Participant Funding Program – Aboriginal Funding Envelope
Funding Review Committee's Report

Millennium Mine Project
Allocation of Phase I 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 from 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 I of the PFP-AFE for the Project and recommend funding allocations to the applicants. A total of $55,000 was made available by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) to enable Aboriginal applicants to participate in the EA process, specifically to enable Aboriginal groups to review the Project Proposal and draft scoping document and to support related Aboriginal consultation activities.

On March 30, 2010, the FRC met to review the applications. The FRC members were Mr. Paul Scott, retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Office, acting as Committee Chairperson; Mr. Larry Lechner, Past Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Saskatchewan Environment; and Mr. Don Hovdebo, Principal Consultant.

Background

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.

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.

Commencing on August 21, 2009, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is required to ensure that a comprehensive study is 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; and
• Other detailed expenses, with supporting information.

Rationale For Allocation

The eight applications reviewed by the FRC requested a total of $402,728.71. The FRC was advised by the PFP that the target budget available for allocation was $55,000. As the purpose of Phase I PFP-AFE funding is to enable Aboriginal applicants to participate in the EA process, specifically to enable Aboriginal groups to review the Project proposal and draft scoping document and to support related Aboriginal consultation activities, relevant EA process activities that could be approved for funding include:

1. Project Proposal and Draft Scoping Document Review: Reviewing the Project proposal and draft scoping document.
2. Community Consultation: Educating the potentially impacted communities on the proposed Project and collecting their input on any issues that have been identified.
3. Preparation of a Submission to CEAA on the Proposed Scope and Track Decision: Compiling the information it has gathered with the funding provided in the form of a written submission to the Agency.

After reviewing the applications, the FRC noted that several proposed activities were outside the scope of this Phase I funding. For this reason and 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 $53,112 be awarded to six of the eight applicants.

Participant Funding Program Funding Review Committee Aboriginal Funding Envelope – Phase I

Millennium Mine Project

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Mr. Paul Scott, Retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Office, Funding Review Committee Chair

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Mr. Larry Lechner, Past Director, Environmental Assessment Branch, Saskatchewan Environment

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Mr. Don Hovdebo, Principal Consultant

Recommended Participant Funding Awards
Aboriginal Funding Envelope – Phase I

Millennium Mine Project

Applicant	FRC's Recommended Awards
English River First Nation	$9,300
Metis Nation – Saskatchewan	$13,300
Prince Albert Grand Council	$11,355
Birch Narrows Dene Nations	$0
Buffalo River Dene Nation	$0
MN-S Clearwater Clearlake Secretariat Inc.	$6,125
Barren Lands First Nation	$5,350
Canoe Lake Cree First Nation	$7,682
Total	$53,112