Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ...
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Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ...

Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ... Revised Final Environmental Study Report (24 MB) - Gold Canyon ...

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Gold Canyon Resources Inc. Springpole Gold Access Corridor Project Final Environmental Study Report measures. Rather than excluding any issues from public disclosure that are outside the scope of this EA process, all identified issues are listed in Table 3-2 herein along with GCU’s impact mitigation measures. GCU shall continue to comply with regulatory requirements and best practices for the ongoing exploration and resource definition activities at the Springpole Gold Project that are outside the scope of this EA process. This final ESR describes a proposed project that has been refined from the Base Case Project Description of July 2012, the draft ESR of October 2012 and the Final ESR of February 2013. As is evident upon review of these documents, GCU notes that the proposed Project in this Report has been fundamentally altered and its duration shortened in an effort to mitigate potential impacts to values and interests in the region. This Report is intended to be read in its entirety and is not intended to have excerpts read, quoted or interpreted out of context. The FMP Approved Road (refer to Definition of Terms and Acronyms) is shown on Figure 2-1 and is approved for construction by the SFL holder as part of the current FMP, regardless of GCU’s actions. For the purpose of comparing the effects of the western and the eastern corridors, it is assumed that the FMP Approved Road is in place. In other words, the comparative effects analysis is effectively a comparison of the entire western corridor with the eastern corridor road that is situated beyond the FMP Approved Road (refer to Figure 2-1). 2.0 ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES An alternatives assessment has led to the formulation of the proposed Project, as presented in this Report. As indicated in Section 1.3, the objective of the Project is to provide safe, reliable, yearround, land-based access to the area of the Deposit to support the intensified exploration and definition work that is required to support an economic evaluation. 2.1 Assessment of Alternative Methods The alternative methods for establishing reliable year-round (land-based) access to the vicinity of the Deposit are listed in the bullets below. Option 1: Continued fly-in access (helicopter and float plane) with seasonal ice road access in February over Birch Lake (weather dependent). This Option is equivalent to the “donothing” alternative and assumes that access to the Project continues “as-is.” Option 2: Construct the planned Wenasaga road (as approved in 2014-2019 FMP) and establish seasonal barge access to the Springpole Gold Project site via Springpole Lake during open water period and seasonal ice road access during the winter freeze-up period (weather permitting). Option 3: Establish a land-based access corridor that connects with the existing road network of the Trout Lake Forest. The Springpole Gold Project is a very prospective resource definition project. The proposed Project is a necessary subset of the Springpole Gold Project. A “no-go” option was not included in this assessment given the alignment of the Project with the province’s objectives of supporting mineral exploration and encouraging the development of new mines (refer to Section 1.1). July 2013 Page 6

Gold Canyon Resources Inc. Springpole Gold Access Corridor Project Final Environmental Study Report The criteria listed in the bullets below were considered to evaluate each of the three (3) above noted options. Do they provide a viable solution to the problem or opportunity to be addressed? Are they proven technologies at the scale required and in the timeframe required (design, procurement, commissioning)? Are they technically feasible at the scale required and in the timeframe required? Are they consistent with other planning objectives, policies and decisions? Are they consistent with government priorities? Could they affect any sensitive environmental features? Are they practical, realistic financially and economically viable for the Springpole Gold Project? Are they within the ability of the proponent to implement (land tenure, financial requirements, approvals, patented technology)? Are they appropriate to the proponent doing the study? Are they able to meet the requirements of MNR (2003)? The following bullets summarize the pertinent results of the preliminary qualitative assessment of the above noted alternatives for establishing improved access to the exploration site. Option 1 Option 1 is not capable of meeting the objective of reliable year-round land-based access to the area of the Deposit. Option 2 Option 2 is not capable of meeting the objective of reliable year-round land-based access. In addition, the potential for conflicts with recreational users and effects to water quality due to accidents (i.e. spills) are regarded as a significant risk. Option 3 This option meets the objective of reliable year-round, land-based access to the area of the Deposit. Option 3 is the only alternative that meets the objective of year-round, land-based access to the Deposit and will be carried forward into Section 2.2 (assessment of alternative locations). 2.2 Assessment of Alternative Locations The alternative access corridors that were assessed include the western corridor and the eastern corridor. These corridors are presented on Figure 2-1 in Appendix 1. DST (2012) provides a description of the environmental setting of the Project area as well as a comparative biological effects assessment of both access corridor alternatives. This report also describes measures to mitigate potential negative effects and it assumes that these are implemented for the purpose of determining the significance of residual negative effects. 2.2.1 Western Corridor A general description of this alternative, along with its significant advantages and disadvantages, is provided in the bullets below. July 2013 Page 7

<strong>Gold</strong> <strong>Canyon</strong> Resources Inc.<br />

Springpole <strong>Gold</strong> Access Corridor Project<br />

<strong>Final</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Study</strong> <strong>Report</strong><br />

The criteria listed in the bullets below were considered to evaluate each of the three (3) above noted<br />

options.<br />

Do they provide a viable solution to the problem or opportunity to be addressed?<br />

Are they proven technologies at the scale required and in the timeframe required (design,<br />

procurement, commissioning)?<br />

Are they technically feasible at the scale required and in the timeframe required?<br />

Are they consistent with other planning objectives, policies and decisions?<br />

Are they consistent with government priorities?<br />

Could they affect any sensitive environmental features?<br />

Are they practical, realistic financially and economically viable for the Springpole <strong>Gold</strong><br />

Project?<br />

Are they within the ability of the proponent to implement (land tenure, financial requirements,<br />

approvals, patented technology)?<br />

Are they appropriate to the proponent doing the study?<br />

Are they able to meet the requirements of MNR (2003)?<br />

The following bullets summarize the pertinent results of the preliminary qualitative assessment of the<br />

above noted alternatives for establishing improved access to the exploration site.<br />

Option 1<br />

Option 1 is not capable of meeting the objective of reliable year-round land-based access to<br />

the area of the Deposit.<br />

Option 2<br />

Option 2 is not capable of meeting the objective of reliable year-round land-based access. In<br />

addition, the potential for conflicts with recreational users and effects to water quality due to<br />

accidents (i.e. spills) are regarded as a significant risk.<br />

Option 3<br />

This option meets the objective of reliable year-round, land-based access to the area of the<br />

Deposit.<br />

Option 3 is the only alternative that meets the objective of year-round, land-based access to the<br />

Deposit and will be carried forward into Section 2.2 (assessment of alternative locations).<br />

2.2 Assessment of Alternative Locations<br />

The alternative access corridors that were assessed include the western corridor and the eastern<br />

corridor. These corridors are presented on Figure 2-1 in Appendix 1.<br />

DST (2012) provides a description of the environmental setting of the Project area as well as a<br />

comparative biological effects assessment of both access corridor alternatives. This report also<br />

describes measures to mitigate potential negative effects and it assumes that these are<br />

implemented for the purpose of determining the significance of residual negative effects.<br />

2.2.1 Western Corridor<br />

A general description of this alternative, along with its significant advantages and disadvantages, is<br />

provided in the bullets below.<br />

July 2013 Page 7

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