Participant Funding Program – Regular Funding Envelope
Funding Review Committee's Report

Allocation of Federal Funds for the Environmental Assessment of the Sisson Project

The Participant Funding Program (PFP) is established pursuant to subsection 58(1.1) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act), which states: For the purposes of this Act, the Minister shall establish a participant funding program to facilitate the participation of the public in comprehensive studies, mediations and assessments by review panels.

A funding review committee (FRC) independent of the environmental assessment (EA) was established for the Sisson Project (the Project). The EA of the Project is being conducted by means of a comprehensive study (CS). The FRC's purpose was to assess funding applications received under the PFP–Regular Funding Envelope (RFE) for the proposed project, and to provide recommendations to the President of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) on whether funding should be provided, and if so, in what amount.

Under the RFE for this project, a total of $100,000 was made available to support public participation in the EA, and community engagement activities, linked to:

• reviewing and commenting on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines;
• reviewing and commenting on the EIS submitted by Northcliff Resources Ltd. (the proponent); and
• reviewing and commenting on the Comprehensive Study Report (CSR).

The deadline to submit an application was October 3, 2011. Two applications were received requesting a total of $146,795.

On October 12, 2011, the FRC met to review the applications. The FRC members were Paul Scott, retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Regional Office, acting as Committee Chairperson; David Taylor, Environmental Assessment Consultant; and Donna McCready, Environmental Assessment Consultant.

Background

The proponent has proposed the development, construction and operation of a conventional open-pit tungsten and molybdenum mine and associated facilities. The Project was registered with the province in 2008 by Geodex, at which time it was determined to require a comprehensive study review, the most rigorous type of EA in New Brunswick. Final provincial Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines were issued to the proponent by the province in March 2009. At the time, there was insufficient information available to enable the federal government to confirm whether a federal assessment was required.

On April 15, 2011 a new project description was submitted to federal and provincial governments by the proponent. The Agency accepted the project description as complete on April 26, 2011. In consultation with interested federal authorities, the Agency has determined that the Project would be subject to a comprehensive study pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Project has also been identified as a major resource project by the Major Projects Management Office. The proposed project is subject to a provincial EA pursuant to the New Brunswick Environmental Assessment Act. The federal and provincial EAs will be coordinated and conducted in a cooperative manner.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will participate as a responsible authority, as it may issue authorizations associated with the Project. Additionally, Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Transport Canada and Health Canada may provide expertise in the context of the CS.

As required, there will be three public comment periods in relation to the CS of the Project. The first comment period will be on the Project, conduct of the CS and on the proponent-prepared draft Joint (federal and provincial) Terms of Reference. The second and third comment periods will be on the joint EIA Report and the CSR, respectively.

Eligibility

Under the PFP–RFE, funding may be provided to applicants to support their input to an EA. These activities must be linked to the EA of a proposed project through a CS, mediation or review panel.

Eligible recipients must be able to demonstrate that they meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Have a direct, local interest in the proposed project, such as historical or cultural ties to the area likely to be affected by the proposed project.
• Have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the EA.
• Have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the proposed project.

All of the applicants were deemed to have met the eligibility criteria.

Under the PFP–RFE, applicants can request funding for costs related to:

• professional fees;
• staff salaries and benefits;
• local collection and distribution of information;
• travel expenses;
• rental of office space and meeting rooms;
• office supplies and telephone charges;
• administrative and reporting costs;
• other expenses related to local collection and distribution of information;
• legal fees;
• purchase of relevant information material, with supporting information;
• general media advertising and promotion; and
• other detailed expenses, with supporting information.

Rationale for Allocation

In reviewing the two applications received and in reaching its conclusions and recommendations, the FRC took into consideration a number of factors, including the following:

• The ability of the applicant to demonstrate that they have met one or more of the eligibility criteria listed above.
• The quality, clarity and content of the application, particularly with respect to (1) the relationship between specific project components and the applicant's traditional lands and resources, and (2) the applicant's proposed EA participation work plan.
• The eligible activities under the PFP – RFE for the Project, which include reviewing and commenting on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines; reviewing and commenting on the EIS; reviewing and commenting on the CSR; and preparing for and participating in internal community meetings to consider the proposed project.
• The amount of funds available under the PFP–RFE for this project.

Recommendation

The FRC recommends allocating $65,000 of the available PFP–RFE funding to support the two applicants as follows:

• $16,000 to Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.; and
• $49,000 to CCNB Action Inc.

The FRC further recommends that a condition of any funding allocation be that the applicants provide input to the EA through comments on the EIS Guidelines and the CSR.

The Funding Review Committee
Sisson Project
Regular Funding Envelope

________________________________________________
Paul Scott, Committee Chairperson, Retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Regional Office

________________________________________________
David Taylor, Environmental Assessment Consultant

________________________________________________
Donna McCready, Environmental Assessment Consultant

Recommended Participant Funding Allocations
Sisson Project
Regular Funding Envelope

Applicants	Total allocation amount recommended
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.	$16,000
CCNB Action Inc.	$49,000
Total:	$65,000