Great Bear Resources Ltd. - Permit to take water

The proposal was the subject of public consultation via the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO), alongside consultation with Indigenous communities that may be impacted.

Two comments were submitted electronically through the ERO indicating concerns about potential adverse impacts that could result from the water taking proposal. During and following the ERO posting period, feedback was also received through meetings and written correspondence as part of the Ministry’s consultation with Indigenous communities that may be impacted.

The concerns expressed regarding the proposed water takings related to the following main themes:

1. Concerns regarding consultation processes and opportunities for comment;
2. Impacts of proposed mining activities to general water quality;
3. Completeness of application and supporting technical studies and information provided;
4. Requirement for other mining environmental approvals;
5. Possible effects of water withdrawals on levels and flows in local lakes and rivers;
6. Potential for site discharges to cause environmental and/or human health effects and in particular concerns related to sulphate discharges. ;
7. Consideration of the Ministry’s Statement of Environmental Values in the review of the application.

The Ministry considered all comments received through the ERO, and through consultation with potentially impacted Indigenous communities. In particular, the ministry considered:

1. Following the 30-day ERO comment period, additional time was provided to potentially impacted Indigenous communities to review supporting materials. This included additional materials and information provided by the Proponent post-submission.
2. As a result of comments received, the Ministry made a decision to issue a “scoped” PTTW authorizing only some of the water takings in the original proposal. This scoped approach will allow those water takings considered to have a low risk of impacts to proceed while providing more time for the Proponent to characterize risks pertaining to other sources.
3. In addition to reducing the scope of the proposed water taking, further studies and data were requested from the Proponent and shared with interested stakeholders and Indigenous communities. The Ministry is satisfied that the level of detail provided within the totality of all materials submitted by the Proponent is sufficient to evaluate the risks of the water taking.
4. The issuance of one permission does not negate the need for other approvals. Should the mining project proceed beyond the current phase, a new PTTW application would be required to support water takings at later stages of project development, which would include further opportunities for consultation.
5. The Ministry is satisfied that the conditions of the scoped Permit are sufficient to prevent unacceptable impacts to surface water levels and flows.
6. On-site activities in the current project phase are not expected to generate any additional sulfate (i.e. concentrations are expected to be at background) and therefore would not contribute additional sulfate to the environment. In taking a precautionary approach, the Ministry has required through the conditions of the Permit that all dewatering discharge be treated in accordance with an Industrial Sewage Works Environmental Compliance Approval, and that treated effluent be fully infiltrated into the ground so as not to discharge directly or indirectly to any surface water body. The permit also includes a requirement to monitor subsurface conditions. Further monitoring and contingency measures are outlined in an Adaptive Management Plan required by condition within the Permit.
7. The Ministry has considered all aspects of its Statement of Environmental Values in the decision to issue the Permit.

The Ministry is satisfied that the Permit issued addresses the above concerns and is protective of the environment and other water users.