Environmental Assessment Gap Analysis Gunnar Mine Site Rehabilitation Project Report Prepared for Saskatchewan Research Council 125-15 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2X8 Report Prepared by In Association with: SENES Consultants Limited & Canada North Environmental Services February 2008 Environmental Assessment Gap Analysis Gunnar Mine Site Rehabilitation Project Saskatchewan Research Council 125-15 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2X8 SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. Suite 205, 2100 Airport Drive Saskatoon, SK S7L 6W6 Tel: 306 955 4778 Fax: 306 955 4750 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.srk.com SRK Project Number 4CS008.002 February 2008 Gunnar Project EA Gap Analysis Page i Environmental Assessment Gap Analysis Gunnar Mine Site Rehabilitation Project Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Environmental Assessment Regulatory Context ................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 Federal and Provincial Cooperation in the Environmental Assessment Process ................... 3 1.3 Federal Assessment Process ............................................................................................. 3 1.3.1 Federal Environmental Assessment Coordinator (FEAC) ...................................................... 4 1.3.2 Type of Federal Environmental Assessment .......................................................................... 4 1.3.3 Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment Requirements ......................................... 5 1.4 Provincial Environmental Impact Assessment Process ...................................................... 6 2 Draft Project Specific Guidelines & Comprehensive Study Scoping Document .... 6 3 Gunnar Rehabilitation Project Environmental Impact Statement - Draft Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... 7 4 Summary of Existing Site or Related Information ..................................................... 8 5 Environmental Assessment Gap Analysis .............................................................. 11 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 11 5.2 Gap Analysis (Based on Draft EIS Table of Contents) ..................................................... 11 EIS Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 11 EIS Section 1 - Reason for Submission .................................................................................... 12 EIS Section 2 - Summary of Historical Mining & Milling – Gunnar Mining Limited Site ............. 14 EIS Section 3 - Current Site Description ................................................................................... 14 Mine Facilities ................................................................................................................................... 15 Waste Rock Piles .............................................................................................................................. 17 Waste Rock Seep ............................................................................................................................. 18 Mill/Acid Plant .................................................................................................................................... 19 Mill Tailings ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Tailings Pore Water ........................................................................................................................... 22 On- site Residual Chemicals ............................................................................................................. 22 Auxiliary Structures ........................................................................................................................... 23 Additional Infrastructure .................................................................................................................... 23 Contaminated Soils ........................................................................................................................... 24 Other Wastes (Refuse/Debris) .......................................................................................................... 24 EIS Section 4 - Existing Environment ........................................................................................ 25 Historical Data Summary .................................................................................................................. 25 Climate/Meteorology ......................................................................................................................... 25 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 26 Gamma Radiation Levels .................................................................................................................. 26 Topography ....................................................................................................................................... 27 Hydrogeology .................................................................................................................................... 27 Aquatic Environment ......................................................................................................................... 29 Terrestrial Environment ..................................................................................................................... 31 Heritage Resources .......................................................................................................................... 31 DGH EA.Gap.Analysis.4CS008.002.DGH.Final.Draft.Report.Text February 2008 Gunnar Project EA Gap Analysis Page ii Socio-economic Environment ........................................................................................................... 32 2005 Screening Level Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment .......................................... 33 EIS Section 5 - Traditional Knowledge ...................................................................................... 33 EIS Section 6 - Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs) .......................................................... 35 EIS Section 7 - Rehabilitation Objectives .................................................................................. 36 EIS Section 8 - Options Analysis ............................................................................................... 36 EIS Section 9 - Project Description ........................................................................................... 39 Borrow Material ................................................................................................................................. 40 Occupational Health & Safety during Activities ................................................................................. 41 Hazardous Substances & Waste Dangerous Goods ........................................................................ 41 Spill Response & Management ......................................................................................................... 41 Regulatory Compliance during Activities .......................................................................................... 41 EIS Section 10 - Malfunctions & Accidents ............................................................................... 42 EIS Section 11 - Schedule of Activities ..................................................................................... 43 EIS Section 12 - Scope of Assessment ..................................................................................... 43 EIS Section 13 - Assessment of Effects and Mitigation ............................................................. 44 Assessment of Effects of Project ...................................................................................................... 44 Assessment of Effects of Malfunction/Accident ................................................................................ 46 Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment .............................................................................. 46 Effects of the Environment on the Project ......................................................................................... 46 Cumulative Environmental Effects .................................................................................................... 47 Fish Habitat Compensation ............................................................................................................... 47 Assessment of Residual Impacts ...................................................................................................... 48 EIS Section 14 - Follow-up Programs ....................................................................................... 48 EIS Section 15 - Public & Stakeholder