Public Notice
Waste Rock and Water Management Project at the Tio Mine – Public Comments Invited

July 14, 2014  — As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency must decide whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Waste Rock and Water Management Project at the Tio Mine, located in Quebec. To assist it in making its decision, the Agency is seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment.

Rio Tinto Fer et Titane is proposing to expand the Lac Tio Ilmenite mine site, near Havre-Saint-Pierre, which it has mined for 60 years. The project involves no increase in the annual production of 3.1 million tonnes, but the new waste rock management plan includes creating a new waste rock pile that represents, with a surface area of 373,000 square meters and a capacity of 360 million tonnes, an expansion of more than 50% of the existing area of operations. The project also includes centralizing the water treatment and constructing a new treatment plant with a capacity of 745 cubic metres per hour.

Written comments must be submitted by August 4, 2014 to:

Waste Rock and Water Management Project at the Tio Mine
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
901-1550 d'Estimauville Avenue
Québec, Quebec G1J 0C1
Telephone: 418-649-6444
Fax: 418-649-6443
ProjetMineTioProject@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

To view a summary of the project description or for more information on the project and on the environmental assessment process, visit the Agency's website (Registry reference number 80078). All comments received will be considered public.

The Agency will post a decision on its website stating whether a federal environmental assessment is required.

If it is determined that a federal environmental assessment is required, the public will have three more opportunities to comment on this project, consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012.

Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and fines for non-compliance.