PRESENTATION TO THE FEDERAL REVIEW PANEL FOR THE PROSPERITY GOLD-COPPER MINE PROJECT

Transcription

1 PRESENTATION TO THE FEDERAL REVIEW PANEL FOR THE PROSPERITY GOLD-COPPER MINE PROJECT Carl Alleyne Regional Environmental Assessment Coordinator Safe Environments, BC Region Health Canada

2 Introduction Health Canada is participating in the Review Panel process as a Federal Authority under Section 12(3) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act A Federal Authority provides specialist or expert information or knowledge that it possesses Health Canada has no authority to make any decisions or issue any licenses, permits or authorizations in relation to this project

3 Health Canada s Mandate To help Canadians maintain and improve their health promoting healthy and safe living and working environments reducing harm caused by environmental contaminants

4 Health Canada s Areas of Expertise Air quality Contamination of country foods Drinking and recreational water quality Noise Radiological effects Human health risk assessment (HHRA) and risk management Electric and magnetic fields effects

5 Scope of Health Canada s Review of EIS To provide advice on the environmental assessment (EA) regarding: the possible impacts on human health that may result from the project the scientific validity and adequacy of the assessment of impacts of the project on human health the use of appropriate methods and rationale for the conclusions made concerning human health effects the measures to mitigate human health impacts, where possible

6 HC Reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for potential effects to human health due to project activities regarding: Air Quality Drinking Water Quality Noise Contamination of Country Foods

7 Air Quality Background Baseline air quality conditions Predicted project-related air pollutant concentrations Human receptor locations in relation to project activities Health impact estimates would depend on the results of air dispersion modelling for which Health Canada does not possess specialist or expert information or knowledge in this area

8 Air Quality Comments Health Canada is satisfied with the assessment of potential impacts to human health regarding air quality Health Canada also expects that the proponent will adhere to the BC EAO Table of Commitments (Section 17.4) regarding monitoring and management of air contaminants of potential concern through the life of the project

9 Drinking Water Quality Background Potential impacts to human health when water sources in project area are used for drinking water If sources are used, confirm that drinking water treatment facilities (existing or planned) will be adequate after any potential change in the source water quality Health Canada does not have a responsibility in the regulation of drinking water quality for on-site workers or the quality of surface or ground waters in the project area

10 Drinking Water Quality Comments Potable water for resident mine staff will be supplied by wells which could be vulnerable to movement of contaminants from the open pit mine The proponent will be required to provide well protection measures and test drinking water quality on a regular basis Health Canada is satisfied with the proponent s conclusion that potential impacts to human health regarding drinking water quality from project activities will be negligible, with the expectation that downstream water quality will be maintained throughout the life of the project

11 Noise Background Expected changes between existing and predicted daytime and night-time sound levels at locations where people are or will be present Characteristics of the noise (e.g. impulsive or tonal), proximity to the noise source, and the type of community (e.g. urban, suburban or quiet rural areas) influence the significance of noise impacts Health Canada did not comment on noise impacts to wildlife or ecosystems since these impacts fall outside of its mandate and expertise

12 Noise Comments Based on the information provided, Health Canada anticipates human health impacts related to noise to be negligible Health Canada expects that the proponent will comply with provincial Occupational Health & Safety noise requirements for the protection of mine site workers

13 Country Foods Background Foods that are trapped, fished, hunted, harvested or grown for subsistence or medicinal purposes or obtained from recreational activities such as sport fishing and/or game hunting and trapping Health Canada s review focused in the potential for elevated human health risk as a result of projectrelated country foods contamination Health Canada s review did not include country food security issues, e.g., quantity of, or access to country food resources, since we do not possess expertise in these areas

14 Country Foods Comments There is a high degree of uncertainty in the derived human health risk estimates due to the limited sampling of chemical contaminants in country foods and the absence of country food consumption data Health Canada does not consider current consumption of country foods in the project area to pose an unacceptable health risk, assuming that consumption estimates are reflective of current consumption in the project area Health Canada suggests a dietary survey of country food consumption be conducted to verify the assumptions that were made and support the proponent s choice in the foods assessed and estimates of quantities consumed. If the consumption rates and types of foods assessed do not reflect current country food use in the project area, Health Canada suggests the proponent collect empirical data on the levels of contaminants in the correct country foods and analyse the human health risks based on the correct consumption rates

15 Summary..1 Air - satisfied with the conclusions made by the Proponent with respect to health impacts due to changes in air quality and expects the Proponent to comply with its commitments to undertake AQ monitoring and corrective action during operations and post-closure that are delineated in the Table of Commitments from the BC Environmental Assessment process Water - satisfied with the conclusions made by the Proponent with respect to drinking water quality and agrees that human health effects due to project activities should be negligible Noise - satisfied with the conclusions made by the Proponent with respect to noise and agrees that human health effects due to project activities should be negligible

16 Summary..2 Country Foods - Health Canada advises the proponent to: carry out a consumption survey to verify that the assumptions and estimates used to determine health risk are correct, and if they are not, collect empirical data on the levels of contaminants in the correct country foods and analyze the human health risks based on the appropriate country food species, and correct consumption rates. Health Canada also advises that the levels of arsenic and mercury in fish tissue be monitored for an initial period of time during project operation as a precautionary measure and to verify model predictions.

17 Thank you Questions?

18 Carl Alleyne Regional Environmental Assessment Coordinator Safe Environments, BC Region Health Canada