{"id":25292,"date":"2021-03-05T12:55:31","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T17:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/?p=22582"},"modified":"2023-11-01T13:17:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T17:17:00","slug":"bape_rejette_bloom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/en\/bape_rejette_bloom\/","title":{"rendered":"Bloom Lake mine: the BAPE rejects the project!"},"content":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong>
\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/span><\/p>\n

Montreal, March 5, 2021<\/strong> \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d insists R\u00e9becca P\u00e9trin of Eau Secours.<\/p>\n

In a severe report<\/a> published this morning, the BAPE rejects the project and concludes that \u201cthe project is not authorized as presented\u201d. The BAPE is of the opinion that the promoter has \u201csufficient time\u201d to conduct \u201cadditional studies necessary to review alternative solutions\u201d.<\/p>\n

The BAPE notes that the promoter \u201cmade questionable choices\u201d and \u201cthat it could be technically and economically feasible to backfill the excess coarse mining residue in the pit\u201d. Ugo Lapointe of the Coalition Qu\u00e9bec Meilleur Mine and coordinator at MiningWatch Canada explains: \u201cThis method is already in use in other mines. It would reduce the project's footprint and avoid destroying lakes and waterways.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 \u201cthat no other project\u201d in Quebec has caused the loss of a lake \u201cof this magnitude\u201d.<\/p>\n

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\u201d and that they can only authorize it \u201cwhen no other solution is possible\u201d. Andr\u00e9 B\u00e9langer of Fondation Rivi\u00e8res explains: \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alice-Anne Simard of Nature Qu\u00e9bec concludes: \u201cQuebec 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Signatories:<\/strong><\/p>\n