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

Gold Canyon Resources Inc.
Springpole Gold Access Corridor Project
Final Environmental Study Report
Screening Criteria
Net Effect
Negative (1) Nil Unk
Positive (1)
High Med Low Low Med High
Natural Environment Considerations
Table 2-2: Effects Analysis for Eastern Corridor
Comments and Rationale
Air quality X
Water quality or quantity X
Species at risk or their
habitat
X
Maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. No material impacts associated with the Project (fugitive dust,
emission from combustion equipment).
Road development and installation of water crossings and eventual decommissioning would conform to the MNR and DFO guidance
documents referenced herein, as well as AOC prescriptions in the FMP. Erosion and sediment control plan to be developed and
followed, as per MNR (1995). Post construction FOIP audit and monitoring post construction is planned, as per Section 8. Beyond the
FMP Approved Road, this corridor requires seven (7) water crossings, one of which is a clear span bridge over the Birch River (refer to
Figure 2-1). The FMP Approved Road, which would be constructed by the SFL holder in accordance with the 2009-2019 FMP regardless
of GCU’s activities, requires seven (7) crossings, including a clear span bridge over Dead Dog Creek. Additional engineering details are
provided in Appendix 7, beyond the major water crossings locations that are shown on Figure 2-1.
The access corridor would be a linear development through a caribou range. Based on the Caribou Screening Tool and DST (2012), this
corridor is regarded as having a lesser impact on the range than the western corridor. Refer to DST (2012) in Appendix 4 for discussion
of potential impacts to caribou and wolverine.
Significant earth or life
science features
X None identified to date.
Fish or other aquatic
species, communities or
their habitat (including
movement of resident or
migratory species)
X
Through installation of modern, monitored gates, there should be minimal increased public access to lakes, which would increase fishing
pressure. Road development and installation of water crossings and eventual decommissioning would conform to the MNR and DFO guidance
documents referenced herein, as well as AOC prescriptions in the FMP.
Land subject to natural or
human made hazards
X
None identified to date.
Recovery of a species
under special
management program
X
The access corridor would be a linear development through a caribou range. Based on the Caribou Screening Tool and DST (2012), this
corridor is regarded as having a lesser impact on the range. Refer to DST (2012) in Appendix 4 and DST (2013) in Appendix 5 for
discussion.
Ecological integrity X
The access corridor would be a linear development through an area of historic exploration and would largely follow the 2011 burn area
and area of FMP-approved activities. Refer to DST (2012) for further discussion.
Terrestrial wildlife
(including numbers,
diversity and movement
of resident or migratory
species)
Natural vegetation and
terrestrial habitat linkages
or corridors through
fragmentation, alteration
and/or critical loss
X
X Refer to Section 6.4 for discussion.
Potential for an increase in road mortalities of a variety of terrestrial wildlife species. This threat has the potential for mitigation and is
dependent on the intensity of road use. Refer to DST (2012) for further discussion. The eastern corridor stays outside of the red tail hawk
standard 20m AOC. The road is located within the 100m Critical Breeding AOC (refer to Figure 2-1), as per Table 4.2e of MNR (2010).
Standards and guidelines for common stick-nesting bird nest sites and unknown stick nests (page 82 and 83) because the road will be
constructed outside the critical breeding time for red-tailed hawks.
July 2013 Page 14