Former Gunnar Mining Limited site rehabilitation project proposal

Environment assessment (EA) start date:  June 15, 2007
CEAR reference number: 07-03-30100 (external link)
Proponent:Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC)
Location:Gunnar Mine Site, Saskatchewan

Latest update

• February 24, 2015 – Record of Proceedings – Saskatchewan Research Council – Request for an Environmental Assessment and Licensing Decision for the Gunnar Remediation Project
• January 15, 2014 – CNSC accepts environmental assessment report and issues licence for the Gunnar remediation project
• July 31, 2014 – Notice of public hearing in Ottawa, Ontario – November 6, 2014
• February 2, 2009 – Former Gunnar Mine site rehabilitation project environmental assessment to continue as a comprehensive study
• October 27, 2008 – Record of proceedings – Saskatchewan Research Council – environmental assessment track report regarding SRC's roposed Gunnar Mine site rehabilitation project
• July 11, 2008 – Notice – Public hearing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  – September 17, 2008
• May 14, 2008 – Public meeting on EA process and draft guideline-scoping document in Uranium City, Saskatchewan
• March 28, 2008 – Request for public input into the environmental assessment

Project description

The Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to address the cold war legacy uraniummMine and mill sites in Northern Saskatchewan. This agreement includes the rehabilitation of the former Gunnar Mine site.

Under the MOA, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources (SIR) has been assigned the responsibility to ensure that the project is carried out on behalf of the two governments. SIR has signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) to fulfill the role of project manager and designated agent to manage and perform the required EA requirements and rehabilitation activities.

On April 23, 2007, SRC submitted a project proposal for Gunnar site rehabilitation. The proposal includes the following components:

• demolition of existing building, facilities and structures
• appropriate disposal of materials resulting from demolition
• installation of an appropriate cover on all or a portion of the exposed mill tailings
• rehabilitation of existing waste rock piles
• rehabilitation of additional risk(s) as warranted
• general site clean-up
• re-vegetation of areas of the rehabilitated site as required
• appropriate monitoring during and after rehabilitation

Before the Commission makes its decision on SRC's proposal, an EA must be completed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The purpose of an EA is to identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed project, and to determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.

Further information

For questions or information directly related to the EA of the proposed project, or to obtain copies or a list of documents related to the EA, please contact:

Nicole Frigault
Environmental Specialist Officer
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P. O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9

Telephone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax: 613-995-5086
Email: EA@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment; to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.