Work goes on at the Ring of Fire Photo submitted

It was being heralded Friday by inside sources as a big deal and not a big deal at the same time.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray announced Friday he had approved with amendments the terms of reference for Noront Resources' proposed Eagle's Nest mine in the Ring of Fire.

The terms of reference is the first step in the company's environmental assessment process and there is still a great deal of work to be done before a decision on the project is made, said Murray's aide, Lucas Malinowski.

The terms of reference is a work plan outlining the types of studies and consultation Noront must undertake to demonstrate whether its project can be developed in a way that is protective of the environment and human health.

Some of the amendments to Noront's terms include ensuring First Nations on which development could have an impact fully participate in and contribute to Noront's environmental assessment process.

The amendments include:

-- Identifying and assessing alternate road alignments within Noront's preferred road corridor.

-- Providing specific opportunities for potentially impacted First Nations to fully participate in the company's environmental assessment.

-- Assessing the impact of aggregate extraction.

-- Considering the impact of climate change on the project and the impacts of the project on climate change.

The president and chief executive officer of Noront Resources, Alan Coutts, appealed to the province in January to allow his company to begin work to develop Eagle's Nest nickel mine, while a plan was created to share resources over the long term with First Nations.

Noront submitted the terms of reference for its environmental assessment in 2012, and Coutts was looking for a decision so Noront could attract investors, negotiate impact benefit agreements with three First Nations near Eagle's Nest and begin mining ore.

Coutts told The Sudbury Star in January that Noront had been working with communities near Eagle's Nest for seven years and developed good relationships with them.

In an email, Malinowski said Ontario is committed to continuing work with the Matawa First Nations communities, with whom the province has reached a framework agreement, exploring ways in which participation in the environmental assessment process can be enhanced to better address First Nation community needs and interests.

Coutts visited several northern communities earlier this year, speaking with business people and community leaders about what he believed was needed to move Noront's Eagle's Nest project forward.

Coutts said Noront could begin developing the nickel mine following existing mining legislation, "and do it in the spirit of the framework agreement."

He said Noront's goals are essentially the same as those outlined in the framework agreement between the province and the Matawa First Nations. They are "to create a lot of wealth and share it," said Coutts.

Noront Resources is a Canadian-based mining company with the largest stake in the Ring of Fire. As well as Eagle's Nest, Noront acquired Cliffs Natural Resources chromite properties in April, giving it ownership or a controlling interest in all major discoveries in the Ring.

Information about Murray signing off on Noront's terms of reference was received by The Sudbury Star late Friday. Noront did not have time to provide comment before press time, nor did New Democrat mining critic, Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha.

carol.mulligan@sunmedia.ca

http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/06/20/one-small-step-for-ring-of-fire