technical report on the nechalacho deposit, thor lake project ...

Wildlife
Early science-based wildlife studies of the Pine Point area were first conducted during the
period 1976 to 1980 by BC Research to evaluate the environmental consequences of
Cominco’s mining operation at Pine Point (BC Research 1983). More recent wildlife studies of
the Tamerlane Regional Study Area (RSA) were carried out by EBA in September 2005 and
during the spring, summer and fall of 2006 (EBA 2006a, 2006b). Based upon wildlife surveys,
interviews and published information, EBA estimates that the Pine Point area is inhabited by 40
species of mammals, 201 species of birds and four species of amphibians. Major mammal
species include the snowshoe hare, red squirrel, American beaver, common porcupine, coyote,
gray wolf, black bear, ermine (stoat), mink, lynx, woodland caribou, moose, and the wood bison.
Ten of the most common bird species include the American robin, tundra swans, white-winged
scoter, gray jay, common raven, spruce grouse, and the bohemian waxwings.
Potential Effects, Management and Mitigation
EBA suggests that the implementation of the following measures will minimize the impact of
Avalon’s operations at Pine Point on the surrounding area and help Avalon meet the
requirements of the MVLWB:
• Utilization of the existing power grid at Pine Point to reduce the need for diesel power
generation at the Nechalacho Mine and Flotation Plant site.
• Full compliance with MVLWB Land Use Permit and Water Licence terms and conditions.
• Conformance with the Guidelines for Ambient Air Quality Standards in the NWT.
• Use of low sulphur diesel fuel and regular equipment and engine maintenance.
• Use of high quality, low sulphur coal to generate high heat fuel for the Hydrometallurgical
Plant boilers.
• Application of clean coal technologies, stack testing and air quality monitoring to ensure
that federal and territorial ambient air quality objectives are met.
• Conformance with GNWT Guideline for Dust suppression through the application of dust
suppressants - e.g. water or approved dust suppressant products.
• Secure containment of rare metals products during transportation to the Hay River
railhead.
• Disposal of all hazardous wastes in an approved manner.
• Development on rare ecosystem types will be avoided (none are anticipated to be
present within the Hydrometallurgical Plant components of the overall Project footprint).
• Re-contouring, scarification, and reseeding of the haul road surface during future closure
and reclamation of the road will be carried out, if warranted.
• The seasonal barging dock will be designed and constructed to meet the requirements
of Transport Canada and conditions of the NWPA approval to be issued pursuant to the
Navigable Waters Protection Act.
Technical Report 43-101 – March 13, 2011 Page 18-104
Prepared by Avalon Rare Metals Inc.