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Atikokan Mayor disapproves of MNR comments on mine EA

ATIKOKAN -- Atikokan's mayor is pledging unfettered support for a nearby mine that received a scathing provincial response to its environmental assessment.
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Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown says MNR criticism of the Hammond Reef gold mine Environmental Assessment are "very contrary to what Atikokan wants." Canadian Malartic submitted its response to MNR comments in mid-June. (Jon Thompson, tbnewswatch)

ATIKOKAN -- Atikokan's mayor is pledging unfettered support for a nearby mine that received a scathing provincial response to its environmental assessment.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry took most contention with Canadian Malartic's claim its Hammond Reef gold project, 23 kilometres from Atikokan, would have "no significant residual impact to the biophysical environment."
 
"MNR has concerns that the message delivered to the public with this conclusion of the EA document (i.e., that there is 'no significant residual impact to the biophysical environment') is not truly reflective of the real impact of the project," its comments read.

"MNR also has concerns with the long-term implications as this conclusion affects monitoring and rehabilitation efforts. If the conclusion of the EA is that the impacts are not significant, it becomes more difficult to ensure that impacted areas will be rehabilitated and the proper monitoring will occur to ensure effectiveness of the rehabilitation efforts." 

The MNR was critical of up to 400-metre gaps in the company's energy transmission plans, what it called "no clear plans" on draining Lake Mitta, the company's unwillingness to account for aquatic ecosystems, species at risk and archaeology, as well as the ambiguous impact of a nine-centimetre drop in water levels on the downriver Seine River Water Management Plan.

It also slammed existing mining tailings plans and pointed out a lack of planning for future expansion.     

Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown believes the value of gold will have to increase before Canadian Malartic would proceed but feels with up to 500 jobs in mine construction and 350 direct mining jobs in the balance, the company has his town's full backing. 

"I think the MNR asked a lot of questions and expressed a lot of concerns but that's very contrary to what the town of Atikokan wants," Brown said.

"We're behind Malartic and we feel they've done a lot of work to answer local concerns. We'll continue to support them."

Canadian Malartic issued a 441-page response to the MNR in mid-June, detailing changes it intends to make to ensure Hammond Reef complies with expectations.

Cathryn Moffett is Canadian Malartic's manager of sustainable development. She says the company has been in the environmental assessment stage for four years.

"We want to work together to make sure we can move forward with the project so it can benefit the community," she said. 

The company will meet with Atikokan Council in July to discuss progress and next steps. 




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