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

Gold Canyon Resources Inc: Final Environmental Study Report Review
March 30, 2013
the OMNR. Wildlife mitigation plans are somewhat proposed in the ESR, but lack
description, monitoring and follow-up plans.
Recommendation: GCU in conjunction with stakeholders and First Nation communities
needs to draft an all-in environmental protection and mitigation plan that addresses all
environmental issues, and how the monitoring, data analysis/interpretation, report writing
and mitigation process will take place.
Recommendation: GCU needs to establish a communications plan with Stakeholders, First
Nation communities, OMNR and the public, that outlines how issues of environmental and
socio-economic concern will be addressed,
5.8 Cumulative Impacts Assessment and Residual Effects
The cumulative impacts assessment conducted by GCU is completely insufficient, and is
only referenced in a few locations throughout the ESR;
page xi “Reduced potential for cumulative effects in the region compared…”
page 7 “increased potential for cumulative effects to biological values…”
Table 2-1 “exert greater cumulative effects because it would…”
Table 2-1 “which creates a larger cumulative impact and affects…”
Table 2-1 “would result in a greater cumulative impact for the region..”
Page 14 “reduction in the potential for cumulative effects in the region..”
Table 2-2 “in a greater cumulative impact for the region because…”
Page 21 “Reduced potential for cumulative effects in the region compared..”
Page 22 “resultant reduction for cumulative effects in the region…”
No cumulative impacts assessment was conducted for this project, as is evidenced by a
complete lack of data available within the ESR and technical reports. GCU discusses their
alliance with Domtar (Forestry) and road use synergies, but there is no further exploration
into how joint use of the corridor will impact socio-economic and environmental
parameters.
The ESR references a variety of potential environmental impacts to wildlife resulting from
corridor use and include;
Mortality as a result of construction;
Mortality as a result of vehicle collisions;
Modification of behaviour;
Habitat fragmentation and loss;
Displacement due to invasive species;
Increased predation.
Areas required for a cumulative impacts assessment for the project;
Long-term study that evaluates the socio-economic and environmental impacts over
a ten year period for projected eastern corridor;
Cumulative assessment needs to consider but is not limited to;
36