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

Allocation of Federal Funds for the Environmental Assessment of the Eagle's Nest 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 Eagle's Nest 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 $40,000 was made available to support public participation in the EA, linked to the:

  • review and comment on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); and
  • review and comment on the Comprehensive Study Report (CSR).

The deadline to submit an application was December 16, 2011. Three applications were received requesting a total of $23,650.

On January 16 and 19, 2012, the FRC met to review the applications. The FRC members were: Mr. Bruce Young, retired Director of Panel Management with the Agency, acting as FRC Chairperson; Mr. Patrick Duxbury, Environmental Assessment Consultant; and Ms. Patricia Larkin, Environmental Health Specialist.

Background

The proponent proposes an underground nickel-copper-platinum multi-metal mine at a mining rate of approximately 2,960 tonnes per day, which represents an anticipated mine life of approximately 11 years. The proposal also includes an underground concentrate processing facility, an all-season access road from Pickle Lake to Webequie Junction, concentrate pipeline from Webequie Junction to the mine site and ancillary mine infrastructure. The project mine site is located approximately 540 kilometres (km) north of the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and 240 km west of James Bay in an area known as the "Ring of Fire".

The potential environmental effects of the Project may include:

  • disruption of wildlife habitat due to mine activity and/or all-season transportation corridor;
  • potential discharge of metals and other contaminants into adjacent water bodies, affecting water quality and wildlife;
  • fugitive dust from mine site and transportation route;
  • increased access to resources due to construction of the transportation corridor and increased pressure on resources as a consequence; and
  • socio-economic effects of these changes to the human environment.

The Project would be subject to a CS-type EA pursuant to the Act.

Natural Resources Canada is a responsible authority. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada are participating as potential responsible authorities as they may issue regulatory permits associated with the Project. Additionally, Health Canada and Environment Canada may provide expert advice as federal authorities.

The proposed project is also subject to a provincial EA pursuant to Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act.

Eligibility

Under the PFPRFE, funding may be provided to support applicants' input to an EA with the federal government. 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 Project, such as living or owning property in the project area;
  • Have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the EA; or
  • Have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the Project.

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

Under the PFPRFE, applicants can request funding for costs related to:

  • professional fees;
  • staff salaries and benefits;
  • travel expenses;
  • honoraria for Elders and Chiefs to attend meetings and functions;
  • ceremonial offerings related to receiving traditional knowledge in relation to the EA;
  • administrative and reporting costs;
  • local collection and/or distribution of information;
  • office supplies and telephone charges;
  • rental of office space and meeting rooms;
  • legal fees;
  • general media advertising and/or promotion;
  • purchase of information material, with supporting documentation; and
  • other detailed expenses.

Rationale for Allocation

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

the ability of applicants to demonstrate that they had met one or more of the eligibility criteria listed above;

  • the quality, clarity and content of the application and the applicant's proposed EA participation work plan;
  • the maximum funding available to the applicant; and,
  • the eligible activities under the PFPRFE for the Project, which include review and comment on the EIS and on the CSR.

Recommendation

The FRC recommends allocating $21,175 of the available AFE funding to support the three applicants as follows:

  • $6,975 to Environment North
  • $7,000 to MiningWatch Canada
  • $7,200 to Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Wildlands League

The FRC further recommends that any funding allocation be conditional on the applicants' providing written comments to the Agency on the EIS and on the CSR.

The Funding Review Committee
Eagle's Nest Project
Regular Funding Envelope

____________________________________________________
Bruce Young, Committee Chairperson, retired Director of Panel Management with the Agency

____________________________________________________
Patrick Duxbury, Environmental Assessment Consultant

____________________________________________________
Patricia Larkin, Environmental Health Specialist

Recommended Participant Funding Allocations
Eagle's Nest Project
Regular Funding Envelope

Applicant Total Allocation Amount Recommended
Environment North $6,975
MiningWatch Canada $7,000
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Wildlands League $7,200
TOTAL $21,175

Document Reference Number: 7

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