Starting uranium exploration or developing a uranium mine is a complex process with many steps, approvals, and regulators. The regulatory process helps ensure that stakeholders are heard and listened to and that we research, consider, and design mitigation efforts around the environment, wildlife, and of course people. This blog entry came from a question asked as part of our Q and A. Hopefully it will help you understand the process and some of the regulators.
AREVA is always interested in what people are thinking and what concerns they might have. This blog is one of many ways AREVA can listen to and learn from Baker Lake residents. Baker Lake residents can also make sure their voices are heard and considered by the Institutions of Public Government established under the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement (NLCA) in addition to federal and territorial government departments. We have outlined the permits required and the opportunities for community participation in this response. The best source for information about participation opportunities with regulators is with the regulators themselves.
Kiggavik is presently an exploration camp and is undergoing an environmental assessment for a proposal to operate a mine and mill. Kiggavik has the approvals to operate the exploration camp. Approvals for operating the mine can only be issued after a positive environmental assessment decision; a decision that is anticipated to take at least another two or three years.
Exploration
For the exploration camp, AREVA has been issued a permit from the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA), from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and from the Nunavut Water Board (NWB). The Baker Lake Community Lands and Resource Committee (CLARC) reviewed the requested Kiggavik exploration activities and provided feedback and recommendations to the KIA as one part of the KIA permit approval process. Before these permits were issued, the Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) decided that AREVA’s proposed exploration activities conformed with the regional land use plan and the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) conducted a screening of project activities which included an opportunity for the public to comment. The original NPC conformity determination for exploration activities at Kiggavik occurred in late 2006 and the NIRB conducted their initial screening in 2007. AREVA’s exploration activities must conform to the terms and conditions issued to the company with each of the above approvals. AREVA reports on exploration activities annually as one of the many requirements of these approvals. The annual reports can be found here.
Mine Development
AREVA submitted a project proposal to the regulators in November of 2008. NPC evaluated the proposal and determined the proposal was in conformity with the regional land use plan in January 2009. NPC then forwarded the Kiggavik proposal to the NIRB for screening to determine if the proposed project may have effects on the ecosystem, wildlife habitat, Inuit harvesting activities, socio-economics, if there was public concern or technological innovations in order to determine if an environmental review would be required. The public was invited to comment on the proposed project from January 20, 2009 to February 18, 2009 and many people in Baker Lake provided comments (all of these comments are publicly available here). In March 2009, the NIRB recommended to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs (the Minister) that the Kiggavik Project undergo an environmental assessment and in February 2010, the Minister made the decision that the environmental assessment for the Kiggavik project would be carried out by the NIRB.
The NIRB visited Baker Lake for a three day information session from April 25 to 27, 2010 where staff gave a summary of the proposal, explained the environmental assessment process and schedule and asked for community input. Similar NIRB-led sessions were held in every Kivalliq community and a Public Scoping Meetings Summary Report was published.
The KIA has also held a public meeting in Baker Lake on February 26, 2010 as well as public meetings in each of the other six Kivalliq communities during the winter/spring of 2010 in order to consult with Land Claim Beneficiaries about the Kiggavik Project.
The remainder of the environmental assessment process over the next two to three years will provide many more opportunities for the people of Baker Lake and elsewhere to comment on the Kiggavik project. A guide to the NIRB review process is available here and the NIRB guide to public awareness and participation programs during the review process is available here. A number of government and regulatory agencies have already participated in the NIRB review and will continue to participate and provide technical review. Some of the reviewing agencies that may participate in the review of the project include the KIA, NWB, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board; federal agencies and departments including the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Environment Canada, DFO, Transport Canada INAC, Health Canada, Parks Canada and the Government of Nunavut departments of Environment, Health and Social Services, Economic Development and Transportation, Justice and the department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and others. At the end of the review process, the NIRB will recommend to the Minister of INAC whether it believes the project should proceed and the Minister will make the decision. If the decision is to proceed, the NIRB will issue a project certificate to AREVA with terms and conditions that must be met.
Given a positive environmental assessment decision, AREVA will apply for permits/licences from the KIA, INAC, the NWB, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and other authorizing agencies. Table 1.1 in the Kiggavik project proposal lists the major authorizations that will be required and Table 1.2 of the project proposal lists applicable legislation and responsible authorities for the related approvals. There would be additional opportunities for public participation during the permitting and licensing stage including public hearings for both the NWB and CNSC licences. The CNSC requires licences for site preparation and construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment.
AREVA initiatives in Baker Lake since the project proposal was released in November 2008 to August 2010 have included, 18 Community Liaison Committee meetings that were open to the public; one meeting with the Hamlet Council; five meetings with the Baker Lake Hunter and Trapper Organization; three meetings with the elders and three public meetings in Baker Lake. AREVA will continue to visit communities and provide opportunities to participate and comments on the Kiggavik Project can be made to AREVA at any time through this blog or by visiting the Baker Lake office.
Anyone can submit comments directly to the NIRB for consideration in the Kiggavik review at:
General Inquiries: info@nirb.ca
Toll Free: 1-866-233-3033
Fax: 1-867-983-2594 or 1-867-983-2574
FTP Site: http://ftp.nirb.ca
Website: http://www.nirb.ca
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1360, Cambridge Bay, NU, X0B 0C0