This consultation was open from:
December 10, 2025
to January 24, 2026
Decision summary
An amended Environmental Compliance Approval is granted to Silver Lake Ontario Inc. for the collection, transmission, treatment and disposal of process wastewater, contact and non-contact stormwater, and groundwater seepage from the mine site located at the District of Algoma, Ontario.
Location details
Site address
Within the Townships of Odlum, Strickland, Gourlay, Tedder, and Unorganized Township of Hambleton,
Townships of Odlum,
ON
P0M 3G0
Canada
Site location details
Sugar Zone Project
Site location map
The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.
View this location on a map opens link in a new windowProponent(s)
Silver Lake Ontario Inc.
113 Tukanee Lake Road
White River,
ON
P0M 3G0
Canada
Decision details
An Industrial Sewage Works (ISW) Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) amendment application was submitted to amend the existing ISW ECA No. 1590-DF6K89 for the Sugar Zone Mine located within the Townships of Odlum.
The amendment is to increase the sewage system's overall performance, including a new South Tailings Management Facility (STMF), new freshwater Diversion Channels, a new Seepage Collection System, new overland piping to transport tailings, and Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) Pump Upgrades which will increase the treatment capacity of the ETP from 2,100 to 2,600 cubic metres per day.
There is no change in the Daily Effluent Limits for all parameters, and the monthly average effluent limits become more stringent for most of the parameters (copper, nickel, lead, zinc, arsenic, boron, and total phosphorus) in this amendment.
Effects of consultation
No comments were received.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
64 Church Street
Sault Ste. Marie,
ON
P6A 3H3
Canada
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 2
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
How to Appeal
This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 15 days from July 23, 2026 to begin the appeal process.
Carefully review the information below to learn more about the appeal process.
How to appealClick to Expand Accordion
Start the process to appeal
If you’re an Ontario resident, you can start the process to appeal this instrument decision.
First, you’ll need to seek leave (i.e. get permission) from the relevant appellate body to appeal the decision.
If the appellate body grants leave, the appeal itself will follow.
Seek leave to appeal
To seek leave to appeal, you need to do these three things:
- prepare your application
- provide notice to the minister
- mail your application to three parties
1. Prepare your application
You’ll need to prepare an application. You may wish to include the following things in your application:
- A document that includes:
- your name, phone number, fax number (if any), and/or email address
- the ERO number and ministry reference number (located on this page)
- a statement about whether you are a resident in Ontario
- your interest in the decision, and any facts you want taken into account in deciding whether you have an interest in the decision
- the parts of the instrument that you’re challenging
- whether the decision could result in significant harm to the environment
- the reason(s) why you believe that no reasonable person – having regard to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind – could have made the decision
- the grounds (facts) you’ll be using to appeal
- the outcome you’d like to see
- A copy of the instrument (approval, permit, order) that you you are seeking leave to appeal. You’ll find this in the decision notice on the Environmental Registry
- Copies of all supporting documents, facts and evidence that you’ll be using to appeal
What is considered
The appeal body will consider the following two questions in deciding whether to grant you leave to appeal:
- is there is good reason to believe that no reasonable person, with respect to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind, could have made the decision?
- could the decision you wish to appeal result in significant harm to the environment?
2. Provide your notice
You’ll need to provide notice to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that you’re seeking leave to appeal.
In your notice, please include a brief description of the:
- decision that you wish to appeal
- grounds for granting leave to appeal
You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:
College Park 5th Floor, 777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
3. Mail your application
You’ll need to mail your application that you prepared in step #1 to each of these three parties:
- appellate body
- issuing authority (the ministry official who issued the instrument)
- proponent (the company or individual to whom the instrument was issued)
Silver Lake Ontario Inc.
113 Tukanee Lake Road
White River,
ON
P0M 3G0
Canada
Registrar, Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca
Include the following:
This is not legal advice. Please refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights for exact legal requirements. Consult a lawyer if you need help with the appeal process.
Connect with us
Contact
Client Services and Permissions Branch
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 2
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
This proposal is to amend the existing Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) no. 1590-DF6K89, issued to Silver Lake Ontario Inc. (SLO) for the Sugar Zone Mine, located approximately 35 kilometres north of White River, Ontario.
This ECA was granted to oversee the collection, transmission, treatment, and disposal of a maximum daily flow of 2,100 cubic metres of mine water and the provision for Limited Operational Flexibility.
The present amendment is required to support ongoing operations and includes several key modifications. The central component of this proposal is the construction of a new South Tailings Management Facility (STMF), which is a secure facility for storing milled rock by-products (tailings) and includes associated water diversion channels. This new facility requires the installation of new overland piping to transport tailings, reclaim water, and seepage water.
For effective site water management, especially during Spring melt and heavy rainfall, this application also seeks to increase the maximum permitted daily discharge rate of treated water to Gagegenha Lake from 2,100 cubic meters per day to 2,600 cubic meters per day.
Finally, the amendment proposes modifications to the allowable monthly average effluent limits for some parameters, based on updated environmental studies reviewed by the Ministry, to ensure the continued protection of the local environment.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 2
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from December 10, 2025
to January 24, 2026
Connect with us
Contact
Client Services and Permissions Branch
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 2
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
0By email
0By mail
0