Baffinland Mary River Project

Shipping Route

Steensby Port

• Year round shipping of iron ore through Foxe Basin and Hudson Strait to Europe

• Shipping occurs year-round

• These will be the largest ships ever in the area (approximately 310m long)

Baffinland.com. Steendby Inlet. Web: [http://www.baffinland.com/mary-river-project/location/steensby-port/?lang=en] (accessed Oct 28).

• One of two ports connected to mine site
• Shipping of iron ore year-round
• Use of ice-breaking shipping vessels

nunatsiaqonline.ca. Mary River Iron Project. Web: [http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavut_board_says_yes_to_mary_river_with_conditions/] (accessed Oct. 27).

wwf.ca. Shipping Route. Baffinland Mary River Project. Web: [http://blog.wwf.ca/files/2012/09/shipping-route-600x421.jpg] (accessed Oct.30)

Proponent

The Project

Environmental Impact Assessment

• Reviewed by federal and territorial government agencies
• Identify Valued Ecosystem Components (VEC's)

• Open Pit Iron Mine
• 18-30 million tonnes over 21 years
• Largest mining development planned in Canada
• Remote location
• Requires development of a railroad, an all weather road, and two ports at Steensby and Milne inlet.
• Currently in final stages of review process

Findings

Did the EIA accurately identify the potential cumulative effects?

Quote: "the effects of the Project on the natural environment overall was assessed as not significant" (Baffinland, 2012).

Baffinland.com. Who we are. Web: [http://www.baffinland.com/about-us/company-history-2/?lang=en] (accessed Oct. 30)

gandm.com. Baffin Final. Web: [http://images.theglobeandmail.com/archives/RTGAM/images/20080904/wrailway04/0904Baffinfinal900big.jpg] (accessed Oct. 29)

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Marine Environment

Improve the EIA process to assess cumulative and residual effects

Perspective of Community: Qikiqtani Region

"the effects to marine mammals within the study area are not significant" (Baffinland, 2012).

Transparency and active involvement of local community

Cumulative Effects

• Narrow perspective in EIA
• The EIA doesn't consider migratory patters
• Cannot accurately assess the effects on VEC's
• Cumulative and residual effects will have an impact on environment and local communities rather than Baffinland

Baffinland Mary River Project:

Baffin Island, Nunavut

Iron Ore Mine

Baffinland.com. Mine Site. Web: http://www.baffinland.com/mary-river-project/location/mine-site/?lang=en (accessed Oct. 27).