The Kiggavik project

Environmental assessment (EA) start date: January 9, 2009
Type: Part 5 review under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (led by the Nunavut Impact Review Board)
Proponent: AREVA Resources Canada Inc.
Purpose of facility: proposed uranium mining and milling operation
Location: Kivalliq, Nunavut

Latest update

• July 26, 2016 – Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs announces that the Kiggavik Project is not to proceed
  • Read the Minister’s letter to NIRB (PDF, source: NIRB)
• May 8, 2015 – Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) issues final hearing report on the Kiggavik Project
  • News release (PDF, source: NIRB)
  • Read the NIRB report (PDF, source: NIRB)
• April 28, 2015 – Kiggavik final hearing (March 3-14, 2015) documents are available (Source: NIRB)
• January 21, 2015 – The NIRB has received final written submissions from Kiggavik intervenors in advance of the March 2-14, 2015 Final hearing (PDF, Source: NIRB)
• November 21, 2014 – NIRB issues notice of final public hearing (PDF, Source: NIRB)
• October 16, 2014 – Final environmental impact statement (Source: NIRB)
  • Commencement of technical review period for the final environmental impact statement (PDF, source: NIRB)
• July 16, 2014 – Northern project agreement for the AREVA Resources Canada Inc.'s Kiggavik Uranium Mine Project in Nunavut (source: CanNor website). Additional information on Northern Project Agreements can be found on the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency website.
• July 6, 2013 – NIRB issues pre-hearing conference report on Kiggavik project proposal. (PDF, source: NIRB)
• February 27, 2013 – Schedule of technical meeting and pre-hearing conference dates for the NIRB's review of AREVA Resources Canada Inc.'s Kiggavik project and further direction on format of technical review comment submissions (PDF, source NIRB)
• February 6, 2013 – AREVA submits responses to information requests on the completeness of the environmental impact statement ( PDF, source: NIRB)
  • Commencement of technical review period for the NIRB's Review of AREVA Resources Canada Inc.'s Kiggavik project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• May 28, 2012 – Resubmission of draft environmental impact statement from AREVA to the NIRB (PDF, source: NIRB)
• May 4, 2011 – Final EIS guidelines for the Kiggavik Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• February 9, 2011 – Final scope for the Kiggavik Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• February 9, 2011 – Revised draft Guidelines for the Kiggavik Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• February 9, 2011 – The NIRB has posted for comment the final scope and revised draft guidelines for the Kiggavik Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• January 25, 2011 - The NIRB has posted the comments received on the revised draft scope and draft guidelines for the Kiggavik Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• November 15, 2010 – Draft guidelines for the preparation of an environmental impact statement for AREVA Resources Canada Inc's Kiggavik Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• November 15, 2010 – Revised draft scope for AREVA Resources Canada Inc's proposed Kiggavik Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• November 15, 2010 – The NIRB has posted for comment the revised draft Scope and draft EIS guidelines for AREVA Resources Canada Inc's preparation of an environmental impact statement for the "Kiggavik" Project (PDF, source: NIRB)
• August 12, 2010 – Participant funding and next steps in the NIRB EA process  (PDF, source: NIRB)
• August 12, 2010 – Minister of INAC accepts the recommendations of the Participant Funding Committee(PDF, source: NIRB)
• August 12, 2010 – Recommendation from the Participant Funding Committee to the Minister of INAC concerning the allocation of participant funding (PDF, source: NIRB)
• June 9, 2010 – Information and related documents are available on the NIRB website (source: NIRB)

Project description

The Kiggavik Project is a proposed uranium mining and milling operation located in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut approximately 80 km west of the community of Baker Lake.

AREVA Resources Canada is proposing to use open pit and underground mining methods to develop the ore at two main sites: Kiggavik and Sissons. Ore would be excavated, trucked to an ore stockpile and directed to a mill to produce yellowcake, a uranium concentrate. A dock site at Baker Lake would serve as a transfer and storage facility for materials and supplies. A 90 - 100 km haul road would be constructed to link the Baker Lake dock site to the main project site.

The project would also include the construction of an accommodation complex for employees, warehouse and maintenance facilities, fuel and explosives storage, water treatment plants, administration buildings and roads.

An EA is required to be conducted before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) can consider issuing a licence to AREVA to allow this project to proceed. The Kiggavik project falls under the jurisdiction of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and is therefore subject to the NIRB's EA process rather than the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. The CNSC will provide technical advice to the Nunavut Impact Review Board and participate in their process.

Further information

For questions or information directly related to this environmental assessment, contact the CNSC.