Volume I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Volume II: Volume III: Volume IV: Volume V: Project BIoPhysIcal socIoeconomIc addItIonal IntroductIon Valued Valued yesa & oVerVIew comPonents comPonents reQuIrements 1 Introduction 6 Terrain Features 13 Employment 20 Effects of the and Income Environment on 6a Surficial Geology, Terrain the Project 2 First Nations and Soils Baseline 14 Employability and Community 20a Climate Change Report 6B Terrain Hazards Assessment Consultation for Proposed Access Roads and Airstrip 15 Economic 21 Accidents and 2a Consultation Log 6c Preliminary Development Malfunctions Geotechnical Study and Business 2B Consultation Materials 21a Regulatory Setting 6d Terrain Hazards Assessment Sector 3 Project Location for Proposed Mine Site 21BRisk Register 16 Community 6e Fluvial Geomorphology Hazard Assessment for Vitality Proposed Access Roads 22 Conceptual 4 Project Description Environmental 17 Community Management Plans 7 Water Quality 4a Conceptual Closure Infrastructure and ReclamationPlan and Services Road Use Plan 7a Water and Sediment Quality 22a APPENDIX 11A: VEGETATIONBaseline BASELINE REPORT 4B Freegold Road Report Socio-Economic 13a 22B Emergency Baseline Report 7B Baseline Hydrology Report Response Plan Volume I: 4c Water Management Plan 7c 2012 Baseline EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Hydrogeology Report 22c Cyanide 18 Cultural Continuity Management Plan 5 Effects Assessment 7d Geochemistry Reports Methodology 7e Numerical Groundwater Modelling Volume18a Stage V: 1 Archaeological 23 Monitoring Plans Volume II: VolumeVOLUME III: Volume IV: Mitigation 5a Project Components and 7F Water Balance Report Project BIoPBIOPHYSICALhysActivitiesIcal List socIoeconomIc addItIonal 18B Historic Resource Impact 23a Wildlife Mitigation and IntroductIon ValuedVALUED Valued7G Water Quality Model Report yesa Assessment of the Monitoring Plan 5B Cumulative Effects Freegold Road & oVerVIew cCOMPONENTSomPonentsAssessment List comP7honentsProject Effects on Water reQuIrements Quantity 24Conclusion 19 Land Use and Tenure 1 Introduction 6 Terrain Features 138EmploymentAir Quality 20 Effects of the Environment19a Land Use and on Tenure 25 References and Income Baseline Report 8a Baseline Climate Report 6a Surficial Geology, Terrain the Project 2 First Nations and Soils Baseline 14 Employability8B Met, Dustfall, and Noise and Community 20a Climate Change Report 6B Terrain Hazards Assessment Data Summary Report 2011 Consultation for Proposed Access Roads 8c Air Quality Baseline 2013 and Airstrip 15 Economic 21 Accidents and 2a Consultation Log 6c Preliminary Development Malfunctions Geotechnical Study 9andNoise Business 2B Consultation Materials 21a Regulatory Setting 6d Terrain Hazards Assessment Sector 3 Project Location for Proposed Mine Site 10 Fish & Aquatic 21BRisk Register 16 Community 6e Fluvial Geomorphology Resources Hazard Assessment for Vitality 10aFish and Aquatic Resources Proposed Access Roads 22 Conceptual 4 Project Description Baseline Report Environmental 17 Community Management Plans 7 Water Quality 10B Freegold Road Fish and 4a Conceptual Closure InfrastructureAquatic Baseline and Services and ReclamationPlan 22a Road Use Plan 7a Water and Sediment Quality 10cPreliminary Fish Habitat Baseline Compensation Plan 4B Freegold Road Report Socio-Economic 13a 22B Emergency Baseline Report 7B Baseline Hydrology Report 10d Freegold Road Extension Response Plan 4c Water Management Plan S&EC Risk Assessment 7c 2012 Baseline Hydrogeology Report 22c Cyanide 18 Cultural Continuity Management Plan 5 Effects Assessment 7d Geochemistry Reports 11 Rare Plants & Vegetation Health Methodology 7e Numerical Groundwater Modelling 18a Stage 1 Archaeological Monitoring Plans 1111aa MitigationVegetation Baseline Report 23 5a Project Components and 7F Water Balance Report Activities List 18B Historic Resource Impact 23a Wildlife Mitigation and 7G Water Quality Model Report 12 WildlifeAssessment of the Monitoring Plan 5B Cumulative Effects Freegold Road Assessment List 7h Project Effects on Water 12a Wildlife Baseline Report Quantity 24Conclusion 19 Land Use and Tenure 12B Bird Baseline Report 8 Air Quality 19a Land Use and Tenure 25 References Baseline Report 8a Baseline Climate Report 8B Met, Dustfall, and Noise Data Summary Report 2011 8c Air Quality Baseline 2013 9 Noise 10 Fish & Aquatic Resources 10aFish and Aquatic Resources Baseline Report 10B Freegold Road Fish and Aquatic Baseline 10cPreliminary Fish Habitat Compensation Plan 10d Freegold Road Extension S&EC Risk Assessment 11 Rare Plants & Vegetation Health 11a Vegetation Baseline Report 12 Wildlife 12a Wildlife Baseline Report CASINO PROJECT | Proposal for Executive Committee Review | Jan 2014 12B Bird Baseline Report Casino Project: Vegetation Baseline Report Prepared for: Casino Mining Corporation 2050-1111 West Georgia St. Vancouver, BC V6E 4M3 Prepared by: EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. 