NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: contaminants, water quality, arsenic, risk assessment, sediment quality, fish health, invertebrates, risk management

Objective(s): To determining if there are any residual risks to human health or ecological receptors, including aquatic life, associated with the proposed tailings remediation.

Project Description: The overall objective of the Tundra Mine risk assessment is to facilitate project closure by determining if there are any residual risks to human health or ecological receptors, including aquatic life, associated with the proposed tailings remediation. If any risks remain, the goal is to provide recommendations for risk management. In support of the risk assessment, and in order to collect baseline data and then predict potential future risks, a field program is proposed to collect data to address identified data gaps. The field program will include the collection of soil, surface water, sediment and benthic invertebrates’ samples, as well as the collection of berries, Labrador tea, and other plants. The research team also propose to catch fish from Powder Mag Lake, Sandy Lake, one or two background lakes (unimpacted by mining activities) and Hambone Lake if any fish are found (it has been previously reported that there are no fish in Hambone Lake). A maximum of 10 fish will be sacrificed from each of the lakes. The research team will be targeting Arctic grayling and lake whitefish, which are common in the lakes. The health of fish in each lake will be assessed by conducting internal and external examinations. Fish tissue will be submitted for chemical analysis to determine the concentration of arsenic and other metals in fish tissue in each of the lakes. The samples will be collected from in and around Tundra Mine as well as locations considered unimpacted by mining activities. All of these samples will be submitted to the laboratory to assess the concentration of metals in the samples. Upon completion of the field program, Aboriginal Indiginous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) will be provided a report summarizing the details of the field program. Using the data collected from the field program, as well as from historical reports, a human health and ecological risk assessment report will be completed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess residual risks to human health or ecological receptors, including aquatic life. Stantec will follow all prescribed INAC methodologies, as well as Health & Safety requirements and technical sampling protocols. Stantec will also follow industry best practice standards while completing any field work, which includes following the requirements of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Licence to Fish for Scientific Purposes (in accordance with Section 52 of the Fishery (general) Regulations of the Fisheries Act) and Animal Use Protocols. This project is a small part of a larger initiative at Tundra Mine, including site remediation. INAC is committed to working with local Aboriginal groups. Regarding the risk assessment in particular, results of the studies will be communicated to the stakeholders during community meetings at significant milestones with the project. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 15, 2016 to August 26, 2016.