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This tailings management plan for the BHP Diamonds Project describes the design and operation of a 133-million-tonne tailings disposal system using Long Lake basin in the Northwest Territories, including perimeter dams, intermediate dykes, water management strategies, and long-term reclamation to restore the site to a wetland environment.
This document establishes the terms of reference for the West Kitikmeot / Slave Study, approved December 14, 1995, which aims to collect environmental and socioeconomic information to support informed resource management decisions and assess cumulative effects of development in the region. The study is governed by a consensus-based Management Board representing aboriginal organizations, industry, environmental groups, and government, with research coordinated from a Study Office in Yellowknife.
BHP's response to the Environmental Assessment Panel's request for additional information on emergency response and contingency plans for the NWT Diamonds Project, particularly addressing spill response procedures for the Echo Bay Winter Road and mine operations, including historical spill data, equipment inventories, personnel training requirements, and detailed response protocols for various environmental media.
Management North Limited submits a letter to the BHP Diamond Mine Environmental Assessment Panel supporting approval of the BHP diamond mining project, arguing that the North urgently needs non-renewable resource development to address economic hardship and employment needs. The letter contextualizes this position within the North's history of managing resource development since the Berger Inquiry and emphasizes the balance between economic benefits and manageable environmental impacts.
This 1995 baseline study documents eskers, carnivore distributions, and grizzly bear habitat use in the Lac de Gras area for the NWT Diamonds Project. Twenty-three grizzly bears were radio-collared to track movements and habitat preferences, while ground surveys identified 75 carnivore dens across major eskers and assessed food habits and ecosystem use.
This document is BHP Billiton's December 1995 response to the panel's request for additional information on monitoring programs for the NWT Diamonds Project (Ekati), detailing adaptive management criteria, thresholds, and monitoring sensitivity for water, land, air, wildlife, and socioeconomic parameters, along with establishing an independent Environmental Advisory Group. The second section (dated March 2004) presents Rescan Environmental Services' proposal to update the EKATI air dispersion model using ISC3, incorporating current meteorological data, terrain, emissions inventories, and cumulative effects assessment with the Diavik mine.
BHP Diamonds Inc.'s 1995 baseline study update on meteorology, hydrology, and water quality for the NWT Diamonds Project (Ekati) documents continued monitoring showing 40% higher precipitation than 1994, elevated surface water flows approaching 1-in-100 year event levels, and localized water quality impacts in Kodiak Lake from the Panda Lake Diversion Channel construction, while downstream water quality at Slipper Lake outlet remained unchanged.
This 1995 baseline study update reports meteorological, hydrological, and water quality monitoring for the NWT Diamonds Project (Ekati Mine) in the Koala/Long Lake watershed. The year was characterized by significantly higher precipitation (40% above 1994 and baseline estimates), resulting in elevated streamflows and lake levels that approached 1-in-100-year flood event magnitudes, with observed peak flows correlating well with regional historical data; water quality analysis showed localized effects in Kodiak Lake and elevated metals in the Panda Diversion Channel, though no significant changes were observed in Slipper Lake, the watershed outlet.
This document provides BHP's response to a panel request for alternatives to accelerate water infilling of mined-out open pits at the Ekati Diamond Mine, discussing options such as waste rock backfilling, tailings deposition, and surface water diversion, along with their environmental and economic trade-offs for each pit.
This 1995 baseline study documents the occurrence, movements, and distribution of caribou within the Lac de Gras area (1,900 km²) during spring, summer, and fall migration periods, with aerial survey data collected to establish pre-development baseline conditions for the proposed NWT Diamonds project. The study tracks caribou use of major travel corridors including the north shore of Lac de Gras and esker systems, identifies seasonal habitat preferences, and notes the absence of calving and rutting behavior within the study area during the monitoring period.
This document responds to a panel's request for additional information on baseline ground water data and monitoring plans for the proposed BHP Diamond Mine at Lac de Gras. The proponent describes low predicted groundwater inflows based on permafrost presence and low hydraulic conductivity of granite bedrock, with plans for periodic monitoring of actual pit dewatering rates rather than a comprehensive regional monitoring program.
BHP describes which of its commitments and policies are binding on contractors and subcontractors, including safety, environmental, and security policies that are contractually enforceable, while employment-related policies such as wages and northern allowance apply only to BHP employees. BHP encourages but does not mandate northern and aboriginal hiring through its contractors via the Community-Based Job Development Strategy.
BHP Diamonds Inc. submitted a 1995 baseline study update on fisheries and aquatic life in the Koala watershed for the proposed Ekati Diamond Mine project. The report presents results of sampling periphyton, benthic invertebrates, zooplankton, and fish populations from four long-term monitoring lakes (Vulture, Kodiak, Nema, and Slipper) and associated streams to establish baseline environmental conditions against which future mining impacts will be measured.
This document is the proponent's detailed response to regulatory panel requests for information on environmental and socioeconomic monitoring programs for the NWT Diamonds Project. It outlines comprehensive monitoring plans for water quality, wildlife, air, land, permafrost, and socioeconomic parameters; describes the establishment of an independent Environmental Advisory Group; and addresses post-closure monitoring commitments and adaptive management thresholds.
This document is a detailed response to a regulatory panel's information requests regarding waste management plans for the Ekati Diamond Mine, specifically addressing tailings management, water treatment facilities, nitrogen contamination from ANFO explosives, dam failure scenarios, and waste rock drainage control. The response includes engineering designs for a Long Lake tailings facility with sequential cells, water clarification methods tested during bulk sampling, contingency plans for dam failures, and management practices to minimize ammonia losses from explosive use.
EBA Engineering Consultants prepared preliminary designs for tailings dams and associated earthworks at the NWT Diamonds Project located 300 km northeast of Yellowknife, featuring four perimeter dams around Long Lake using frozen core technology to retain water and tailings, with extensive thermal and stability analyses to ensure permafrost integrity over a 25-year operational period.
BHP outlines procedures for compensating commercial and subsistence land users affected by mine exploration activities, including a claims process with discussion, mitigation measures, and good-faith negotiation or independent mediation if financial losses are claimed.
This 1995 baseline study documents caribou occurrence, movements, and distribution within the Lac de Gras study area (1,900 km²) from spring through fall migration, providing baseline data prior to diamond mine development. Aerial surveys tracked caribou using major migration corridors along the north shore of Lac de Gras and esker systems, with spring migration involving primarily cows in groups of 11–50 individuals, sparse summer presence, and concentrated late summer and fall populations using wetlands.
BHP's response to the Review Panel's requests for additional information regarding corporate structure, environmental management systems, and spills during NWT Diamonds Project exploration operations. The document details BHP Diamonds Inc.'s relationship to parent company BHP, Environmental Management System implementation, and documents ten unauthorized discharges that occurred during summer 1994 exploration activities at the Koala site.
BHP Diamonds Inc. conducted a 1995 baseline small mammal inventory and habitat assessment at the NWT Diamonds Project area near Lac de Gras from August 14 to September 12, 1995, trapping 175 specimens across seven traplines and identifying three microtine species with habitat associations and relative abundance data.