiveness of the environmental environmental impacts for the project management plan, so that it can be result from the drainage of five lakes, adaptively modified if necessary to mining and the use of a lake for tailings achieve the desired result of holistic disposal, the key ecosystem pathways are environmental protection. surface water, surface terrain, and air.
The environmental program is intended Because of the remote location and the
to be flexible and adaptive in design, so fact that there is no other development in
that it can be re-defined and improved existence or permitted within the
in response Coppermine River basin, no significant
to changes in
the program
development
plan, the
regulatory
environment
and natural
environmen-
tal changes.
Page 47 Summary of Environmental Impact Statement
impacts would
pertain to the
development of
additional open pits,
rock dumps and
access. The
extension in the mine
life that would result
cumulative environmental effects are would enhance the
anticipated. socioeconomic
benefits of the
The main impacts that could affect project. socioeconomic components consist of
employment and the purchasing of goods Strategic and services. On balance, these impacts Considerations
are anticipated to be positive.
The project is of
With regard to the possible expansion of strategic economic
mining activities on the Proponent’s importance to the
claim block, a total of 44 kimberlite pipes NWT. It is a major
have been identified, but as yet only the business and, once
five pipes scheduled for development are operational, will generate more employ-
economically viable. Should one or more ment and a higher wage bill than any other NWT business. Employment additional pipes be discovered that can be benefits will be particularly significant developed, the existing infrastructure and for local Aboriginal communities. tailings disposal systems will likely be
used and any cumulative environmental
Page 48 NWT Diamonds Project
Existing large mine reserves in the NWT “It is likely that our u are becoming depleted and no major new unprecedented diamond exploration activity will result mines have been announced. The in Canada soon joining the renewed confidence in Canada shown by ranks of the world’s leading international investors such as BHP has diamond producing provided optimism to the entire Canadian Countries.”
mining industry. Canada’s Minister of This project will be the first major Natural Resources, Anne diamond mine in North America and a
McLellan, shared this new industry for Canada. New NWT
optimism in a speech businesses will likely be established, and
delivered on March 29, existing NWT companies will expand, hiring more workers to service the 1995, in Miami to the project. Investing in the Americas
Conference, when she The project can serve as a model of
said: sustainable development for other
northern resource-based projects.
Page 49
NWT Diamonds Project
Conclusion The proposed undertaking has substantial and beneficial implications for the The Proponent has adopted an environ- economics of the Northwest Territories Conclusion mental management plan for this and Canada, and in particular for the undertaking that effectively deals with all local Aboriginal communities in the
identified issues within the immediate region. Moreover, the Proponent is
project area, as well as the larger, committed to a preferential program of
potentially affected, regional ecosystem. employment of Northerners. In particu- The environmental management plan lar, Aboriginal peoples are expected to u identifies comprehensive actions to avoid benefit greatly from this project, or mitigate significant conflicts, and to through preserve linkages among hiring components of the ecosystem, in policies order to effectively preserve that are the whole. These linkages sensitive to include natural ecological their
values and the sustainable use of cultural attributes
natural resources by and needs, coupled with
Aboriginal peoples vigorous protection
living in the of the ecological
region, in concert systems that
with the longer- have traditional- term, economic ly sustained benefits of the these same project. peoples.
Page 51 NWT Diamonds Project
direct, project-related
contacts. By these
means, the wildlife
itself will be kept
intact, as will its
critical links with the
Aboriginal
community. Water quality and aquatic habitat will be
protected by careful control and monitor- Air quality, vegetation, hydrology, and ing of contaminants potentially associated noise are also important environmental with water from tailings-disposal areas, components waste dumps, roads, and other physical and linkages, infrastructure. These control measures and none of will ensure minimal effects on the aquatic these will be food chain, and on human use of aquatic degraded resources. beyond
impacts The habitat and migratory pathways of occurring immediately on working sites. caribou and other key species have been The Proponent is also committed to identified through a combined application reclaiming any area of terrain that is of local and traditional knowledge and directly affected by this project, and to re- wildlife science. These critical habitats establishing the initial land uses. will be maintained, particularly by
avoiding and, if necessary, mitigating any
Page 52 NWT Diamonds Project
Schedule of Major Project Activities u
Major Project 1 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 201 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Activity 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Construction Panda Misery AL Panda Underground
Koala APPROV Fox Leslie Koala Underground Reclamation
This overall scenario of minimal environ- This summary is available in Inuinnagtun
mental impacts is more than offset by the as well as English. In addition, audio cassettes have been prepared from the substantial Summary in North Slavey, Dogrib and socioeco- Chipewyan languages. They are nomic available from the Canadian benefits Environmental Assessment Agency that will be offices of Environment Canada in realized Yellowknife and Vancouver.
from this
undertaking by
Northern peoples and
their economy.
The environmental concerns are believed to be known and mitigable with
existing technology.
Page 53 For further information on the Panel Review Process please contact:
Panel Information Office Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Suite 5 - 5120 49th Street Yellowknife, NWT X1A 1P8 Telephone: (403) 669-7181 Facsimile: (403) 669-7183
Regional Office Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency P.O. Box 12071 Harbour Centre Suite 1150 - 555 West Hastings Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 4N5 Telephone: (604) 666-2431 Facsimile: (604) 666-6990
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