APPENDIX B
Participant Funding Program – Aboriginal Funding Envelope
Funding Review Committee’s Report

Millennium Mine Project
Allocation of Phase II Funding for Participation in the Environmental Assessment Process

The Participant Funding Program (PFP) was established pursuant to subsection 58(1.1) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act), which states: For the purposes of this Act, the Minister shall establish a participant funding program to facilitate the participation of the public in comprehensive studies, mediations and assessments by review panels. The PFP also includes an Aboriginal Funding Envelope (AFE) to strengthen the ability of Aboriginal groups to participate in federal or joint federal-provincial environmental assessment (EA) processes and in related consultation activities.

A funding review committee (FRC), independent of the environmental assessment of the Millennium Mine Project (the Project) being conducted by means of a comprehensive study, was established to assess the funding applications received under Phase II of the PFP-AFE for the Project and recommend funding allocations to the applicants. A total of $62,000 was made available by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) to enable Aboriginal applicants to participate in the second phase of the EA process, including participating in consultation meetings with the federal government regarding the environmental assessment; reviewing and providing comments on the proponent’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); and reviewing and providing comments on the comprehensive study report (CSR).

In April 2010, the FRC completed its recommendations for AFE Phase I funding of the PFP. Phase I funding was to enable Aboriginal applicants to review the project proposal and draft scoping document, and to support related Aboriginal consultation activities. The FRC recommended awarding a total of $53,112 to Phase I applicants.

On July 6, 2010, the FRC met to review four applications received for the Millennium Mine Project Phase II funding. Following this meeting, the FRC made recommendations to the Agency on appropriate awards for these applicants. Subsequent to this, the Agency allocated an additional $20,000 from the Regular Funding Envelope (RFE) to the PFP-AFE Phase II; and on August 27, 2010, the FRC met to re-examine the four applications with a view to making recommendations on the allocations of the additional $20,000 from the RFE to the Phase II AFE applicants under the Agency’s PFP.

The FRC members were Paul Scott, retired Regional Director of the Agency’s Pacific and Yukon Office, acting as Committee Chairperson; Larry Lechner, past Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Saskatchewan Environment; and Don Hovdebo, Principal Consultant.

Background

The Project is being assessed through a comprehensive study. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is required to ensure that a comprehensive study is conducted in relation to the proposed project. Under section 5 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, an environmental assessment is required in relation to this project because the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission may issue a permit or license under subsection 24(2) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will act as the Federal Environmental Assessment Coordinator for this environmental assessment.

Cameco Corporation is proposing to develop an underground uranium mine located in the southeast part of the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, approximately 600 km north of Saskatoon. The proposed Millennium mine would produce 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes of ore annually for six to seven years. Ore and associated waste materials, other than clean waste rock, would be transported to a licensed mill along a new 21-km access road that would connect to the existing road network. Clean waste rock would be stored on-site.

As of August 21, 2009, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission was required to ensure that a comprehensive study was conducted in relation to the proposed project.

Eligibility

Under the AFE of the PFP, funding may be provided to Aboriginal groups to support their input to an environmental assessment and/or to support their engagement in consultation activities with the federal government. These activities must be linked to the EA of a proposed project through a comprehensive study, mediation or review panel.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must demonstrate that they meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Have a direct, local interest in the Project, such as a residence in the area or historical or cultural ties to the area likely to be affected by the Project;
• Have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the environmental assessment; or
• Have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the Project.

Under the PFP-AFE, applicants can request funding for expenditures related to:

• Professional fees
• Staff salaries and benefits
• Travel expenses
• Honoraria for Elders and Chiefs to attend meetings and functions
• Ceremonial offerings related to receiving traditional knowledge
• Administration and reporting
• Other expenses related to local collection and distribution of information
• Office supplies and telephone charges
• Rental of office space and meeting rooms
• Legal fees
• General media and advertising and promotion
• Purchase of information material
• Other detailed expenses, with supporting information

Rationale for Allocation

The four applications reviewed by the FRC requested a total of $ 372,972.60. The FRC was advised by the Agency’s Participant Funding Program Coordinator that funds available for Phase II AFE were $42,000.

A Regular Funding Envelope (RFE) for this project was also available with a budget of $20,000. After review of the RFE applications, the FRC made a recommendation that no applicants be funded. It was subsequently decided by the Agency that this additional $20,000 be re-allocated to the AFE Phase II applicants. With the additional $20,000, the total funding available for the Phase II AFE program is now $62,000

The purpose of Phase II PFP-AFE funding is to enable Aboriginal applicants to participate in the EA process, specifically to:

1. participate in consultation meetings with the federal government regarding the environmental assessment;
2. review and provide comments on the proponent’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); and
3. review and provide comments on the comprehensive study report (CSR).

In view of the limited AFE funding available, the FRC has recommended, for each of the applications recommended for funding, that work plans and budgets be reduced accordingly.

Recommendation

The FRC recommends that a total of $62,000 be awarded to the four applicants.

Participant funding program Funding Review Committee Aboriginal funding envelope—Phase II
Millennium Mine Project

________________________________________
Paul Scott, Retired Regional Director of the Agency’s Pacific and Yukon Office, acting as Committee Chairperson

________________________________________
Larry Lechner, Past Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Saskatchewan Environment

________________________________________
Don Hovdebo, Principal Consultant

Recommended Participant Funding Awards
Aboriginal Funding Envelope—Phase II
Millennium Mine Project

Applicant	Funding Review Committee’s Recommended Awards
English River First Nation	$20,100
Prince Albert Grand Council	$23,300
MN-S Clearwater Clearlake Secretariat Inc.	$10,100
Barren Lands First Nation	$8,500
Total	$62,000