TerraX Minerals Inc. is facing a regulatory delay in getting an important water licence despite mollifying concerns initially raised by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The delay has disrupted work and affected some jobs at its Yellowknife City Gold project.
While TerraX didnSA国际影视传媒檛 respond to requests for comment by press time, subcontractor Foraco Canada Ltd. told Yellowknifer, when asked, that SA国际影视传媒渁t least sixSA国际影视传媒� of its local jobs have been affected by the delay.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is having a very big impact in terms of jobs and local supply of goods and services,SA国际影视传媒� stated Tim Bremner, president of Foraco Canada, in an email response.
TerraXSA国际影视传媒檚 response to concerns raised about its projected water usage, as well as revised sections of its draft water licence, are currently up for public review on the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water BoardSA国际影视传媒檚 website.
Comments on these files are due by Feb. 18, with TerraXSA国际影视传媒檚 responses to these comments due by Feb. 22.
SA国际影视传媒淚f there are no outstanding issues at the end of the public review, the application package could come before the board for decision within several weeks,SA国际影视传媒� stated Shelagh Montgomery, executive director of the water board.
During the application process for TerraXSA国际影视传媒檚 Type B water licence, covering the next five years of work at its property, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans raised concerns that TerraX had not provided enough information on how much water would be used by its Yellowknife City Gold project and which lakes water would be drawn from.
These concerns were raised as part of the normal public review process for the licence application, according to Montgomery.
SA国际影视传媒淭here is nothing different about the process for TerraXSA国际影视传媒檚 application,SA国际影视传媒� she stated.
In TerraXSA国际影视传媒檚 response to the boardSA国际影视传媒檚 request, executive chair Joe Campbell stated that while the Type B water licence allows for approximately 110,000 cubic metres of water usage per year, TerraX would likely only use 30,000 of that per year.
Despite not using the full amount, Campbell wrote that flexibility is needed in how much can be drawn per day and per year as less water will be used one day and more another and much of the drilling is compacted in a six- to eight-month season.
As well, Campbell wrote, due to the nature of mineral exploration, it is not possible to predict where all drilling and camp activities will occur, and at what magnitude in each individual spot.
Flexibility, therefore, is needed for water sources as well.
In an effort to illustrate low risk of SA国际影视传媒渟erious harm,SA国际影视传媒� Campbell illustrated worst-case scenarios in which SA国际影视传媒� with no precipitation or natural inflow taken into account SA国际影视传媒� TerraXSA国际影视传媒檚 impacts on local lakes would be SA国际影视传媒渘egligible.SA国际影视传媒�
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans stated on Jan. 24 that additional information TerraX had submitted quelled its concerns.
Changes to the new draft water licence list hundreds of lakes from which TerraX can draw water, and keep allowances of usage up to 299 cubic metres per day and a maximum draw of 0.5 per cent of total volume of a water source, which align with CampbellSA国际影视传媒檚 stated needs for flexibility.
The changes also require TerraX to notify an inspector of a water source to be used 10 days prior to drilling, compared to 48 hours in the previous draft.
Campbell wrote in his letter that the company believes this situation and TerraXSA国际影视传媒檚 response, provides a useful case study for assessment of future exploration programs.
SA国际影视传媒淚ssuing the licence will indicate that the current MVLWB water license application process responds to the requirements of the mineral exploration industry, in addition to the boardSA国际影视传媒檚 larger responsibility to regulating mine development applications,SA国际影视传媒� he wrote. SA国际影视传媒淭he result for TerraX, and all other exploration companies would show that these rules and regulations are a positive driver for responsible exploration activity.SA国际影视传媒�
