Download - Baffinland Iron Mines Mary River Project
Baffinland Iron MinesMary River Project
November 2011Community Round-TableIgloolik and Pond Inlet
Introduction
• Our objectives• Who we are• Assessment Process• The project• Key Issues• Commitments
What We Plan to Do….
Develop a project that provides:
• Co-management with Inuit land-owners• A model for environmental protection• A safe work environment for all• Significant benefits to Inuit, local businesses and governments• New and unique Infrastructure – railroad in the Arctic• A clear signal of Canada’s sovereignty over the north
Who we are: ArcelorMittal• ArcelorMittal is the largest steel company in the world, producing nearly
10% of the world’s steel, with operations in 60 countries, including Canada.
A Few of our People…..
• Phil du Toit: AcelorMittal Executive Vice-President Mining Exploration and Projects
• Tom Paddon: President and CEO Baffinland Iron Mines
• Ron Hampton: VP and Project Director
• Erik Madsen: VP Sustainability, Health and Safety and Environment
• Michael Anderson: VP Operations
• Greg Missal: VP Corporate Affairs
Mary River Project• An open pit mine with Projected mine life of 21 years
– No tailings; high grade ore
• Mining, ore crushing and screening, rail transport, port operations and marine shipping to global markets
• Camps• Rail road system• A port for large ships
The Mine
The
Site
2,500 metre strike length
The Camps
Rail Corridor
Port and Shipping
Community Engagement and Consultations
• Community Meetings and Workshops
• Meetings with HTOs and Hamlet leaders
• Community Liaison Officers
• Development and use of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
• Site Visits
The Environmental Assessment ProcessA Critical Planning Tool
• Numerous steps completed– Final Guidelines– Draft Environmental Impact Statement– Review– In mid-October - Technical review meetings
• One part of the overall regulatory process
We are now developing a Final Environmental Impact Statement for review and decision
What we considered...
• Land, air, sea
• Fish and wildlife
• The local economy, people and culture
• At the technical meetings in mid-October each area was discussed in detail
What we found….
• With mitigation already planned the project will not seriously effect the environment or wildlife
• Overall positive effects for socio-economic • Monitoring and adjusting as we learn will
be important
Commitments
• Baffinland project details contain many commitments• The Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement – a way to
work together• Over past months worked with QIA and agencies to
resolve many issues• At the Technical Meetings Baffinland made over 350
additional commitments• Some very specific requests and some more general –
most asking for more detail
Key Issues
• Do we know enough?– Is there enough information: do we understand
the current environment– Have alternatives been adequately addressed
• What will we do if problems arise?– What are the monitoring and mitigation plans– Are we ready for emergencies
• What we do know:– Inuit Qaujimaningit (IQ)– Scientific studies
• Uncertainty
• Alternatives analysis
Do we know enough?
Commitments to Monitoring
Begin to work together to build monitoring programs and identify what we can do to minimize any effect
– Begin right away – this coming winter– Consult with communities: November 24, 25 in Igloolik– Develop guides for ongoing monitoring programs
• Next Steps– Plan monitoring during sea-lift operations during 2012– Continue to monitor through the 4 year construction phase– On-going monitoring program through operations– Adjust as needed
And we are prepared to adapt….
• Measure, consult, learn and adjust on a continual basis
• Prepared for emergencies – training and practice
Commitments to Implementing adaptive management and continuous improvement
Policy
Planning
Operation and Implementatio
n
Checking and Corrective
Action
Management Review
Processes
Baffinland’s Environment Health and Safety Framework
Monitoring
• Community Engagement in all phases
• Precautionary Principle integrated into the fabric of this management approach
EIS Organization, Alternatives
• Better describe project alternatives and reasoning behind choices
• Improve document navigation• Provide a plain language summary• More details on marine security
Marine, Wildlife, Shipping
• Include assessment bearded seal and thick billed murres• Develop a model for ballast water dispersal• Include consideration of benthic species and fin fish for
habitat compensation• Extend assessment into Davis Strait and Northern
Labrador Sea• Re analyse sea ice using newly available ice information• Use new data for polar bears• Provide more detail on characteristics of shipping• More analysis of marine birds
Socio-Economic, Culture
• Implement supportive human resources practices in all aspects of employment
• Ensure archeological sites are properly handled
• Engage other agencies to seek ways to work together
Air Quality, Noise and Vibration
• Update the emission data• Limit noise disturbance near National
Parks• Consider potential air quality effects due
to ship emissions
Land; Birds; Caribou
• More detail on rail road design related to caribou crossing protection
• More detail on proper disposal of food (avoid attracting wildlife)
• Implement caribou protection measures with respect to calving grounds
• Re-assess islands and sea-ice as caribou habitat
Freshwater, fish
• Update surface water and sediment quality data with 2011 data and reassess
• Update and provide more detail in the wastewater management plans
• More detail on drainage from waste rock • Develop fish compensation plans
Cumulative Effects
• Consider the noise from two passing ore carriers
• Re evaluate cumulative effects on caribou
• Consider a doubling of ballast water discharge in cumulative effects assessment
Management Plans
• All management plans will be updated with detail appropriate for this phase in the project planning
• Focus on – Emergency Response Plans– Waste management plans
Commitment to Inuit Engagement
• An Executive Committee to oversee the implementation of the IIBA
• A Management Committee
• Inform and involve your communities in the project
• Actively work with other agencies to address local and regional issues
Final Thoughts……
• The Mary River Project will generate :
– Training, employment, and business opportunities for Inuit.
– A comprehensive IIBA with QIA
– Social, political and economic growth for Nunavut.
QujannamiikThank You