Share and view ideas: Ekati Mine Project
Current status: Closed
Consultations are from May 20 to July 22.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is seeking comments on proposed amendments to Schedule 2 of the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations and on proposed compensation measures.
ECCC is also consulting on Streamlining the Approvals Process for Metal Mines with Tailings Impoundment Areas to reduce approval timelines of the regulatory amendments. Subject to Governor in Council approval, these proposed changes would not need to be pre-published in Part I of the Canada Gazette.
Background
The Ekati Mine is an active diamond mine owned and operated by Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd (the proponent). It is located in the Lac de Gras region of the Northwest Territories, about 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.
In 2018, the new Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (MDMER) came into force to include diamond mines.
Until 2018, diamond mines were not subject to the previous Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER). The MMER did not include provisions to authorize the use of waters frequented by fish for the disposal of mine waste. Before 2018, Ekati Mine was authorized to use three water bodies to manage its waste. This authorization was from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, under section 35 of the Fisheries Act. The authorization required the proponent develop and implement plans to offset the destruction of fish habitat from mine waste management activities.
To comply with the new MDMER from 2018, the Ekati Mine is required to list these three water bodies in Schedule 2 of the MDMER. To do so, the proponent must justify its continued use of the three water bodies for mine waste management. It is proposing to use the existing compensation from the Fisheries Act authorization as justification.
Join in: how to participate
By mail
Send your comments to the address in the Contact us section below.
By email
Email your comments to: ec.mdmer-remmmd.ec@canada.ca
To learn how we will protect your privacy during this consultation, please carefully review our privacy statement.
Who is the focus of this consultation
ECCC would like to hear from:
- Indigenous peoples
- provincial, territorial and local governments
- industry stakeholders and association members
- non-governmental organizations
- general public
Related information
- Justification for the Use of Waters Frequented by Fish as Mine Waste Disposal Areas (prepared by the proponent)
- Summary of the Justification for the Use of Waters Frequented by Fish as Mine Waste Disposal Areas (PDF) (based on the justification document prepared by the proponent)
- Streamlining the Approvals Process for Metal Mines with Tailings Impoundment Areas
- Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations
- Fisheries Act
- Ekati Mine, Northwest Territories
Contact us
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Mining Section
Mining and Processing Division
351 boul. St-Joseph, 11th floor
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Email: ec.mdmer-remmmd.ec@canada.ca