Notice of Commencement of an Environmental Assessment

Star-Orion South Diamond Project

Fort à la Corne Provincial Forest (SK)

July 10, 2009 (Updated July 19, 2010) -- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Transport Canada are required to ensure that a comprehensive study is conducted pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act commencing on July 10, 2009 in relation to the project: Star-Orion South Diamond Project.

On July 12, 2010, a series of amendments to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act came into force. As part of these amendments, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is playing an enhanced role in the environmental assessment of this project as it will perform the duties and functions of the responsible authority in relation to this project until the submission of the comprehensive study report to the Minister of the Environment.

As part of its new role, the Agency has posted a notice on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry inviting the public to comment on the project and the conduct of the comprehensive study.

Shore Gold Inc. is proposing to construct, operate, maintain and eventually decommission an open-pit diamond mine, processing facilities and associated infrastructure in the Fort à la Corne Provincial Forest located approximately 60 km east of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The proposed scope of project for the purposes of the federal environmental assessment includes the physical works and activities associated with the construction, operation and decommissioning of the following project components: stream crossings related to a proposed access corridor; on-site roadways and power/gas lines; site water management facilities that would result in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat or impact navigation, including dewatering facilities and water diversion channels; ancillary features located on Indian reserve lands; and explosives mixing (factory) and storage (magazine) facilities.

An environmental assessment is required in relation to the project because Fisheries and Oceans Canada may take action in relation to subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act; Natural Resources Canada may take action in relation to paragraph 7(1)(a) of the Explosives Act and Transport Canada may take action in relation to section 5 of the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

This project is also subject to the environmental assessment requirements of the Government of Saskatchewan.

As per the Cabinet Directive on Improving the Performance of the Regulatory System for Major Resource Projects, this environmental assessment has been identified as a major natural resource project. For additional information refer to the Major Projects Management Office's Tracker that monitors the progress of proposed major resource projects through the federal regulatory review system.

For further information on this environmental assessment, please contact:
Star-Orion South Diamond Project
Kris Frederickson, Project Manager
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Suite 101, 167 Lombard Ave
Winnipeg  MB  R3B 0T6
Telephone: 204-984-3225
Fax: 204-983-7174
Email: StarOrionDiamondProject@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

and refer to Registry reference number 09-03-46277