Natural Resources Canada : Regulatory Responsibilities

1
Natural Resources Canada Regulatory
Responsibilities

• Mineral Advisory Group Meeting (MDAG)
• Newmont Mining Corporation
• Doris North Project / Phase II
• Cambridge Bay, NU
• October 26-28

2
Natural Resources Canadas Mandate

• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) seeks to enhance
  the responsible development and use of Canadas
  natural resources and the competitiveness of
  Canadas natural resources products.
• We are an established leader in science and
  technology in the fields of energy, forests, and
  minerals and metals and use our expertise in
  earth sciences to build and maintain an
  up-to-date knowledge base of our landmass.

3
NRCans Structure

• Nearly two thirds of its expenditures and efforts
  are devoted to science and technology (ST)
  remainder is devoted to policy and program
  activities
• Examples of areas of scientific investigation
• Forestry science
• Materials research
• Geoscience
• Metal mine effluents
• NRCans main sectors involved in Environmental
  Assessment (EA) and mining-related permitting
• Minerals and Metals Sector, Earth Sciences
  Sector, Science and Policy Integration

4
NRCans Participation in Mining EAs

• Responsibilities under the Explosives Act
• NRCan brought into EAs as a regulator under the
  Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA)
• Support NIRB reviews for projects in Nunavut
  (e.g. Doris North, Meadowbank)
• Provision of expertise to support EAs
• geosciences (permafrost, hydrogeology, surficial
  geology), explosives and mine waste management

5
Explosives Act and Regulations

• NRCans Explosives Regulatory Division (ERD)
  administers Canada's Explosives Act and
  Regulations.
• The Explosives Act and Regulations control
• Authorization, classification and testing
  manufacture importation sale storage
  transportation by road use of fireworks.
• The following are not under the jurisdiction of
  ERD
• Explosives controlled by the military
• The use of blasting explosives, which is
  provincial / territorial.
• Explosive storage permits, which are issued by
  the province or territory.

6
Explosives Factory Licences

• Licences issued under Section 7 of the Explosives
  Act trigger NRCans involvement under the NLCA
  and are law list triggers under CEAA.
• Licences are issued only for an explosives
  factory or magazine.
• An explosives factory licence is issued to the
  party that will operate the factory not the
  proponent.
• Explosives suppliers are quite familiar with
  requirements.

7
Explosives Act and Regulations Licences,
Certificates and Permits

• The Minister (Natural Resources) is given the
  power by the Act and Regulations to issue
  licences, certificates and permits required.
• This power is delegated to the Chief Inspector of
  Explosives and other designated Inspectors in
  ERD.
• Most licences, certificates and permits are
  issued from ERD Headquarters in Ottawa. In
  Nunavut, the following Regional offices issue
  magazine licences
• St. Hyacinthe for eastern NU
• Calgary for western NU

8
Explosive Factory Licences

• An explosives factory licence would be required
  to
• Store and supply bulk emulsion and ammonium
  nitrate (AN) prills and have garage and/or wash
  bay to support bulk explosive truck operation
• Manufacture bulk emulsion from AN solution,
  supply AN prills and have garage and/or wash bay
  to support bulk explosive truck operation (less
  remote locations)
• Manufacture of bulk emulsion from prilled AN,
  supply AN prills and have garage and/or wash bay
  to support bulk explosive truck operation (remote
  locations)
• Manufacture packaged ammonium nitrate fuel oil to
  supply an underground operation.

9
EA Requirements for an Explosive Factory License

• Explosive factory-specific topics included in an
  EA
• what explosives are involved
• maximum quantities of explosives
• fuel and ammonium nitrate storage plans
• liquid effluent disposal plans
• accidents and malfuctions - worst case scenario
• spill contingency plans
• emergency response plan
• site evacuation plan.

10
Timelines - Explosive Factory Licences

• Licences are issued for one year, can be renewed
• Each factory license is inspected at least once a
  year
• If everything is in order, takes 30 working days
  to issue the licence
• Guidelines on licensing requirements are
  available at http//www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms-smm/expl
  -expl/gbef-diev-eng.htm (July 2010 - Revision
  5.1)

11
Past NRCan Involvement Doris North Project

• NRCan involved through screening (CEAA) and
  impact review (NIRB) for the Doris North Project,
  both completed in 2006.
• NRCan contributed its expertise in the NIRB Part
  V Review and focused on
• Assessment of tailings disposal alternatives
• Water quality and water management strategy
• Design of the jetty and related issues including
  effects on fish habitat, shoreline erosion, and
  the sea bed and
• Handling and movement of ammonium nitrate.

12
EA Contact

• John Clarke
• Environmental Assessment
• Science and Policy Integration, NRCan
• T [phone]
• E john.clarke_at_nrcan.gc.ca
• Fadi Haddad
• Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Affairs
• Minerals and Metals Sector, NRCan
• T [phone]
• E fadi.haddad_at_nrcan.gc.ca