AREVA Resources Canada Activities
August 2010
McClean Lake
Production ceased at the McClean Lake mill at the end of June. Up to then, stockpiled ore was processed with production reaching about 1,700,000 lbs U3O8 for 2010. During July, the mill was prepared for its care and maintenance phase. Unfortunately, the suspension of activities at the mill is resulting in the lay-off of approximately 120 McClean Lake employees and 20 Saskatoon employees. Plans are for another 30 to 40 employees to be temporarily transferred within AREVA worldwide or to other companies. Layoffs at the site began in June and will be completed by early fall. About 100 employees, 50 each shift, will remain at McClean Lake. There have been no spills since the last community update.
AREVA Resources' network of policies, procedures and monitoring programs ensures that emissions from mining and processing remain as low as reasonably achievable. The graphs below show the differences between the regulatory limits and the sampling results from water released to the environment at the water treatment plant at McClean Lake for the past 12 months. The bars at the bottom of each graph show the concentrations of elements in water from our treatment plant. The lines across the top show the regulatory limits. It is clear from these graphs that the concentrations of elements in our waste water are well below the regulatory limits.
For a closer look at the graphs, click here.
Caribou Project
AREVA has received environmental assessment approvals for the Caribou open pit mine at the McClean Lake site from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and from the Province of Saskatchewan. Although AREVA is not proceeding with the licensing approvals for development of the project at this time, we will be in a position to do so when we are ready to develop the mine.
Midwest Project
The revised draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Midwest Mine Project was submitted in February. AREVA is currently responding to comments from government agencies with revisions to the EIS for submission. AREVA is participating with the Federal and Provincial governments in meetings with Aboriginal leadership to present information on the Midwest Project EIS and obtain any feedback, comments or concerns on potential effects to traditional land use or Aboriginal and Treaty rights. During the Environmental Assessment process, the site remains in a care and maintenance mode. The McClean Lake site employees continue to be responsible for conducting these care and maintenance activities.
Cluff Lake Site
Routine maintenance and environmental monitoring activities continue at Cluff Lake. The previous approval expired August 31, 2009, but was extended to improve the review and provide an opportunity to meet with the public. There have been no reportable spills at Cluff Lake since September 28, 2004. The focus of the Cluff Decommissioning project for 2010 has been to update our understanding of the health of the environment and the success so far of the decommissioning program. This is being achieved by conducting a number of environmental sampling and investigative programs within and outside of the site boundaries. These investigations will provide AREVA with information required to develop a longer term plan which will target the eventual transfer of the site to the Province of Saskatchewan Institutional Control Program for long term care.
McArthur River Ore Haul Project Proposal
In November 2009 AREVA filed an application with the Province of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to receive and process ore from McArthur River at the McClean Lake Operation. This would involve transporting uranium ore slurry from McArthur River to the McClean Lake Operation in similar containers to those currently being used between McArthur River and Key Lake. This would only occur for approximately three years, and would involve no more than 2 loaded and 2 empty returning trucks per day for 300 days in each of the 3 years of operation. We are continuing with the environmental assessment and regulatory approval process for this project.
We will continue to meet with those who are interested in the project. AREVA will be conducting public open houses and meetings during September, the schedule is attached to this update. Come and meet our team, ask questions and give us your comments. The schedule is at the end of this Community Update.
If you have any questions, please send an email to mcarthurtomcclean@areva.ca or contact Carolanne Inglis-McQuay at 306-343-4555 or carolanne.inglis-mcquay@areva.ca. Please visit the new blog at www.McArthurToMcClean.ca for information and regular updates about this project. This blog is another forum for the public to ask questions and get in touch with us. Check it out and don't hesitate to use it to ask questions and give us comments.
Human Resources
Donations and Sponsorships
We are pleased to have been able to help the following organizations in the month of July 2010.
- Canoe Lake Cree First Nation – Hockey Training & Tournament Expenses
- Ekewewetotamak Mithow Pimatisowin – Traditional Culture Camp
- English River First Nation – Dene Culture & Heritage Summer Fun Camp
- Fond du Lac First Nation – Temporary Accommodation at Pine Channel
- RONA MS Bike Tour
- Global Vision – Junior Team Canada Program First Nation Ambassador
- Gold Medal Plates Dinner
- Northern Summit – Conference
- Pinehouse Wellness Centre – Memorial Cultural Campout
- Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre – FolkFest Buyer's Choice Raffle
- Stanley Mission Judo Club – Expenses to Compete in World Masters Championship
- Team Saskatchewan Bantam Select Girl's Baseball – Tournament Expenses
- The Princess Shop – For youth who cannot afford graduation attire
- Wishart Hopak Dancers – National Independence Day Performance
|
