Share your ideas: Amendments to the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations for the Bloom Lake Project

Background

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is seeking comments from the public and Indigenous nations on a proposed authorization under the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (MDMER) for the disposal of mine waste in water bodies frequented fish at the Bloom Lake mine site. This requires an amendment to Schedule 2 of the MDMER to list these water bodies as “Tailings Impoundment Areas”.

• Minerai de fer Québec Inc. (the proponent), a subsidiary of Champion Iron Limited  is proposing to increase the storage capacity for tailings and waste rock resulting from the expansion at the Bloom Lake Mine. This active iron mine is located near the Newfoundland and Labrador border in Quebec, approximately 13 kilometers northwest of the town of Fermont.
• The regulatory amendments, if approved, would authorize the use of water bodies frequented by fish for mine waste disposal for the Bloom Lake Project.
  If approved, the Streamlining policy would exempt these proposed amendment from pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I, and allow the amendments to proceed directly to the final publication in Part II of the Canada Gazette.

Focus of this consultation

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is consulting on the Alternatives Assessment report and the Fish Habitat Compensation Plan.

• Alternatives Assessment (prepared by the proponent and available in French only)
  • Summary of the Alternatives Assessment (prepared by the proponent and available in French only)
• Fish Habitat Compensation Plan (prepared by the proponent and available in French only)
  •  Summary of the Fish Habitat Compensation Plan (prepared by the proponent and available in French only)
  • Summary of the Fish Habitat Compensation Plan – Project Number 3 (prepared by the proponent)
  •  Addenda to Fish Habitat Compensation Plan (prepared by the proponent and available in French only)
• Summary of consultation with stakeholders and Indigenous nations on the proposed amendments to Schedule 2 of the MDMER (available after consultations)

ECCC is also consulting on the potential application of the Streamlining the Approvals Process for Metal Mines with Tailings Impoundment Areas to reduce approval timelines of the regulatory amendments. This would exempt these proposed amendments from pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I, and allow the amendments to proceed directly to final publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

How to participate

By mail

Send a letter with your ideas and input to the address and contact information below.

By email

Send an email with your ideas or comments using the contact information below.

Written comments on the assessment of alternatives and fish habitat compensation plan must be submitted to the address below by April 3, 2023.

Please read our privacy statement for this consultation.

Who is the focus of this consultation

ECCC would like to hear from:

• Indigenous nations
• provincial, territorial and local governments
• industry stakeholders and association members
• non-governmental organizations
• general public

Public consultation sessions

Environment and Climate Change Canada invites Canadians to participate in public consultation sessions for mine waste disposal under the MDMER for the expansion of Bloom Lake Mine, in Fermont, Quebec and Sept-Îles, Quebec. Note that ECCC will also organize consultation sessions with Indigenous nations.

Date and location information:

Language	Date	Time (EST)	Type of Session	Location
French	02-21-2023	Doors Open: 7:30pm Session: 8:00 – 9:30pm	Consultation	Salle Aurora (prev. Multifonctionnel Cliffs), Fermont, QC J0G 1J0
French	02-23-2023	Doors Open: 5:30pm Session: 6:00pm – 8:30pm	Consultation	Centre des Congrès, 513 Brochu avenue, Sept-Îles, QC G4R 2X3

Note: Virtual participation will be possible for the session taking place in Sept- Îles on February 23, 2023. If you wish to participate virtually, please contact us at the email address provided below no later than February 17, 2023.

Report on Public Consultations

Summary Report on Public Consultations in Fermont and Sept-Îles

Related information

• Tailings Impoundment Areas
• Guide To The Regulatory Process For Listing Water Bodies Frequented By Fish in Schedule 2 Of The Metal And Diamond Mining Effuent Regulations
• Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations
• Fisheries Act
• Guidelines for the assessment of alternatives for mine waste disposal
• Bloom Lake Mine, Quebec

Contact us

By mail

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Mining Section
Mining and Processing Division
351 boul. St-Joseph, 11th floor
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3

By email

Email: mdmer-remmmd@ec.gc.ca