m ine Arnaud Project Environmental Impact Statement Summary DEc EmbER 2012 PROJEcT NO.: 121-17926-00 ARNAUD MINE PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SUMMARY Prepared for Mine Arnaud inc. By GENIVAR inc. Approved by : Bernard Massicotte, M.Sc. Biologist DECEMBER 2012 121-17926-00 WORK TEAM GENIVAR Project Manager : Bernard Massicotte, Biol., M.Sc. Assistant Project Manager : Mathieu Cyr, Geogr., M.Env. Activity Manager : Hélène Desnoyers, Geogr., MA Collaborator : Marie-Hélène Brisson, Biol., B.Sc. Geomatics : Ludovic Deschênes, Cartogr. Edition : Linette Poulin Recommended citation: GENIVAR, 2012. Arnaud Mine Project. Environmental Impact Statement - Summary. Filed with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Report to Mine Arnaud by GENIVAR inc. 107 p. Mine Arnaud – Environmental Impact Statement Summary GENIVAR 121-17926-00 December 2012 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Work team ................................................................................................................................. i Table of contents ...................................................................................................................... iii List of tables ............................................................................................................................. vii List of maps ............................................................................................................................. vii List of figures ........................................................................................................................... vii List of acronyms ........................................................................................................................ ix 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Proponent .............................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Overview of the project and location ..................................................................... 2 1.3 Environmental Policy ............................................................................................. 4 2. PROJECT OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Background and rationale of the project ................................................................ 7 2.1.1 Global economy ...................................................................................... 7 2.1.2 Local and regional economic context ...................................................... 7 2.1.3 Context of project integration .................................................................. 8 2.1.4 Estimate of exploitable resources Arnaud Mining Project ....................... 9 2.2 Regulatory framework ........................................................................................... 9 2.3 Environmental Impact Statement ........................................................................ 10 2.3.1 Scope of the project and assessment ................................................... 10 2.3.2 Time limits ............................................................................................. 10 2.3.3 Spatial boundaries ................................................................................. 11 2.3.4 Environmental assessment methodology .............................................. 11 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................ 13 3.1 Project Access ..................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Siting project Infrastructure ................................................................................. 13 3.3 Alternatives considered ....................................................................................... 14 3.4 Background and geological description of the deposit ........................................ 18 3.5 Mining Plan .......................................................................................................... 18 Mine Arnaud – Environmental Impact Statement Summary GENIVAR 121-17926-00 December 2012 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 3.6 Mining and related facilities ................................................................................. 19 3.7 Supply ................................................................................................................. 19 3.8 Construction Plan ................................................................................................ 20 3.9 Implementation schedule and staffing needs ...................................................... 22 3.9.1 Construction .......................................................................................... 22 3.9.2 Operation .............................................................................................. 22 3.10 Economic Impacts ............................................................................................... 22 3.11 Preliminary reclamation plan ............................................................................... 25 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ............................................................................................. 31 4.1 Preliminary information and consultation activities ............................................. 31 4.1.1 Target public ......................................................................................... 31 4.1.2 Communication tools ............................................................................ 32 4.1.3 Results .................................................................................................. 32 4.1.3.1 Concerns ................................................................................ 32 4.1.3.2 Mine Arnaud Responses and commitments ........................... 34 4.1.3.3 Uashat mak Mani-Utenam Community ................................... 34 4.2 Pre-consultation .................................................................................................. 35 4.2.1 Phases of pre-consultation process ...................................................... 36 4.2.2 Pre-consultation results......................................................................... 36 4.2.2.1 Public Participation ................................................................. 36 4.2.2.2 Results of the three phases of the pre-consultation ............... 37 4.3 Tools for communication and exchange ............................................................. 40 5. CURRENT CONDITIONS AND MAIN IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT ............... 43 5.1 Physical Environment .......................................................................................... 43 5.1.1 Air Quality ............................................................................................. 43 5.1.2 Noise level ............................................................................................ 46 5.1.3 Vibration ................................................................................................ 48 Mine Arnaud – Environmental Impact Statement Summary GENIVAR 121-17926-00 December 2012 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 5.1.4 Soils and surface deposits .................................................................... 48 5.1.5 Quality and use of groundwater ............................................................ 49 5.1.6 Hydrology .............................................................................................. 50 5.1.7 Quality of surface water and sediment .................................................. 52 5.2 Biological Environment ........................................................................................ 53 5.2.1 Vegetation ............................................................................................. 53 5.2.2 Wildlife ................................................................................................... 54 5.2.2.1 Benthos and fish ..................................................................... 54 5.2.2.2 Amphibians and Reptiles ........................................................ 55 5.2.2.3 Birds ........................................................................................ 56 5.2.2.4 Mammals ................................................................................ 58 5.2.2.5 Coastal habitat and marine wildlife ......................................... 59 5.2.2.6 Conservation and Protected Areas ......................................... 59 5.3 Human Environment ............................................................................................ 60 5.3.1 Employment and Economy ................................................................... 60 5.3.2 Suburban and rural environment ........................................................... 62 5.3.3 Logging and mining ............................................................................... 63 5.3.4 Resort, leisure and tourism ................................................................... 63 5.3.5 Hunting, fishing and trapping ................................................................. 65 5.3.6 Infrastructure ......................................................................................... 66 5.3.6.1 Road Infrastructure ................................................................. 66 5.3.6.2 Rail Infrastructure ...................................................................