Share your ideas: Amendments to the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations for the Goldboro Gold Project

Current status: Closed

Consultations are from May 27, 2024, to July 27, 2024.

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). The proposed authorization would allow the use of seven water courses frequented by fish for mine waste disposal from the Goldboro Gold mine. If approved, the disposal would impact approximately 0.27 hectares of fish habitat. This requires an amendment to Schedule 2 of the MDMER to list these water bodies as “Tailings Impoundment Areas”.

• Signal Gold (the Proponent) is proposing to develop the Goldboro Gold Project (the Project) located near Goldboro, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia. Tailings produced from the mine are proposed to be stored on the Project Site in a tailings management facility (TMF)
• The regulatory amendments, if approved, would authorize the use of water bodies frequented by fish for mine waste disposal for the Goldboro Gold operation mine.
• Should the proposed amendments be approved, the Streamlining policy would exempt them from pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I. They would be allowed 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 Fish Habitat Compensation Plan.

• Fish Habitat Compensation Plan (PDF) (prepared by the proponent)
  • Summary of the Fish Habitat Compensation Plan (PDF)

An Assessment of Alternatives Report is also available for information. This report was prepared in accordance with Environment Canada’s  Guidelines on the assessment of alternatives for mine waste disposal.

• Assessment of Alternatives (PDF) (prepared by the proponent)
  • Summary of the Assessment of Alternatives (PDF) in English

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

Related information

• Tailings Impoundment Areas
• Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations
• Fisheries Act
• Guidelines for the assessment of alternatives for mine waste disposal
• Guide to the Regulatory Process for Listing Water Bodies Frequented by Fish in Schedule 2 of the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations
• Goldboro Gold operation mine

Contact us

By mail

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

By email

Email: mdmer-remmmd@ec.gc.ca