Donkin Coal Mine Environmental Assessment Case Study November

Donkin Coal Mine Environmental Assessment Case Study November 14, 2013 Geology Matters 2013 Presenter: Robert Federico, Principal

Project Summary An underground coal mine facility is proposed at the existing Donkin Mine on the Donkin Peninsula in Cape Breton. 3. 6 million tonnes per year of raw coal Washed to provide about 2. 75 million tonnes/year of primarily coking coal for export.

Waste coal and rock disposed onsite in surface containment systems engineered to manage runoff

Product coal loaded onto 4000 tonne barges at a new wharf, to be constructed on the Donkin Peninsula

Barges will be moved 8. 8 km by tug boats to a transshipment facility and loaded onto Cape Size vessels for export

Environmental Assessment Requirements • Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) Comprehensive study level EA required for “a coal mine with a coal production capacity of 3, 000 t/d or more” • Under NS Environment Act and EA Regulations, registration required for a “facility that extracts or processes coal” (Class I undertaking) • Federal-Provincial EA Harmonization Agreement signed for Project

Other Applicable Legislation • • • Fisheries Act Navigable Waters Protection Act Canadian Environmental Protection Act Explosives Act Migratory Birds Convention Act Species at Risk Act Mineral Resources Act and Regulations Endangered Species Act Crown Lands Act and Beaches Act Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act

Valued Environmental Components • • • Atmospheric Resources Water Resources Birds and Wildlife Wetlands and Rare Plants Freshwater Fish and Fish Habitat Marine Environment Commercial and Recreational Fisheries Land Use Current Use of Land Resources by the Mi’kmaq for Traditional Purposes Archaeological and Heritage Resources

Key Project Alternatives Mining Method Product Coal Transportation Wharf Design Coal Rejects Management Water Treatment Disposal of Dredged Material Longwall mining Continuous miner Thermal Coal Product Coking Coal Product Marine Rail Road Conveyor with Trestle (no breakwater) Concrete Caisson Design Timber Crib Design Surface Storage Underground disposal (Backfilling) Ocean disposal Passive water treatment Active water treatment Disposal at sea On-land disposal

Consultation • The public had three opportunities to provide formal comment to the CEA Agency • Public Review also conducted under provincial EA process

Public Consultation 15 meetings and open houses with stakeholder groups

Traditional Use • Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study (MEKS) was conducted

Key Environmental Issues • Wetland habitat alteration (42 Ha) • GHG production • Effects on seabird and migratory bird habitat • Marine environment • Commercial fisheries • Economic benefits

Key Design and Other Mitigation • Commitment to controlling GHG emissions through a GHG Management Plan • Habitat buffers for seabird colony along the coast of the peninsula • Habitat compensation to provide no-net-loss of productive capacity of fish and wetland habitat • Dust control

June 2011 - Submit Draft Project Description Community Meetings Government “One-Window” Meeting August 2011 - Project Description Approved November 2011 - Draft EIS Guidelines Public Comment Period & Open Houses January 2012 - EIS Guidelines Finalised October 2011 – April 2012 - Environmental Impact Statement Technical Studies’ Findings Public Comment Period & Open Houses November 2012 – April 2013 - Comprehensive Study Report (Federal) April 2013 – May 2013 - Public Comment Period July 2013 - Ministers’ Decisions on Project

Advice to Proponents • In pursuit of environmental permitting, time is never your friend – consider the environmental approval process as early as possible in project planning. • An EA process can take between 1 to 2 years to complete depending on project and approval regime. • Prepare an Issues Scoping and Regulatory Roadmap document.

Advice to Proponents (cont) • The Regulatory Roadmap identifies : • Key environmental issues at the site • Early opportunities to reduce environmental risks in project planning • Likely environmental approval requirements and timelines • Field studies, data requirements and seasonal collection windows • Public consultation and First Nations engagement planning • Early, informal engagement with regulatory officials

Thank You