ENVIRONMENTAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT FOR STELLARTON PIT MINE EXTENSION VOLUME I Mining Operations – East of MacGregor Avenue Submitted to Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour By Pioneer Coal Limited January 2004 PREFACE Pioneer Coal Limited (Pioneer Coal) is submitting this Environmental Registration Document (ERD) for mining operations on the east side of MacGregor Avenue. This proposed undertaking is a continuation of the existing Stellarton Pit Mine located on the west side of MacGregor Avenue. The ERD is being filed subsequent to a response from the Minister of Environment and Labour (October of 2003) that the expansion of current operations has been defined as a Class I undertaking. According to the Statement of Principle with respect to coal of Nova Scotia’s Energy Strategy (Dec 2001), our Province “will encourage the use of indigenous coal where environmentally and economically appropriate, promote reclamation mining in lands previously disturbed by mining, and encourage development of clean coal technologies.” The proposed undertaking embodies the goals of the Energy Strategy. As such, this document outlines project activities, the potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, associated mitigation, and monitoring for this undertaking. The submission includes pertinent background information from the 1995 Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) for the Stellarton Pit Mine. Updated data, current methodologies and additional assessments have been incorporated into the ERD. This additional information has been prepared utilizing the comments, advice and expertise of a number of different agencies and persons including: residents and elected officials from the local community; Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (NSDNR); Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour (NSDEL); Nova Scotia Museum (NSM); Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM); Community Liaison Committee (CLC); and MGI Limited (MGI). Environmental Registration Document Stellarton Pit Mine Extension TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. VOLUME I Preface Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................................. i List of Acronyms And Abbreviations................................................................................ iv Table of Concordance..........................................................................................................v 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Registration......................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Regulatory Environment..................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 Applicable Acts and Regulations...................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Municipal Planning Strategy and By- Laws ..................................................... 4 1.2.3 Lease, Permits and Approvals........................................................................... 4 1.3 Sources of Information ....................................................................................... 5 1.4 Document Purpose and Structure........................................................................ 5 2.0 OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT .......................................................................... 7 2.1 Scope of the Undertaking.................................................................................... 7 2.2 Background....................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Project Justification........................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Reason for Undertaking .................................................................................. 12 2.3.2 Other Methods of Carrying Out the Undertaking........................................... 13 2.3.3 Alternatives to the Undertaking...................................................................... 14 2.4 Site Location and Physiography ....................................................................... 14 2.5 Surface Rights................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Mineral Rights .................................................................................................. 19 2.7 Scope of Environmental Assessment................................................................ 19 3.0 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION.............................................................. 22 3.1 Overall Strategy ................................................................................................ 22 3.1.1 Existing Site – West of MacGregor Avenue................................................... 22 3.1.2 Extension Site – East of MacGregor Avenue ................................................. 23 3.2 Site Facilities..................................................................................................... 24 3.3 Design and Preconstruction Activities.............................................................. 24 3.4 Site Preparation................................................................................................. 27 3.4.1 Erosion and Sedimentation Control................................................................ 27 3.4.2 Clearing and Grubbing.................................................................................... 27 3.4.3 Surface Water Management............................................................................ 29 3.4.4 Access to Existing Facilities ........................................................................... 33 3.4.5 Roadways........................................................................................................ 33 3.4.6 Overburden / Waste Rock Stockpiles ............................................................. 35 3.4.7 Contingency Planning..................................................................................... 35 Environmental Registration Document Stellarton Pit Mine Extension 3.5 Operation and Maintenance .............................................................................. 35 3.5.1 Mining Operations .......................................................................................... 36 3.5.2 Equipment....................................................................................................... 36 3.5.3 Waste Rock Handling ..................................................................................... 36 3.5.4 Wastewater Management................................................................................ 40 3.5.5 Coal Processing............................................................................................... 40 3.5.6 Coal Transportation ........................................................................................ 40 3.5.7 Site Security.................................................................................................... 42 3.6 Decommissioning and Reclamation ................................................................. 42 3.6.1 Reclamation Bond........................................................................................... 42 3.6.2 Waste Rock Management ............................................................................... 43 3.6.3 Site Contouring ............................................................................................... 43 3.6.4 Re-vegetation .................................................................................................. 43 3.7 Potential Environmental Impacts and Mitigation ............................................. 44 3.8 Project Schedule................................................................................................ 45 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING .......................................................................... 46 4.1 Atmospheric Conditions ................................................................................... 46 4.1.1 Climate............................................................................................................ 46 4.1.2 Winds .............................................................................................................. 47 4.1.3 Air Quality ...................................................................................................... 48 4.2 Noise Levels...................................................................................................... 51 4.3 Surface Water.................................................................................................... 52 4.3.1 Hydrology ....................................................................................................... 53 4.3.1.1. Middle River Watershed................................................................... 53 4.3.1.2. East River Watershed........................................................................ 54 4.3.2 Water Chemistry ............................................................................................. 54 4.3.3 Sediment Characteristics................................................................................. 58 4.4 Groundwater ..................................................................................................... 58 4.4.1 Regional Hydrogeology.................................................................................