Terms of Reference

Science Review of Baffinland’s Mary River Project Final Environmental Impact Statement

Central and Arctic Regional Special Response Process

May 15, 2012
Winnipeg, MB, and teleconference and WebEx

Chairperson: Kathleen Martin

Context

The Mary River Project is a proposed iron ore mine located at Mary River on North Baffin Island in Nunavut. Planned Project operations include mining, crushing, screening, rail transport and marine shipping of high grade iron ore. Two port facilities would be constructed on Baffin Island, in Milne and Steensby inlets. The Milne Inlet port will be used mainly during the construction phase of the project and will not be used to ship ore. The Proponent is proposing to use cape sized vessels with ice-breaking capabilities to load ore at the Steensby Inlet port, in northeastern Foxe Basin, and transport it to market in Europe. They are proposing to transit Foxe Basin and Hudson Strait approximately every two days year round. Based on current ore reserves, the mine would operate for 21 years and the duration of the Project, from the start of construction activities to post-closure, is expected to be 33 years.

Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation (BIM) submitted their draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 2011. To develop the Departmental response to this draft Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Central and Arctic Region’s Ecosystems Management sector requested science advice which DFO Science provided. On February 13, 2012, BIM submitted their final EIS for the Mary River Project to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB). On February 29, 2012, the NIRB initiated the public technical review period of the Project. DFO Science was asked by the Habitat program to review and provide advice on the final EIS.

Objectives

The objectives of this meeting are to assess whether the final EIS provides sufficient evidence to support the Proponent’s conclusions regarding potential ecosystem impacts of the Mary River Project on marine aquatic species and habitats, especially increased shipping activities on marine mammals, by…

1. assessing the quality of information presented in the final EIS,
2. determining if appropriate methods were used in the final EIS to develop conclusions,
3. determining whether the final EIS provides sufficient information on alternative means of carrying out the project to support the development of adaptive management strategies,
4. determining the appropriateness and adequacy of proposed mitigation and monitoring measures in the final EIS, and
5. if necessary, recommending additional or alternative mitigation measures (that may be more appropriate) to reduce or avoid impacts to fish and fish habitat, including marine mammals.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management sectors)