Bloom Lake mine: the BAPE rejects the project!

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montreal, March 5, 2021 – Environmental organizations welcome the conclusions of the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) according to which the Champion Iron mining company must redo its homework in order to avoid the destruction of lakes caused by the storage of mining residues at the Lac mine Bloom. The organizations are asking Quebec to follow all of the BAPE's recommendations and to require the mining company to implement alternative solutions.

“The BAPE agrees with the many citizens, experts and organizations who intervened during the public consultations. Quebec must demand alternative solutions to prevent the destruction of wetlands and water bodies, without which the project cannot move forward,” insists Rébecca Pétrin of Eau Secours.

In a severe report published this morning, the BAPE rejects the project and concludes that “the project is not authorized as presented”. The BAPE is of the opinion that the promoter has “sufficient time” to conduct “additional studies necessary to review alternative solutions”.

The BAPE notes that the promoter “made questionable choices” and “that it could be technically and economically feasible to backfill the excess coarse mining residue in the pit”. Ugo Lapointe of the Coalition Québec Meilleur Mine and coordinator at MiningWatch Canada explains: “This method is already in use in other mines. It would reduce the project's footprint and avoid destroying lakes and waterways.”

The proponent currently proposes to destroy eight lakes and numerous wetlands to store millions of tons of mine tailings, including an 88-hectare lake. The BAPE notes “that no other project” in Quebec has caused the loss of a lake “of this magnitude”.

Although "nothing formally prohibits the use of lakes, watercourses or wetlands for the storage of mining residues, both in the laws of Quebec and Canada", the BAPE concludes that "the two levels of government does not encourage this practice” and that they can only authorize it “when no other solution is possible”. André Bélanger of Fondation Rivières explains: “This is clearly not the case here and Quebec must not only demand alternatives, but also strengthen its own regulations to prohibit this practice in Quebec.”

Alice-Anne Simard of Nature Québec concludes: “Quebec must not be left behind by the federal government. We completely agree with the BAPE's recommendation that Quebec adopt its own guide for evaluating alternative solutions for the storage of mining residues. Quebec must also transform its simple environmental directive into a regulation that has the force of law. We must clearly prohibit the use of lakes, rivers and other water environments for the storage of mining residues in Quebec.”

Signatories: