Uranium mines in Saskatchewan subject to joint environmental review

Proposed uranium mine developments in northern Saskatchewan will be subject to a joint federal-provincial environmental assessment following an agreement between the Saskatchewan and federal governments.

The assessment will take into account the environmental, health, safety and socio-economic impacts of the proposed developments.

First to fall under joint scrutiny will be Denison Mines’ (TSE) Midwest joint venture, Minatco’s Mclean Lake project, and Amok’s existing uranium mine at Cluff Lake. The appointed panel will have 18 months to review the environmental impact statements of each of these projects. Reporting to the environment ministers, the panelists will provide recommendations on whether the projects should proceed, and if so, under what conditions.

Under current procedure, each mine is evaluated separately by both levels of government.

The new process will have several advantages, said Harvey Linnen, director of Environment and Safety for the Saskatchewan government. First, the joint review will avoid the “incredible duplication” inherent in the current system.

Secondly, the review will evaluate the cumulative impact of uranium mining in a relatively concentrated area of northern Saskatchewan, rather than just the individual impact of each mine.

“Nothing of the old process will be lost, but now we can look at the broader question of mining in the region,” Linnen said.

Tim Meadley, president of Uranium Saskatchewan, says he welcomes the joint effort because mining companies will no longer have to comply with two separate reviews, saving time and money. Uranium Saskatchewan is an association established to protect the interests of uranium miners in the province.

Panel members are currently being selected and will be announced shortly.

Linnen said the members will represent a variety of interested parties including scientists, natives and possibly the mining companies themselves.

Guidelines for the environmental impact statements of two other mining proposals – Cameco’s McArthur River joint venture and Cigar Lake Mining’s Cigar Lake project – will be established at separate panel meetings.

Answering to public concern, a proposed expansion at Cameco’s Rabbit Lake project will be reviewed by a separate panel under the federal Environment Review Office.