Public Notice
Tio Mine Expansion Project – Federal Funding Available

November 6, 2014 — The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is making available funding to support participation of the public and Aboriginal groups in the federal environmental assessment of the Tio Mine Expansion Project, located near Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec.

Funding is available for eligible individuals and groups to enable their participation in upcoming steps of the environmental assessment, which include reviewing and providing comments on the summary of the Environmental Impact Statement, the draft Environmental Assessment Report, and on potential environmental assessment conditions.

Applications received by December 8, 2014 will be considered. Recipients and the amount of funding allocated will be announced at a later date.

To apply for funding, or for more information on the project and the environmental assessment process, visit the Agency's website (Registry reference number 80078) or contact the Participant Funding Program by writing to PFP.PAFP@ceaa-acee.gc.ca or by calling 1-866-582-1884.

As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Agency is conducting a federal environmental assessment of this project.

This project is being 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.

The Proposed Project

Rio Tinto Fer et Titane is proposing to expand the Lac Tio Ilmenite mine site, located approximately 40 kilometres north of 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 the creation of a new waste-rock pile for the storage of 119 million cubic meters of waste-rock that will be generated by the end of the life of the mine. The waste-rock pile and associated infrastructure will occupy an area of 1.39 square kilometers, which represents an expansion of more than 50% of the existing area of operations. The project also includes the centralization of water treatment and the construction of a new water treatment plant with a capacity of 745 cubic metres per hour.