1. Mary River Project Phase 2 Proposal Marine Environment
Technical Meetings
April 8-10, 2019
Mary River Project
Phase 2 Proposal
Marine Environment

2. Introduction & Overview
Confidential

3. Valued Ecological Components
Marine Ice, Water and Sediment Quality
Potential for effects on marine ice, water, and sediment quality during construction and marine facilities, vessel traffic, ballast water discharge, wastewater and site water discharge and, ore dust from the stockpiles and ship loading.
Marine Habitat and Biota
Potential effects on marine biota and habitat through habitat loss/alteration, acoustic disturbances, and invasive species introduction.
Marine Mammals
Potential effects on marine mammal populations from ship strikes, acoustic disturbances, contaminant loading, and habitat loss.

4. Community Feedback
A total of 159 comments or questions related to the Marine Environment.
82 related to Marine Wildlife
77 related to Marine Environment, Ice and Sediment

5. IQ and Engagement Influence on Marine Environment, Ice and Sediment, and Marine Wildlife
Marine Environment Working Group
IQ interviews included focus on marine mammals
Marine mammal community workshops and QIA thematic workshop helped identify areas of importance and potential Project interactions
Winter shipping was removed as a result of IQ input and community feedback that revealed concerns with this approach and its potential effects on marine wildlife and Inuit land use

6. IQ and Engagement Influence on Marine Environment, Ice and Sediment, and Marine Wildlife
IQ provided baseline information on the distribution of marine mammals
Effects assessment focused on concerns of community members, including ship strikes and acoustic disturbance to marine mammals
Reduction of speed of Project vessels from 7-10 knots to maximum of 9 knots to address community concerns about the potential for vessel noise on marine mammals
MHTO members provided input to improve monitoring programs
Note: Changed “MTO to “MHTO” – confirm…. Could be just HTO….

7. Summary of FEIS Results
Confidential

8. Summary of Effects Assessment
VEC/VSEC
Characterization of Residual Effect(s)
Significance Rating
Marine Ice, Water and Sediment Quality
Overall, the adverse residual effect of the Project on marine ice, water, and sediment quality are predicted to be:
Of a magnitude that is low given planned mitigation;
Geographically confined to the LSA;
Frequent;
Of a duration that lasts for the life of the Project; and
Reversible with additional mitigation and the cessation of Project activities.
There is a high probability of the residual effects occurring. There is a high level of confidence in the residual effects predictions.
Not significant
Marine Habitat and Biota
Overall, the adverse residual effect of the Project on marine habitat and biota is predicted to be:
Of a duration that ranges from during construction (e.g., sediment resuspension) to extending beyond the life of the Project (e.g., introduction of aquatic invasive species);
Geographically confined to the LSA, apart from aquatic invasive species introduction;
Continuous, apart from sediment resuspension concerns during construction; and
Reversible with additional mitigation and the cessation of Project activities, apart from aquatic invasive species introduction.
Marine Mammals
Overall, the adverse residual effects of the Project on marine mammals are predicted to be:
Infrequent;
Of a duration that extends throughout the life of the Project; and
In consideration of the information available and the results of ongoing monitoring related to marine mammals, there is:
a moderate to high level of confidence in the residual effects predictions related to a change in habitat; and
a moderate level of confidence in the residual effects predictions for all other residual effects on marine mammals.
Confidential

9. Data History What was done for the FEIS
Marine mammal aerial surveys ( )
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit information collected since 2006
Physical oceanography (2008 and 2010)
Bathymetry and seabed morphology (2008 and 2010)
Meteorological conditions (2008)
Sea ice (2008)
Seabed and coastal habitat (2008 and 2010)
Sediment quality (2008 and 2010)
Water quality (2008 and 2010)
Primary and secondary producers (2008 and 2010)
Fish: communities, populations and conditions (2010)

10. Data History What was done for the Early Revenue Phase (2012-2014)
Marine Mammal aerial surveys
Ship-based visual monitoring
Bruce Head shore-based visual monitoring
Acoustic monitoring
Sediment quality
Bathymetry
Habitat mapping
Macroflora and Benthic epifauna (video)
Benthic Infauna
Fish population
Fish tissue
Aquatic Invasive Species Baseline

11. Data History What has been done since (2015-Present)
Marine Mammal aerial surveys (2015 and 2016)
Ship-based visual monitoring (2015 and 2018)
Bruce Head shore-based visual monitoring ( )
Bruce Head vessel-based visual monitoring (2018)
Acoustic monitoring (2018)
Tagging Study (2017 and 2018)
Community Workshops (2015 and 2016)
Inuit Knowledge Study Mapbook
Ice Study Update
Fuel Spill Modelling
Ballast Water Modelling
Hydrodynamic Modelling
Physical oceanography ( )
Sediment Quality ( )
Water Quality ( )
Substrate, Macroflora and Epifauna (video)
Fish and mobile epifauna (gill nets, traps, beach seine (2018), angling (2017&2018)
Fish tissue (metals) from incidental mortality
Benthic infauna (2018)
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) monitoring ( )
Milne Ore Dock Fish Offset Habitat Monitoring 

