Environment Environnement
Canada
Canada
Environmental Protection Operations
Qimugjuk Building 969
P.O. Box 1870
Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0
Tel: (867) 975-4639
Fax: (867) 975-4645
March 19, 2007
Our File 4703 001
Leslie Payette
Manager of Environmental Administration
Nunavut Impact Review Board
P.O. Box 1360
Cambridge Bay, NU X0B 0C0
Tel: (867) 983-4607
Fax: (867) 983-2594
via e-mail lpayette@nirb.nnavut.ca
RE: Scoping comments on Baffinland’s Mary River Bulk Sampling Project
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) on the
type of review required for the Baffinland Iron Mine Corporation Mary River Project, pursuant to Part 4,
Article 12 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA), as well as on the scope of the project for
environmental assessment purposes. Environment Canada (EC) has no regulatory authorizations
associated with this project; however, EC will be providing specialist advice pursuant to our mandated
responsibilities for the enforcement of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Section 36(3) of the
Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, and the Species at Risk Act.
Environment Canada is of the opinion that the project proposal may cause significant adverse effects on
the ecosystem and wildlife habitat and be a cause of significant public concern based upon the type of
activities and associated scale of the project. EC recommends that the project be reviewed pursuant to
12.4.4 (b) of the NLCA.
Potential significant impacts to the ecosystem may include, but not be limited to:
 Disturbance to waterfowl and seabirds in coastal areas along the proposed shipping route, which
pass within close proximity to Bylot Island, a Migratory Bird Sanctuary and the surrounding Key
Migratory Bird Habitat Marine Area.
 Surface freshwater quality as a result of run-off from open pit mining, drilling activities and the
open stockpiling of iron ore.
 Water quality and migratory birds resulting from accidents or malfunctions which may occur during
transfer, storage and shipping of ore concentrate and 80 ML of fuel.
 Air quality as a result of emissions from incineration, crushing and other mine activities.
 Drilling and blasting activities that negatively contributes to noise, air and water quality.
 Species at risk and migratory birds as a result of habitat loss and disturbance at the proposed
project site facilities, roads, and shipping route.
While EC believes that there is potential for the bulk sample project to cause significant adverse impacts,
it is also recognized that this project is not a full scale mining operation. Environment Canada
recommends that the scale of the review under 12.4.4(b) be appropriate to the size of the project.
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Environment Environnement
Canada
Canada
Scope of Project
Based on EC’s mandated responsibilities and the information provided in the Mary River bulk sample
project proposal, the following is a description of the physical works and the activities of the Mary River
bulk sample project proposal that have potential impacts on areas of federal jurisdiction:
 The construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a 200-person camp.
o Air quality, surface water quality, migratory birds, and species at risk.
 The construction, operation and decommissioning of two open pit mines
o Surface water quality/quantity, ground water quality, migratory birds, species at risk
 Construction and maintenance of a 100 km all-weather road, including associated quarries.
o Migratory birds, species at risk, air quality, surface water quality
 The transfer and storage of 80 ML of fuel
o Surface water quality(spills), Hazardous materials management
 Stockpiling of iron ore and waste rock
o Surface water quality, migratory birds, species at risk
 The incineration of camp waste, sewage and waste oil
o Air quality, migratory birds, species at risk
 The construction, operation, maintenance and abandonment of a landfill site.
o Surface water quality, ground water quality, migratory birds, species at risk
 Shipping activities along Eclipse Sound.
o Species at risk, migratory birds, emergency response, marine water quality
Environment Canada is able to offer the NIRB specialist advice on these project components within areas
under our jurisdiction, including surface water quality (freshwater and marine), surface water quantity,
groundwater quality, groundwater quantity, air quality, migratory birds, species at risk, hazardous
materials management, spill contingency and emergency response planning.
Environment Canada looks forward to working with the NIRB in this review of the Mary River bulk
sampling project. If there are any changes in the proposed project, EC should be notified, as further
review may be necessary. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments with
regards to the foregoing at (867) 975-4631 or by email at cindy.parker@ec.gc.ca.
Yours truly,
Original signed by
Cindy Parker
Environmental Assessment Technician
cc:
(Colette Spagnuolo, Environmental Assessment & Contaminated Sites Specialist, Environment Canada, Iqaluit)
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