PORT HOPE SIMPSON, NL – An environmental assessment committee (EAC) has been appointed for Search Minerals Inc.’s Foxtrot rare earth element mine southeast of Port Hope Simpson.
According to a bulletin from the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment today, March 6, the committee will prepare draft guidelines for conducting an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project and give scientific and technical advice to Minister Eddie Joyce.
Joyce notified Search Minerals last month an EIS is required before a decision is made on the mine.
Both the federal and provincial government has representation on the committee.
It includes the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment’s environmental assessment division, water resources management division, and pollution prevention division; the Executive Council’s Women’s Police Office, and Labrador Affairs Secretariat; the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources’ police and strategy planning division; the Department of Natural Resources’ minister development division; the Department of Health and Community Services’ public health division; the Department of Transportation and Works’ highway design and contruction – Labrador; the Intergovernmental and Indigenous Affairs Secretariat’s Indigenous affairs branch; and Health Canada’s regulatory operations and regions branch.
Search Minerals is proposing a mine with an estimated life of 14 years. Open pit mining would be used for the first eight years and underground mining for the last six.
Additional project and baseline information requirements must address effluents, emissions and potential generation of radioactive materials; effects on surrounding water bodies and ground water, local water supply, wildlife and vegetation; details on all aspects of project infrastructure; and project scope, including consideration of power supply and port facilities.