2195-2nd Avenue Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 3T8 EDI Contact: Mike Setterington 867-393-4882 EDI Project No: 13-Y-0045 October, 2013 PRINCE GEORGE • VANCOUVER • NANAIMO • GRANDE PRAIRIE • WHITEHORSE www.edynamics.com Suggested citation: EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. 2013. Casino Project: Vegetation Baseline Report. Prepared for Casino Mining Corporation, Vancouver, BC by EDI, Whitehorse. 15 October 2013. Casino Project: Vegetation Baseline Report 15 October 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Casino Project is a proposed 33 year operational mine located in central Yukon (YK). The Project includes the construction of mine facilities and an access road, mine operation and closure/reclamation. The Project proposes to mine a large porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum deposit that will be developed as an open pit and will process approximately 44 million tonne-per-annum (Mt/a). The objective of this vegetation baseline is to provide information on the existing vegetation, particularly a description of the ecological land classification vegetative characteristics, rare plants and baseline vegetation health. The baseline report will be used as a basis to assess effects of the Project and inform future vegetation monitoring initiatives. Ecological Land Classification — Terrain mapping and ecological land classification (ELC) mapping was conducted in 2010 and 2011 to characterize the local landscape and provide a foundation for classification of local vegetation communities. This work will also be used as a basis for habitat classification for some wildlife species. The study area for the ELC mapping was approximately 881 km² and included alpine, subalpine, boreal high and boreal low bioclimate zones. Of the 27 ecosite categories, the predominant types include subalpine moist shrub, mixedwood forest, sparse coniferous forest, tall shrub, dry broadleaf forest and coniferous forest. Some of the less common ecosites include open bog, sloping grasslands and tors, which are characteristic features in unglaciated landscapes. Rare Plants — During the 2010 and 2012 surveys, nine species of conservation concern were documented: Artemisia laciniata, Botrychium alaskense, Cypripedium guttatum, Erigeron purpuratus, Helictotrichon hookeri, Koenigia islandica, Minuartia yukonensis, Phacelia mollis, and Silene williamsii. Phacelia mollis was the only species found during both surveys. Of these nine species documented during the surveys, three are listed on the Yukon Conservation Data Centre (YCDC) Track list and five are on the Watch list. At the time of the surveys, Erigeron purpuratus, was on the Watch list, but has since been removed. The remaining species of conservation concern have low numbers of known populations in YK. In North America, four of the species are endemic to YK and Alaska (AK), which includes Artemisia laciniata, Erigeron purpuratus, Phacelia mollis, and Silene williamsii. Within YK, these four species (with the exception of Erigeron purpuratus, also known from northern YK) are restricted to the western part of the territory. Botrychium alaskense is only known to YK, AK, and British Columbia (B.C.), and is currently on the COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) candidate list, so may be reviewed more closely in the future (B. Bennett pers. comm. 2012). New locations discovered in 2010 and 2012 are important additions to the known distribution of these species. Habitats where rare species occur were observed in the study area, and include very steep dry slopes supporting grass and forbs and/or open aspen, gravel bars subject to flooding, rock outcrops, and disturbed sites, including tailings and old roads. Some of the rare species found in the study area may be more common in YK than documented locations indicate, due to the large size of the Territory and the difficulty of access to remote areas. Any further information on additional populations of these species that are discovered in the project study area and surrounding areas during development would be very useful for the EDI Project #: 13-Y-0045 EDI ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS INC iii Casino Project: Vegetation Baseline Report 15 October 2013 YCDC to develop true status rankings for the species, as well as to assist land managers and planners to avoid uncertainties. Vegetation Health — Baseline characterization of plant health was determined by collecting plant samples at sites both near and far away from the proposed potential disturbance area (PDA). The three genera of focus that were collected at each sample site, where present, were willow (Salix spp.), horsetail (Equisetum spp.), and lichen (Cladina spp.). Samples were collected from 62 sites