Presented by: Ian Wilson (SRC) and Dr. Charles Greer (NRC)

R&D Program Collaboration for the

Giant Mine Remediation

What is the Giant Mine Remediation Project

Between 1948 and 2004, the Giant Mine was a major economic driver for Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories1.

When the mine closed, attention focused on the environmental issues left behind ; notably: 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide stored in underground chambers, surface soil contamination, contaminated water and remaining mine infrastructure1.

The Giant Mine Remediation Project Team is comprised of staff from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories1.

The Giant Mine Remediation Project is funded through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan1.

1- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Website

Giant Mine and Yellowknife

Giant Mine Surface Infrastructure

Giant Mine Remediation Plan The Remediation Plan for the Giant Mine site can be broken down into five distinct but interconnected components1:

1. Arsenic trioxide waste stored in sealed chambers and vaults will be contained in frozen blocks.

2. Surface remediation includes taking down close to 100 buildings, covering four tailings ponds, fencing off

eight open pits and cleaning up the contaminated soil.

3. Water entering the underground tunnels and coming into contact with contaminated material used to backfill mined out areas during the mine's operation will continue to be treated.

4. Baker Creek, which runs through the mine site, will require remediation to help restore it to a condition that is as ecologically sound as possible.

5. After remediation is complete, the site will be maintained and monitored in order to ensure the ongoing protection of human health and safety as well as the environment.

1- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Website

Goal of the R&D Program Coordination Goal: “Using I-CAN as the overlying organization, position ourselves outside of the traditional procurement process to deliver R&D services directly for the Giant Remediation Project Team”. Through the formation of an I-CAN Giant Mine Remediation Working Group it is hoped that partner organizations can provide unique expertise and guidance for potentially applied research, technology development and services for this project.

Formation of I-CAN Giant Mine Remediation Working Group

Through communications between I-CAN representatives and the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team, it was learned that there will be a requirement for research and technology development for this project.

In early 2013, dialogue began between I-CAN and representatives from partner organizations were held to discuss the formation of a Giant Mine Remediation Working Group to facilitate possible delivery of research and technology development on behalf of the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team.

Through subsequent meetings with representatives from the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team, a request was made to provide them with a document that outlined some of the specific I-CAN expertise which could be utilized in the project so that they could be made more aware of the capacity that I-CAN could deliver to the project.

Giant Mine Remediation Working Group Through several teleconferences, it was determined what expertise would be required for the project and which partner organizations could deliver these services.

The partner organizations forming the working group consist of: 1. AITF 2. CRIQ 3. INO 4. NRC 5. SRC

Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Scope of Project Services:

1. Land Reclamation and Revegetation 2. Water Management 3. Biodiversity Monitoring 4. Assessment and Development of Wetland Treatment Systems 5. Acid Mine Drainage Impacts and Management Alternatives

CRIQ Scope of Project Services:

1. Industrial Equipment and Productivity (DEIP) 2. Industrial Eco-efficiency and Environment (DEiE) 3. Laboratories and Equipment 4. MetalixMD

INO Scope of Project Services:

1. Remote Dust Monitoring System 2. Driftview Mapping 3. ION- Selective Optical Fibre

National Research Council Scope of Project Services:

1. Bioremediation in Extreme Environments (Canadian Arctic) 2. Biomonitoring and Bioremediation in the Natural Resources Sector 3. In Situ Chlorinated Solvent and Hydrocarbon Bioremediation Systems 4. Pilot Scale Studies Capacity 5. Toxicity Assessment and Monitoring 6. Organic Chemical Analysis and Fate Assessment

Saskatchewan Research Council Scope of Project Services:

1. Environmental Remediation Management 2. Environmental Analytical Laboratories 3. Mining and Environmental Support Services

What was Presented to Giant Mine Managers

Based on discussions with partner organizations, it was decided that a specific Giant Mine Remediation Project Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) be prepared and provided to the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team (client). The SOQ provided information regarding I-CAN, the Giant Mine Remediation Working Group, partner profiles and the following project specific services:

1. Land Reclamation and Revegetation Guidance 2. Watershed Scale Water Management 3. Organic and Inorganic Laboratory Analysis 4. Dust Monitoring 5. Environmental Remediation Project Management 6. Mining and Environmental Support Services 7. Design and Implementation of Pilot Scale Studies

Response and Correspondence by Giant Mine Managers

The I-CAN Giant Mine Remediation Working Group SOQ was given to representatives from the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team (client) during the summer 2013. I-CAN representative met with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) who were interested in services the Giant Mine Remediation Working Group could provide. At the end of this meeting, AANDC indicated that in terms of applied research needs, I-CAN had moved from being relatively unknown, to the top tier list of potential organizations. I-CAN representative met with the Yukon Minister of Energy Mines and Resources and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Economy (Env. Can.) - both suggested that they would be interested in I-CAN working with local research councils on this issue.

How to Proceed, Moving Forward As the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team (client) is currently working through EA review panel comments, it is expected that it will be 3 to 6 months before any real work that I-CAN could perform would start. Follow up communications with the client should be made.

Determine what department and level of government the I-CAN Giant Mine Remediation Working Group should pursue to ensure it is incorporated into the project outside of the traditional procurement stream.

Members of the I-CAN team should continue to communicate with one another to update client service offerings and provide updated project news and information to the group.

Why Collaboration is Important for Major Project Work

1. Complex remediation programs require multidisciplinary teams.

2. Partners bring to bear multiple areas of expertise and experience.

3. Complementary roles to avoid gaps and minimize risks.

Collaborations that Drive Innovation Apple, in describing a culture of innovation and creativity, stated that “innovation and creativity require freedom, disagreement, and perhaps even a little chaos.”

1. Group Familiarity Groups that are natural based on similarity, proximity and prior acquaintance/interaction of members, ease of interaction when agreeing or disagreeing.

2. New Partners Intrinsically motivated, brings together different knowledge and perspectives, pools them and applies them to a common goal, idea or solving a specific problem.

3. Challengers Challenging the idea, seeing flaws, forces simplification to what works, better understanding of risks.

QUESTIONS?