BAIE VERTE, NL – An environmental assessment committee (EAC) has been put in place for the proposed expansion of Rambler Metals and Mining's tailing management facility at the Nugget Pond mill site on the Baie Verte Peninsula.
Municipal Affairs and Environment Minister Eddie Joyce advised the company on Jan. 25 that an environmental preview report (EPR) was required for the project.
The EAC will provide scientific and technical advice to Joyce and prepare draft guidelines for conducting the EPR, according to an environmental assessment bulletin from the provincial government.
Several provincial and federal government agencies are represented on the EAC, including the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment’s environmental assessment division, water resources management division, and pollution prevention division; the Department of Natural Resources’ mineral development division; Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s fisheries protection program; and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s environmental protection operations.
Rambler is looking to expand the tailing management facility to accommodate tailings from current and future mining operations at its Ming copper-gold mine.
An expected increase the production rate means the existing impoundment does not have the capacity to contain the tailings produced from mining operations during 2019 through 2025. A new tailings impoundment is proposed for Camp Pond, a fishless body of water located close to the mill.
