EV Nickel Inc. - Unpatented mining claim, Licence of Occupation, lease or patent of mining lands or mining rights

There are currently two registered boundary claims held by separate claimholders within boundary cell 42A06H380 in the geographic Township of Langmuir, situated over a part of the abandoned Langmuir Mine. Within this boundary cell there is also approximately 14.79 hectares of mining lands where no mining claim is currently registered. These mining lands are currently open for claim registration; however, subsection 38(3) of the Mining Act only permits a licensee to register cell claims that are not boundary claims. Because there are two existing boundary claims within the cell, the 14.79 hectares cannot be registered as a cell claim and is therefore unavailable for claim registration.

EV Nickel Inc. has requested that the Minister of Mines issue an unpatented mining claim covering the 14.79 hectares that are currently unavailable for claim registration under subsection 176(3) of the Mining Act.

EV Nickel Inc. has informed the Ministry that the requested area is integral to its intention of expanding current exploration activities occurring on adjacent mining claims and to further develop prospective high-grade targets. The Langmuir mine operated from 1973 to 1978 where two million tons of nickel ore was mined.

The Ministry does not anticipate any new environmental impacts associated with the issuance of an unpatented mining claim, given the small size of the area, the area being adjacent to the applicant’s existing boundary claim, and since activities on the claim are subject to other regulatory authorizations and requirements that govern environmental impacts.

The issuance of an unpatented boundary mining claim under subsection 176(3) of the Mining Act requires the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council and is subject to terms and conditions as the Minister considers appropriate.