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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.
BHP Diamonds Inc. responds to a Panel request regarding fish habitat management and compensation for the Ekati project by detailing negotiations with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on habitat loss from lake dewatering and tailings/waste rock disposal, including multiple reports quantifying spawning habitat in affected lakes and compensation approaches based on reproductive habitat and whole lake replacement values.
This comprehensive tailings management plan prepared by EBA Engineering Consultants for BHP Diamonds describes the disposal strategy for 133 million tonnes of kimberlite tailings over 25 years of mine operation at the NWT Diamonds Project. The plan details the use of Long Lake basin for tailings storage in five sequential cells, with perimeter dams featuring permafrost cores, intermediate filter dykes, water clarification techniques, and progressive reclamation to restore the landscape to a stable, vegetated wetland environment.
This document is a response to panel questions regarding the assessment methodology for impact significance in the NWT Diamonds Project Environmental Impact Statement. It explains how six impact attributes (geographic extent, duration/frequency, reversibility, ecological/social context, probability, and future resource capacity) were integrated into a two-dimensional significance matrix based primarily on spatial and temporal criteria to classify residual environmental effects as major, moderate, minor, or negligible.
This 1995 baseline study by BHP Diamonds Inc. predicts dissolved metal concentrations in waste rock drainage from the NWT Diamonds Project using static and kinetic geochemical tests. The study forecasts that most waste rock will generate neutral pH drainage, with small percentages capable of producing acidic or alkaline drainage, and provides maximum predicted concentrations for six metals (aluminum 0.2 mg/L, chromium 0.015 mg/L, copper 0.02 mg/L, lead 0.001 mg/L, nickel 0.02 mg/L, zinc 1 mg/L) at pH 8.0 equilibrium conditions.
This technical report documents baseline information on eskers in the NWT Diamonds Project area, including their geologic features, physical effects of exploration activities, biological importance to wildlife (caribou, bears, wolves, foxes, birds, small mammals), and traditional archaeological and cultural significance to Dene and Inuit peoples. The report addresses quarrying plans for the Airstrip Esker and Lac du Sauvage Esker as sources of construction materials and analyzes potential impacts on wildlife corridors and carnivore denning habitats.
BHP Diamonds Inc. conducted a 1995 baseline ecological mapping study of the 190,000-hectare NWT Diamonds Project area near Lac de Gras, classifying 11 tundra ecosystem types and assessing their sensitivity to development impacts. The report provides integrated terrain and vegetation maps, wildlife habitat capability assessments for geese, caribou and grizzly bears, and evaluations of ecosystem vulnerability to vehicular traffic and air quality impacts.
This preliminary design report documents the planned sedimentation pond systems for four kimberlite pit mines (Panda/Koala, Misery, Fox, and Leslie) at the NWT Diamonds Project. The ponds are designed to impound turbid water and soft lake sediments from pit dewatering and to provide settling basins during mine operation, with specific designs for valley ponds and lake basin ponds incorporating pervious dikes, impervious dams, and frozen core structures adapted to permafrost conditions.
This document provides additional information on the significance of the land-based economy and traditional food harvesting in the Northwest Territories, responding to panel requests for baseline data on country food's cultural, nutritional, and economic importance to Aboriginal households in the context of the NWT Diamonds Project.
This document responds to a regulatory panel request for baseline information on permafrost conditions at the BHP Diamonds (Ekati) project. It describes existing permafrost data collected since 1993 through boreholes, thermistor cables, and ground-penetrating radar surveys, confirms permafrost thickness of 230–280 m, identifies future geotechnical investigation needs for secondary structures, and documents minor thermally induced ground instability encountered during exploration and construction.
BHP Diamonds Inc. submitted a 1995 baseline environmental study update documenting meteorology, hydrology, and water quality monitoring in the NWT Diamonds Project area. The report presents data from three weather stations showing 40% higher precipitation than 1994, 14 hydrometric stations monitoring stream and lake hydrology with peak flows approaching 1-in-100 year flood event levels, and water quality analysis from 11 sites indicating localized effects in Kodiak Lake from Panda Lake Diversion Channel construction while Slipper Lake outlet water quality remained unchanged.
Points West Heritage Consulting conducted archaeological investigations in the Lac de Gras area on behalf of BHP Diamonds Inc. under NWT Archaeologist's permit 95-813, discovering 12 new archaeological sites and conducting mitigation work at previously recorded sites. The work assessed proposed development roads, quarry locations, and a mine site at Misery Lake, recommending avoidance of sites where feasible and systematic data collection where development cannot be avoided.
Archaeological investigations conducted for BHP Diamonds Inc. in the Lac de Gras area resulted in the discovery of 12 new archaeological sites and mitigation of 4 previously recorded sites. The work was conducted under NWT Archaeologist's permit 95-813 and included inventory and impact assessment of proposed development areas including a road to Misery Lake and associated quarries.
The Government of the Northwest Territories submits comments on the BHP Diamonds Mine Environmental Assessment Panel's draft procedures for public hearings, requesting clarification on Yellowknife hearing arrangements, technical session participation, pre-hearing notice periods, questioning time limits, and suggestions for policy sessions and wrap-up sessions.
The Metis Nation Northwest Territories submits comments on the Draft Procedures for Public Hearings, requesting extensions to the 15-minute question and answer period, publication of late-submitted written statements, and explicit naming of community session locations in the procedures rather than only in newsletters.
BHP Diamonds Inc. expresses support for the Draft Procedures for Public Hearings for the BHP Diamond Mine Environmental Assessment and requests opportunity for the Proponent to respond to questions and present alternative viewpoints during proceedings.
Environment Canada approves the Draft Procedures for Public Hearings issued by the BHP Diamond Mine Environmental Assessment Panel and requests that technical session subject areas be identified and shared with intervenors promptly.