The third environmental assessment mining approval in Ontario’s history

The Hardrock Project

Greenstone Gold Mines (GGM) wanted to establish a new open pit gold mine in Greenstone Ontario, northeast of Thunder Bay. We were brought in to manage the complex preparation of a coordinated federal-provincial environmental assessment (and related studies). This included the development of a provincial terms of reference and a federal project description, a draft and final environmental impact statement/environmental assessment (EIS/EA), and numerous studies and technical reports to support the submissions.

Our traditional knowledge (TK) specialists worked with the environmental assessment team and GGM to integrate TK and the results of a client-led Indigenous engagement program into the design and execution of the EIS/EA. This included culturally important areas, species and habitats of interest, mitigation measures, and suggested follow-up and monitoring.

Stantec received a positive decision statement in December 2018 and March 2019 from the federal and provincial governments on the EIS/EA, respectively. Now? We’re undertaking a permitting program for the project and supporting detailed design as the project advances toward construction.