The Midwest Mining and Milling Project

Location: McClean Lake, Saskatchewan

Summary: The Midwest Project involves the mining and milling of a uranium deposit located near the eastern margin of the Athabasca basin in northern Saskatchewan; about 15 km west of the JEB mill at the McClean Lake Operation. The project is proposed as an extension of the mining and milling activities at the McClean Lake Operation.

Environmental and licensing progress details: (Timelines are best estimates and are subject to change)

• Environmental assessment, site preparation site and construct (Last updated: January 10, 2011)
• Operation
• Decommissioning

Environmental assessment, and license to prepare site and construct

Project milestone	Responsibility and status		Date	Comment
	CNSC and other federal authorities	Applicant
Areva licence application and project description (PDF) (source: MPMO)		Completed by AREVA	December 28, 2005
Final environmental impact statement (EIS) guidelines (source: Saskatchewan Environment)	Completed by the federal Minister of Environment		October, 2007	Finalized by the federal Minister of the Environment, in consultation with the President of the CNSC, based on comments received.
Receipt of initial EIS to support the application to amend the McClean Lake operating licence to construct the project.		Completed by AREVA	October 22, 2007 to March 2008	Was received in three parts (Oct 2007, Jan 2008, and March 2008)
Project brought in under the Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) Initiative	Completed by MPMO		February 26, 2009
Decision to renew the McClean Lake operating licence and to revoke the Midwest Uranium site preparation licence (PDF)	Completed by the CNSC		April 30, 2009	The Commission decided to renew the McClean Lake operating licence. The ommission also revoked the Midwest Uranium site preparation licence and included it in McClean Lake licence.
MPMO project agreement signed Project Agreement for the Midwest Uranium Mining and Milling Project in Saskatchewan (source: MPMO)	Completed by MPMO		December 2009	An MPMO project agreement is an agreement between federal Deputy Ministers that outlines the process by which federal government departments or agencies will carry out their particular roles or responsibilities during the federal regulatory review of a proposed major resource project. The agreement includes a timeline and schedule for the completion of the regulatory review with regular milestones to allow tracking of progress.
AREVA submits revised EIS		Completed by AREVA	February 26, 2010
Federal review of revised EIS and fish habitat compensation plan	Completed Lead by CEAA		February 27 to April 28, 2010
Federal request to AREVA to revise EIS	Completed by CEAA		April 2010	AREVA has been requested to revise the EIS again based on the comments received
Federal government posts revised notice of commencement (source: CEAA)	Completed by the CNSC		August 31, 2010	Per amendments to the CEA Act that came into force with the Jobs and Economic Growth Act in July 2010, the CNSC will lead on the remaining steps of the environmental assessment (source: Department of Justice Canada)
AREVA submits final EIS		Completed by AREVA	September 30, 2011
Prepare draft comprehensive study report (CSR) and circulate for review	Completed by the CNSC, with support from responsible authorities and expert federal authorities		December 5, 2011	CNSC circulates draft CSR to federal responsible authorities, federal authorities as well discussing a revised CSR with Aboriginal groups.
Aboriginal engagement on draft CSR	Completed Led by the CNSC		December 5 to December 30, 2011
Prepare final CSR and circulate for review	Completed by the CNSC		January 27, 2012
Approve final CSR	Completed by the responsible authorities		March 16, 2012
Translate final CSR	Completed Verified by the CNSC	Completed by Translation Services	May 11, 2012
Submit the final CSR to the federal Minister of the Environment	Completed by the CNSC and the responsible authorities		May 18, 2012
Post Final CSR for public and Aboriginal comments on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry Internet site (CEARIS)	Completed by CEAA		May 28, 2012
Post notice of federal Minister of the Environment decision statement on CEARIS	Completed by CEAA		August 15, 2012
Post EA course of action decisions on the CEARIS	Completed by the CNSC and the Responsible Authorities		September 12, 2012
AREVA submits technical information to support the application to amend the McClean Lake operating licence to construct the project.	CNSC		TBD
CNSC review of technical information	CNSC		Within 6 months of receipt of technical information
Notice of public hearings posted	CNSC		TBD	Should the EA decision be that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, the panel of the Commission will conduct hearings on the application for amendment, in accordance with the NSCA and its Rules of Procedure – the first step is to issue a Notice of Public Hearing.
Conduct day one of two-day hearing	CNSC		TBD	On Hearing Day 1 of a two-day public hearing, the applicant and CNSC staff present written and oral submissions to the Commission and respond to questions from the Commission.
Conduct day two of two-day hearing	CNSC		TBD	On Hearing Day 2 registered intervenors have a further opportunity to make their views known to the Commission and to respond to any related questions from the Commission Members. The applicant and CNSC staff must also attend Hearing Day 2 and be prepared to respond to further questioning by the Commission.
Publish decision and reasons for decision	CNSC		TBD	The CNSC Commission publishes its final decision, complete with rationale.

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Operation

Project milestone	Responsibility and status		Date	Comment
	CNSC and other federal authorities	Applicant
AREVA applies to amend the McClean Lake operating licence to operate the Midwest Mine.		Expected from AREVA	TBD
CNSC holds public hearings	Expected from CNSC		TBD	CNSC holds public hearings on the AREVA application applies to amend the McClean Lake operating licence to operate the Midwest Mine and decides on the application.

Decommissioning

Project milestone	Responsibility and status		Date	Comment
	CNSC and other federal authorities	Applicant
AREVA applies for a licence to decommission		Expected from AREVA	TBD
CNSC holds public Hearings	Expected from CNSC		TBD	CNSC holds public hearings on the AREVA application for a licence to decommission and decides on the application.

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