Champion Iron's Fire Lake to undergo federal env't study

2012-11-16 10:19 ET - News Release

Ms. Celine Legault of Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency reports

FIRE LAKE NORTH IRON ORE PROJECT - PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED

As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's responsible resource development initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has determined that a federal environmental assessment is required for Champion Iron Mines Ltd.'s proposed Fire Lake North iron ore project located south of Fermont in Quebec. The agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment.

The public can review and comment on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) guidelines, a document that identifies the potential environmental effects to be taken into consideration, and the information and analysis that need to be included in the proponent's EIS.

Champion Iron Mines is proposing the construction, operation and decommissioning of an open-pit mine and an iron concentrate processing plant on the mine site located near Fermont, Que. The proposed project consists also of constructing an access road connecting the site to Route 389, a railway between the mine and the city of Sept-iles, and a storage site in Pointe-Noire. The proponent predicts that the mine would generate 650 tonnes to 700 tonnes per day for a period of 25 years.

Written comments must be submitted by Dec. 17, 2012, to: Fire Lake North iron ore project, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 901 1550 d'Estimauville Ave., Quebec, G1J 5E9, telephone: 418-649-6444, fax: 418-649-6443.

To view the draft EIS guidelines or for more information, visit the agency's website (registry reference No. 80014). All comments received will be considered public.

Copies of the draft EIS guidelines are also available for viewing at the following locations:

• Sept-iles Public Library, 500 ave Joliette, Sept-iles;
• Fermont Public Library, 100 Place Daviault, Fermont.

Consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012, this is the second of four opportunities for Canadians to comment on this project. Following this comment period, the agency will finalize and issue the EIS guidelines to the proponent. An application period for participant financing and a future public comment period related to the EIS will be announced later.

This project will be assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and increased fines.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.