Terms of Reference

Review of a Baseline Aquatic Environment Technical Report of the Sisson Mine Project

Regional Science Special Response Process – Maritimes Region

July 2012
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Chairperson: Trevor Floyd

Context

Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) Habitat Management Division, Maritimes Region, is reviewing a Baseline Aquatic Environment Technical Report for the proposed Sisson Mine project, as part of a determination of whether the project is likely to result in negative impacts to fish and fish habitat. The project consists of a conventional open pit tungsten and molybdenum mine, an ore processing plant, and associated facilities and infrastructure located approximately 10 km southwest of the community of Napadogan, New Brunswick. The project is being assessed under a harmonized provincial and federal environmental assessment process. As a responsible authority under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, DFO is required to assess and make a determination of the significance of the environmental effects associated with the project. DFO Ecosystem Management has asked DFO Science to review the Baseline Aquatic Environment Technical Report of the Sisson Project.

Objectives

The objective of the SSRP is to provide science advice on the following questions:

• Are the baseline studies complete and in particular is there a need for additional surveys to be completed;
• Is there additional information available that should be included / considered in the document; and, 
• Are the methodologies used to describe the existing environment appropriate to assess the effects of a mine development on the aquatic environment?

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Ecosystem Management