This consultation was open from:
September 12, 2025
to October 27, 2025
Decision summary
An amended Environmental Compliance Approval is granted to New Gold Inc. for the collection, transmission, treatment and disposal of stormwater, groundwater seepage and wastewater (process and domestic wastewater) from the site located at the District of Rainy River, Ontario.
Location details
Site address
ON
Canada
Site location details
Rainy River Mine is located in the Municipality of Chapple, approximately 50 km north of Emo, Ontario.
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)
New Gold Inc.
5967 Highway 11/71
Emo,
ON
P0W 1E0
Canada
Decision details
The water balance model indicates a need for increased water treatment, which will require upgrades to existing infrastructure such that the water treatment flow throughput for the overall site is increased. This amendment application is to address the need for increased water treatment and discharge. The water treatment upgrades associated with Treatment Train 2 aim to allow treatment up to 50,000 m³/day to supplement the treatment capacity of Train 1 treatment system (which as a capacity of 20,000 m³/day). For the effluent discharge, it is proposed to have two new discharge locations and increase the discharge rate to the Pinewood River from 54,000 cubic metres/day to 126,000 cubic metres/day.
The existing domestic sewage treatment plant using Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) was designed for 600 persons. It is proposed to expand the treatment system with the same technology (RBC) to serve 900 persons.
A septic system was also proposed to treat domestic wastewater generated by an additional 200 persons at the underground laydown area.
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.
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 1
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
808 Robertson Street
Kenora,
ON
P9N 1X9
Canada
How to Appeal
This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 15 days from November 5, 2025 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)
New Gold Inc.
5967 Highway 11/71
Emo,
ON
P0W 1E0
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
135 St Clair Ave West
1st Floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
This proposal is for an amendment to Environmental Compliance Approval No. 2290-CAVKGN for industrial sewage works serving the Rainy River Mine located at 5967 Highway 11/71, in the Township of Emo, Ontario.
New Gold Inc. is proposing to amend its existing Environmental Compliance Approval to increase the total effluent treatment capacity at the Rainy River Mine to 59,000 cubic metres per day and the authorized discharge to the Pinewood River to 126,000 cubic metres per day. The proposed increase is required to manage site-wide water volumes and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance as mine operations expand.
Scope of proposed changes:
- increase maximum effluent treatment capacity to 59,000 cubic metres per day
- increase maximum discharge limit to the Pinewood River to 126,000 cubic metres per day
- expand the Domestic Sewage Treatment Plant to support up to 900 site personnel
- install a new septic system to serve an additional 200 personnel at the Underground Laydown Area
Rationale:
The amendment is driven by long-term mine water balance forecasts, which show that higher treatment and discharge capacities are necessary to control pond volumes within the Tailings Management Area. This requirement becomes more pronounced after 2029 due to increased pore water release from the tailings. Additionally, with the ramp-up of underground operations, the mine requires expanded sewage treatment infrastructure to support the projected workforce.
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.
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 1
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from September 12, 2025
to October 27, 2025
Connect with us
Contact
Client Services and Permissions Branch
135 St Clair Ave West
1st Floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
0By email
0By mail
0