An environmental assessment is a planning process required to evaluate the potential impacts (either positive or negative) related to a project proposal. The purpose of the assessment is to identify potential environmental effects and corresponding mitigation measures to address effects. The assessment takes into consideration comments from Indigenous communities, government agencies, local municipalities, community members and land users potentially impacted by the project.
First Mining Gold submitted a Project Description to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (now the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada) in February 2018. Based on the Project Description, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency determined that a Federal EA was required and issued Federal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines for the Project on June 19, 2018.
In parallel with the federal environmental assessment process, First Mining Gold has also entered into a Voluntary Agreement with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to complete a Provincial Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The Provincial EA requires approval of a Terms of Reference (ToR) in prescribed format that will guide the content of the Provincial EA. The ToR was approved by the Minister on November 8, 2021.
First Mining Gold has been working closely with the Federal and Provincial environmental approvals agencies to coordinate the Federal and Provincial EA processes. The coordinated approach facilitates greater efficiency, fosters cooperation between parties.
First Mining Gold will be continuing consultation with local Indigenous communities and stakeholders throughout the coordinated provincial-federal environmental assessment process.
Approved Terms of Reference for the Springpole Gold Project
Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines for the Springpole Project
First Mining Gold (FMG) is pleased to present the final Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Assessment (final EIS/EA) for the Springpole Gold Project (Project) as submitted to to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC). The submission of the final EIS/EA is the culmination of years of study, assessment, and consultation, that have been instrumental in shaping and optimizing the Project from a sustainable development perspective.
In sharing this final EIS/EA, we appreciate and acknowledge the time and effort that has been allocated to the Project by provincial and federal regulators, Indigenous communities, municipalities, and other stakeholders, particularly over the course of the two- and half-year draft EIS/EA consultation period. During this time, FMG received and responded to comments and held meetings towards understanding questions, comments and concerns so that they can be addressed and reflected in the final EIS/EA.
1.0 Introduction and Project Overview View
4.0Project Justification and Alternatives View
6.4Greenhouse Gas Emissions View
6.7Springpole Lake, North Basin View
6.8Springpole Lake, Southeast Arm View
6.9Local Inland Waterbodies View
6.11Vegetation Communities & Wetlands View
6.12Wildlife & Wildlife Habitat View
6.17Commercial Land and Resource View
6.18Outdoor Recreation and Tourism View
6.19Local and Regional Economy View
6.20Regional Infrastructure and Services View
6.21Indigenous Traditional Land Use View
6.23Built Heritage Resources / Cultural Heritage Landscapes View
6.24Human and Ecological Health View
8.0Effects of the Environment View
9.0Malfunctions & Accidents View
11.0Environmental Approvals View
Appendices A - C : Terms of Reference, EIS Guidelines and Records of Consultation
Appendix A - Photographic Summary View
Appendix B-1 - EIS Guidelines View
Appendix B-2 - EIS Guidelines Concordance View
Appendix B-3 - Terms of Reference View
Appendix B-4 - ToR Commitments View
Appendix B-5 - ToR Concordance View
Appendix C-1 - Federal Government Comment Response Concordance View
Appendix C-2 - Provincial Government Comment Response Concordance View
Appendix C-3 - STPN Comment Response Concordance View
Appendix C-4 - CLFN and LSFN Comment Response Concordance View
Appendix C-5 - MON Comment Response Concordance View
Appendices E- J: Technical Support Documents (Air, Noise, Light)
Appendix E - Mine Waste Alternatives Assessment View
Appendix F - Fish Habitat Offset Compensation Plan View
Appendix G-1 - Air Quality Baseline View
Appendix G-2 - Air Quality Assessment View
Appendix H-1 - Sound Vibr Baseline NoLeaves View
Appendix H-2 - Sound Vibr Baseline wLeaves View
Appendix H-3 - Noise Asssessment View
Appendix H-3 - Sound Noise Assessment View
Appendix H-4 - Blasting Assessment View
Appendix I-1 - GHG Assessment View
Appendix I-2 - Net Zero Strategy View
Appendices K - P: Technical Support Documents (Geochemistry, Water, Aquatics, Terrestrial)
Appendix K-1.1 - Static Testing Baseline Report 2021 View
Appendix K-1.2 - Tailings ML/ARD Assessment – Static Testing ResultsTailings ML ARD Static View
Appendix K-1.3 - Kinetic Geochemistry Report View
Appendix K-1.4 - Overburden Fish Habitat Area Geochemistry Memo View
Appendix K-1.5 - Static Geochemical Characterization of Springpole Lake Sediment Samples View
Appendix K-1.6 - Geochemical Assessment of CDF Quarry View
Appendix K-2 - Mine Site Water Quality Modeling View
Appendix L-1 - Hydrogeological Baseline View
Appendix L-2 - Hydrogeological Model View
Appendix M-1 - Hydrology Baseline View
Appendix M-2 - Mine Site Water Balance View
Appendix M-3 - Receiver Water Balance View
Appendix N-1 - Surface Water Quality Baseline View
Appendix N-2 - Surface Water Quality Model View
Appendix N-3 - Refilled Basin Closure Model View
Appendix O-1 - 2023 Aquatics Baseline View
Appendix O-2 - 2021 Aquatics Baseline View
Appendix O-3 - 2020 Aquatics Baseline View
Appendix P-1 - Terrestrial Baseline View
Appendix P-2.1 - GHD Cat 2 and 3 View
Appendix P-2.2 - Caribou Calving Habitat RSPF View
Appendix P-2.3 - Caribou RSPF View
Appendix P-2.4 - Report on Caribou Sustainability Metrics View
Appendices Q - U: Technical Support Documents (Socio-economic, Health Risk Assessment, Cultural Heritage, Archaeology, Visual)
Appendix Q-1 - Socioeconomic Baseline Addendum View
Appendix Q-2 - Econ Mod Memo View
Appendix Q-2 - Economic Model View
Appendix Q-2 - Health Wellness Strategy View
Appendix R - Human Ecological Health Risk Assessmen View
Appendix S-1 - Stage 1 Archaeol Mine Site View
Appendix S-2 - Archaeol Mine Site View
Appendix S-3 - Archaeol Transmission View
Appendix S-4 - Stage 1 Archaeological Assessemnt Pipeline Road View
Appendix S-5 - Chance Find Procedure View
Appendix S6 - Cultural Heritage Baseline View
Appendix S-7 - Cultural Heritage Evaluation View
Appendix S-8 - CHR1 Travel Route View
Appendix S-9 - CHR3 Cabin View
Appendix S-10 - CHR4 Cabin View
Appendix S-11 - CHR5 Cabin View