Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. - Direction to keep sewage works in repair

Requirements for public notification on the Environmental Bill of Rights registry do not apply where, in the minister’s opinion, the delay involved in giving notice to the public, in allowing time for public response to the notice, or in considering the response to the notice would result in:

1. danger to the health or safety of any person;
2. harm or serious risk of harm to the environment; or
3. injury or damage or serious risk of injury or damage to any person.

An emergency Director's direction was issued as it was determined that a delay could result in harm or serious risk of harm to the environment.

The following factors were considered in making that determination:

1. The company indicated to the ministry that they needed to lower the water level in their Conditioning Pond to provide adequate storage until the discharge period restarted April 1, 2019, and that the discharge was necessary to mitigate risk to the environment from a bypass and/or dam breach should the water level not be lowered. A delay in lowering the pond would create an overflow condition and could lead to a catastrophic dam failure thereby resulting in the discharge of untreated water which would be harmful to the environment