Regions: North Slave Region, South Slave Region
Tags: environmental assessment, mining, water quality, biology, fish habitat, air quality, vegetation, traditional knowledge, wildlife, sediment quality, environmental change, aquatic resources, fish population, ecological monitoring, diamond exploration, terrestrial ecosystem, plankton
| Principal Investigator: | Prather, Colleen (1) |
| Licence Number: | 16673 |
| Organization: | De Beers Canada Inc. |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2002
2001
2000
1999
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| Issued: | Jan 13, 2020 |
| Project Team: | Michelle Peters |
Objective(s): To conduct environmental monitoring of wildlife, vegetation, air quality, hydrology, and aquatic effects in the Snap Lake study area.
Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4635. The objective of this research are to conduct environmental monitoring of wildlife, vegetation, air quality, hydrology, and aquatic effects in the Snap Lake study area. The research team will collect incidental observational data of wildlife near the Snap Lake Mine. Through this project the research team will collect data on the aquatic environment including water, plankton benthos, sediment, and fish; and, conduct other research including air quality, vegetation, and incidental observations of wildlife around the Snap Lake Mine. For the aquatic resources, research is conducted by boat and helicopter in and downstream of Snap Lake, as well as at the two reference lakes. For air quality research is conducted through passive sampling. For vegetation, research is conducted within the disturbed area of the mine. Research will be conducted between April and September each year. The Snap Lake Project has had an ongoing community consultation program since 1998. It is the intent of De Beers to continue this dialog during the life of the Mine. Discussions held to date include meetings with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Tlicho Government, the North Slave Métis Alliance, and the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation. Consultation has focused on updating the communities on the activities at Snap Lake and the program results to-date, arranging for site visits by community members (if desired), and including members as assistants in field programs where possible. Discussions regarding traditional knowledge began in 2000 and this input was reflected in this program’s study design. Sample results are communicated through the various annual reports submitted by the mine to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and Snap Lake Environmental Monitoring Agency. These include the Wildlife Effects Monitoring Program Report, the Air Quality Annual Report, the Vegetation Annual Report, the Hydrology Annual Report, the Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program annual report, and the Water License Annual report. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 10, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
