Côté Gold Mine Project Environmental Assessment Report April 2016 Cover photo credited to IAMGOLD Corporation. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, (2016). Catalogue No: En106-150/2016E-PDF ISBN : 978-0-660-04947-2 This publication, with the exception of the cover photo and all figures, may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial purposes, and in any format, without charge or further permission. Unless otherwise specified, you may not reproduce materials, in whole or in part, for the purpose of commercial redistribution without prior written permission from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3 or [email protected]. The copyrights for the cover photo and all figures are owned by IAMGOLD Corporation. You may not reproduce the cover photo and figures, for non-commercial or commercial purposes, without prior written permission from IAMGOLD Corporation. This document has been issued in French under the title: Projet de mine d’or Côté - Rapport d’évaluation environnementale Executive Summary IAMGOLD Corporation (the proponent) is proposing the construction, operation, decommissioning, and abandonment of the Côté Gold Mine Project (the Project), which includes an open pit gold mine, an on-site metal mill and four structures for diverting water, located 20 kilometres southwest of the community of Gogama in northeastern Ontario. The mine and metal mill would have an ore production capacity and an ore input capacity, respectively, of 60 000 tonnes per day, with a life of approximately 15 years. The four water course realignment structures would have the capacity to divert 14 271 500, 15 695 800, 17 994 500, and 13 286 000 cubic metres of water per year. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) conducted an environmental assessment of the Project in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). The Project is subject to CEAA 2012 because it involves activities described in the schedule to the Regulations Designating Physical Activities as follows: • item 6: the construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new structure for the diversion of 10 000 000 cubic metres per year of water from a natural water body into another natural water body; • item 16 (b): the construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new metal mill with an ore input capacity of 4000 tonnes per day or more; and • item 16 (c): the construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new rare earth element mine or gold mine, other than a placer mine, with an ore production capacity of 600 tonnes per day or more. The proponent entered into a voluntary agreement with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to subject its project to the requirements of Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act. The Agency and the Province of Ontario conducted the federal environmental assessment and Ministry Review of the proponent’s individual environmental assessment cooperatively to the fullest extent possible. This environmental assessment report (the Report) summarizes the assessment conducted by the Agency, including the information and analysis on the potential environmental effects of the Project considered, and the Agency’s conclusions on whether the Project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, after taking into account the implementation of mitigation measures. The Agency prepared the Report with expert advice from federal authorities —Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Transport Canada and Health Canada—and provincial ministries—the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Furthermore, the Report was informed by comments submitted throughout the environmental assessment process by Aboriginal groups and the public. Environmental Assessment Report – Côté Gold Mine Project ii The Agency analyzed environmental effects on areas of federal jurisdiction in relation to section 5 of CEAA 2012, including: fish and fish habitat; migratory birds; current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by Aboriginal peoples; health and socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal peoples; physical and cultural heritage; and any structure, site or thing that is of historical, archaeological, paleontological or architectural significance for Aboriginal peoples. The Agency also assessed effects related to changes to the environment that are directly linked or necessarily incidental to federal decisions that may be required for the Project by Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada and Natural Resources Canada. The assessment also considered transboundary effects, in relation to direct greenhouse gas emissions. The Report outlines several potential or established Aboriginal or treaty rights held by First Nations and Métis that could be potentially affected by the Project, including hunting, trapping, fishing, plant harvesting, navigation by traditional travel routes, and the use of sites and areas of cultural importance for the exercise of rights. The main potential adverse environmental effects from the Project in relation to section 5 of CEAA 2012 are: • effects on fish and fish habitat from loss and alteration of habitat, changes to water levels and flows, and potential surface water contamination; • effects on migratory birds and species at risk due to vegetation clearing, habitat loss and fragmentation, sensory disturbances (i.e. artificial light, sound and human presence) and vehicle collisions; • effects on the health of Aboriginal peoples due to fugitive dust and airborne contaminants; • effects on traditional land use for hunting, trapping, fishing, plant harvesting, and navigation by traditional travel routes; • effects on Aboriginal physical and cultural heritage, and structures and sites of historical and archaeological importance; and • effects, that are directly linked or necessarily incidental to federal decisions, on other ecological components of the environment (e.g. wetlands and species reliant on riparian habitat) and socio-economic conditions (e.g. canoeing, licensed bear hunting, trapping and bait harvesting). Mitigation measures will be implemented to prevent or reduce potential adverse effects of the Project. The Agency has identified mitigation measures and follow-up program requirements for consideration by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in establishing conditions as part of the Decision Statement under CEAA 2012. Conditions accepted by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change would become legally binding on the proponent if the Minister ultimately issues a Decision Statement indicating that the Project may proceed. The Agency, in selecting key mitigation and follow-up measures, was informed by the proponent’s commitments, expert advice from federal authorities and provincial ministries, and comments from Aboriginal groups and the public. Key mitigation measures include implementing an offsetting plan for serious harm to fish, managing effluent and surface water quality including by limiting seepage from the tailings management facility, avoiding vegetation clearing during migratory bird core nesting periods, minimizing emissions of fugitive dust and airborne contaminants, minimizing effects of environmental Environmental Assessment Report – Côté Gold Mine Project iii changes caused by the Project on traditional land and resource uses, providing access to land to the extent that it is safe and protective of health, protecting archaeological artifacts, and avoiding disturbances to active eagles’ nests. The Report outlines comments received from Aboriginal groups related to environmental effects. The effects identified include increased pressure on resources and the potential for reduced access to hunting, trapping, fishing, plant harvesting, and cultural areas of importance. Aboriginal groups also commented on changes to water quality and quantity, potential contamination of fish and other wildlife resources along with the associated health impacts. Aboriginal groups expressed concern that the proponent’s construction timeline is not set and there is the potential for Aboriginal peoples’ use of the area to change before the Project proceeds. The Agency endeavoured to select key mitigation and follow-up measures to address effects on Aboriginal peoples which would also serve as accommodation of potential impacts on potential or established Aboriginal or treaty rights. In relation to the uncertainty regarding the timing of project commencement, the Agency recommends, for inclusion in the Minister’s Decision Statement, a condition that would require the proponent to ensure that its actions in meeting the conditions set out in the Minister’s Decision Statement are informed by the best available information, including Aboriginal traditional knowledge. This would include proponent consultation with Aboriginal groups throughout project implementation and public reporting on how it considered the best available information in its actions. To further address potential impacts on current uses and existing or potential rights, the Agency also recommends, for inclusion in the Minister’s Decision Statement, that the proponent be