12. Management Plans, Mitigation and Monitoring
Confidential

13. Management Plans, Mitigation and Monitoring
Marine
Key Updates (detailed updates available in commitment register)
Shipping and Marine Wildlife Management Plan
Additional mitigation and monitoring commitments to minimize impacts on marine mammals and fish and fish habitat due to increased frequency of shipping, extended shipping season, and updated berth design.
Updated project description and references for shipping operations.
Develop new standalone Ballast Water Management Plan.
Update to reflect new shipping scenario.
Surface Water and Aquatic Ecosystems Management Plan
Update mitigation measures to address the effects on streams receiving diverted flows, and mitigation measures to address fish passage at select culvert crossings along the railway.
Update mitigation measures for exposed soils, sedimentation, erosion, dust suppression, stream crossings, flow diversions, and fish habitat.
Update water management plans for site drainage, laydowns, soil stockpiles, soil disposal areas rock cuts, quarries, mine effluent, flow diversions, watercourse crossings and dust suppression.
Add monitoring and inspections for the railway.
Update existing conditions and proposed development.

14. Management Plans, Mitigation and Monitoring
Marine
Key Updates (detailed updates available in commitment register)
Fresh Water Supply, Sewage, and Wastewater Management Plan
Describe water supply to temporary camps (part of Water License Amendment Application).
Inclusion of additional mitigation measures related to additional water supply.
Update to reflect new infrastructure and water quality monitoring locations.
Address water management changes with new ore stockpiles
Spill Contingency Plan
Include new project facilities, fuel volumes and spills response equipment/supplies.
Inclusion of railway spill scenarios.
 Update MSDS inventory.
Oil Pollution Emergency Plan; Spill at Sea Response Plan
Update to reflect additional facilities and proposed changes to operations.
Update fuel volumes and shipments.

15. Information Request and Technical Comment Review
Confidential

16. Information Requests

17. Technical Comments – Marine Environment

18. Technical Recommendations Summary
Technical Recommendation Category
Main Issues
Recommendation IDs
Summary of Response
Marine Environment, Ice and Sediment
Invasive Species
DFO 3.8.1, 3.8.2, 3.8.3; QIA 44, 45
• AIS Monitoring Program in place. BIM committed to monitoring and putting in place prevention measures and working with DFO regarding biofouling management.
• Ore carriers only discharge ballast water at Milne Port (dock or anchorage).
• Additional information provided on probability of arrival.
Marine Habitat
DFO 3.9.1; ECCC 3.18; QIA 43
• The Final Marine Offsetting Plan is a component of the Fisheries Act Authorization process.
• Additional biophysical monitoring conducted in 2018 in the footprint of the new dock infrastructure and the new location for the treated effluent discharge.
• Continued discussion with the MEWG regarding marine sediment program expansion.
Marine Physical
QIA 44
• BIM has comprehensive Ballast Water Management Plan.
• Oceanographic data collected in 2017 and 2018 used to validate the ballast water dispersion model.
Sea Ice
QIA 48, 51; PC 02; DFO 3.3.3
• Requested information on sea ice conditions and definitions are in TSD 16
• Stand-alone effects assessment of icebreaking now available.
• account for shoulder seasons in environmental management and monitoring programs.
Confidential

19. Technical Recommendations Summary
Technical Recommendation Category
Main Issues
Recommendation IDs
Summary of Response
Marine Mammals
Monitoring
WWF 06; DFO 3.6.6
• Aerial surveys and acoustic monitoring is on-going.
• Aerial survey data corrected for availability bias. Bruce Head Monitoring Program is not as it deals with relative abundance and distribution
Narwhal
QIA 50; DFO 3.6.1; ON 01, 07
• Current RSA (consistent with the original FEIS) captures the extent of incremental and cumulative effects on narwhal.
• Conclusions such as the habituation of narwhal to noise are from monitoring programs (Bruce Head Integrated Report, Tremblay Tagging Report) and IQ from Arctic Bay.
• JASCO Modelling: none of the SEL24h thresholds for marine mammal injury (PTS) were exceeded.
• Tagging studies provides a better approach than acoustic arrays.
Other marine mammals
DFO 3.4.2, GN 24
• Assessment of marine mammals during the shoulder season is included in the stand-alone icebreaking assessment
DFO 3.2.1; QIA 50
• Additional information provided on potential for ship strikes.
• Ship strikes with bowheads not expected due to paucity of bowheads in the shipping corridor and the reduced vessel speeds.
Confidential