URSA MAJOR MINERALS INCORPORATED - Mineral exploration permit

The proponent has submitted an application to the ministry for an exploration permit as required under the Mining Act for prescribed early exploration activities.

The activities that this permit would allow the proponent to carry out are as follows:

• mechanized surface stripping (greater than 100 square metres in a 200 metres radius)
• mechanized drilling (where the drill weight is greater than 150 kilograms)
• line cutting (less than 1.5 metres in width)
• geophysical survey requiring generator type

The potential disturbance from the activities are described as:

Line Cutting (greater than 1.5 metres in width) is done to prepare an area of mineral potential for further geological or geophysical activities. The potential environmental disturbance includes (but are not limited to): cutting trees and vegetation greater than 1.5 metre corridor with an axe, machete or chainsaw, clearing underbrush, and driving wood pickets into the ground.

Mechanized Surface Stripping uses heavy equipment to remove vegetation and soil (overburden) from bedrock. The potential environmental disturbance includes (but are not limited to): use of heavy equipment such as bulldozers, backhoes, excavators or forest harvest equipment, to remove soil from the bedrock, washing the bedrock by pumping water from nearby lakes, rivers or streams, and creation of access trails.

Pitting and Trenching are conducted to gain a greater visual understanding of the rock. The potential environmental disturbance includes (but is not limited to): the removal of surface soil, exposed rock as well as excavation or blasting of rock leaving shallow holes or trenches that vary in depth and length from the use of heavy equipment.

Mechanized Drilling provides rock samples from below the surface. Testing the samples determines the properties of the soil and rocks, including mineral and metal content. Potential environmental disturbances include (but are not limited to): clearing surface terrain for “drill pads” (small areas cleared for drill rigs and/or helicopters), installing casings (hollow steel pipes called the collar), and pumping water from a sump, nearby lakes, rivers or streams.

Line Cutting (less than 1.5 metres in width) the activity consists of line-cutting, using hand tools only. Potential environmental disturbances include clearing out the underbrush. In line cutting where there is ground cover present, potential environmental disturbances include clearing the brush and vegetation. In light underbrush there is likely little or no brushing. This is a one-time exercise and unless the underbrush is continually cleared, it will typically regenerate within the same or next growing season.

Geophysical Survey Requiring Generator Type the activity consists of line-cutting, using hand tools only. Potential disturbances include clearing out underbrush to establish a grid in order to temporarily lay wire lines used to record geophysical measurements. In light underbrush there is likely little or no brushing. This is a one-time exercise and unless the underbrush is continually cleared, it will typically regenerate within the same or next growing season.

Proponents are required to follow provincial standards for early exploration to minimize the impacts to public health, safety and the environment from early exploration activities described above. You can find the standards in the Activities Information Sheets or on the Ministry website under Mining Act Policies, Standards and Directives (see links in “Related links” section).

This notice is provided to receive comments that can be considered in the decision-making process prior to the issuance of an exploration permit.

An Exploration Permit does not relieve the proponent from compliance with any other requirements that are set out under the Mining Act or any other Act. All activities included in the Exploration Permit proposal must be carried out in compliance with Ontario Regulation 308/12 and the Provincial Standards for Early Exploration. The Exploration Permit duration will be up to 3 years with the possibility of renewal.