MEKS – Their Beneficial Role in Environmental Assessments Peter Oram Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Geology Matters 2013

Overview – Industry Perspective  Who- Several providers – ask around (Protocol!!)  Where- Any site where there is to be land disturbance  What- Read the Protocol, read CEAA, read NSE Guides  When- Early as possible….but not too early  Why- Top 3 Reasons 1. Helps you plan a better project 2. Builds value in a project 3. Sends a message

Project Examples - Black Bull

Overview  Surface quartz project in SW NS  First MEKS on a mining project in NS?  2 years of EBS data  Large initial exploration footprint  Provincial EA with some Federal involvement  Known potential but little “on the ground” info  Client wanted to know the “whole story”  Integrated archaeology, MEKS and ecology teams

Project Examples – Black Bull Beneficial Role in EA Process  Helped diminish anxiety using facts – locations of resources for example  Showed seriousness of client to know the whole picture  Credibility with investors of conscious  Leveled playing field with certain NGO groups  Community trust increased due to transparency

Project Examples - Moose River

Overview  Near 600,000 ounce gold deposit  Larger footprint due to being a surface mine  A “different beast” in terms of deposit models  Long EBS period – close to 4 years  Historical component important to client and residents and local “communities”  Integrated field teams  Knew it would be a “hot and spicy one” – better get all the data we can

Project Examples – Moose River Beneficial Role in EA Process  Local knowledge base enhanced beyond historic mining related  All “communities” felt included  Open site for visitors  Used in planning for museum move  Used in reclamation planning  Moose Management Plan

Project Examples - Fundy Gypsum

Overview  Extension to existing surface mine  Local area has over 200 years of gypsum extraction  Complex landscape – karst, 3 tidal rivers  High profile  Provincial EA with Federal involvement  Client and gypsum industry in general likes planning long term  Contradictory “baseline”data

Project Examples – Fundy Gypsum Beneficial Role in EA Process  Sent a message – ALL“communities” included  Dispelled myths – travel routes, plant ecology  Enhanced plants of importance database for Mi’kmaq (Wisqoq in particular)  Disturbance linkage for some healing plants  Helped with historic land use research programs  More data for long term planning  Shareholder credibility

Home stretch…….. Take Away Messages  Don’t do an MEKS unless you know why you are doing one  Know how they fit into the Made in Nova Scotia Process, NS EAs, CEAA  Use the data to show the whole story for a site  Document how you used the information  Work on mitigation with the MEKS provider

Thanks  Geology Matters Organizers  Michael Cox  Norma Prosper  Don Julian  Black Bull Resources  DDV Gold/Atlantic Gold  Fundy Gypsum (CGC Inc.)