COMEX'S DECISIONS REGISTER 2017-2018

(1)

1 2017-0419-01 352

Project to mine and process 900 000 tonnes of gold ore from the Bachelor property,

Metanor Resources

3214-14-027

Tailings management plan

(Condition #2)

… to send a letter to the Provincial Administrator informing her that the members of the COMEX have studied the revised tailings management plan and that it meets Condition 2 in the amendment

to the certificate of authorization issued February 10, 2017.

However, the COMEX expects to receive the other requirements contained in Conditions 1 and 6 within the prescribed three-month

timeframe following the issuance of the amendment to the CA.

Relay of correspondence

2 2017-0419-02 352

Forest roads in Section H West and Section I - project

by Matériaux Blanchet

3214-05-075

Monitoring report on the conditions in the CA (conditions 1, 2 et 7) Study of archaeological

potential (condition 8)

,,,to send a letter to the Provincial Administrator advising that the COMEX members have reviewed the proponent’s efforts in response to Conditions 1, 2, 7 and 8. The COMEX has also taken note of the follow-up to Conditions 1 and 2 and

wishes to be kept informed of any changes to the route and the consequences for the possible presence of bald-headed eagle's nests, as stipulated in Condition 7 of

the certificate of authorization.

As for the study of archaeological potential required under Condition 8, the COMEX reviewed the document and find it inadequate. Although the COMEX recognizes that the interviewer encountered difficulties, it considers that this study of archaeological potential has methodological deficiencies related to sample size, which was limited to a single individual, and therefore considered unrepresentative of all the users of the territory who possess the relevant knowledge for the study.

The COMEX therefore recommends that the proponent complete this study and contact the Band Council of Waswanipi to obtain better collaboration with

territorial users and those with traditional knowledge of the area..

In addition, the COMEX members are still awaiting the pre-construction requirements for the roads H & I mentioned in conditions 3 (woodland caribou

monitoring measures), 4 (environmental characterization program), 5 (work related to stream crossings and operation of borrow pits), and 6 (protection

measures for the presence of threatened or vulnerable wildlife species).

Finally, the COMEX wonders why there are minutes documenting meetings between the monitoring committee and the community as required under Condition

9, and would like to have an update without delay on the status of discussions between the proponent and the community of Waswanipi in anticipation of work on

roads H Section West & I.

(2)

3 2017-0419-03 352 Forest road project L-209 3214-05-072

Follow-up on COMEX questions and schedules sent to the Administrator regarding L-209 on July 27, 2016 and E-West on

November 27, 2016

...to send a letter to the Provincial Administrator to mention that the members would like an update from the proponent on the timetable for the planned work as well as a response to their questions and comments regarding the extension of forest road L- 209 Nord and the construction du forest road E West. The COMEX

would like to know how these roads fit in to the current and future integrated forest management plan (PAFIT).

4 2017-0419-04 352

Eastmain 1-A / Rupert hydroelectric development

project (Hydro-Québec)

3214-10-017

Request to amend CA : construction of a rockfill

spur dike and stabilization of a bank

slope near the weir at PK-170 ot the Rupert

river

...to send the Administrator a recommendation in favour of the request to amend the certificate of authorization so as to construct a rockfill spur dike and stabilize the bank slope near the weir at PK-

170, under some conditions.

Amend CA under conditions

5 2017-0419-05 352 Troilus mining project 3214-14-025

2015 Post-closure environmental monitoring and inspection report

...Following up on the 351st COMEX meeting and for the purpose of additional verification, on April 12, 2017, the COMEX sent a

letter to the Administrator seeking the studies mentioned in Paragraph 6.2 of the 2015 Annual Report from the Troilus mine,

specifically, the kinetic assays of airborne particles.

Request for documents

6 2017-0419-06 352 Whabouchi mining project 3214-14-052 Request to amend CA ...to recommend to the Provincial Administrator to approve the application to amend the CA under some conditions.

Amend CA under conditions

7 2017-0518-01 353

3214-10-017

Rupert river landscape monitoring 2015 -

Environmental monitoring during the

operation phase

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform her that the COMEX members took note of the proponent’s landscape monitoring report and that the report satisfies Condition 6.37 of the certificate of authorization issued on November 24, 2006. Based on what COMEX learned from the report, the members make some

recommendations,

(3)

8 2017-0518-02 353

3214-10-017

Water quality monitoring in the Rupert

and Nemiscau rivers : 2015 report

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform her that the COMEX members took note of the proponent’s 2015 report on water quality monitoring in the Rupert and Nemiscau rivers and

that it satisfies Condition 6.6 of the certificate of authorization issued on November 24, 2006. According to the schedule indicated

in the 2007-2023 environmental monitoring program, the final sampling campaign will be conducted in 2017. As well as making sure that water quality remains within the parameters allowing for

Cree use of the river water, COMEX believes, based on what it learned from the 2015 monitoring report, that the final year of monitoring (2017) will also confirm or refute the two assumptions

put forward by the proponent to the effect that Rupert River’s unusually high flow rate in 2015 augmented dilution and that the gradual decrease in the values of all three variables in the river’s downstream reach from 2010 to 2015, along with the sharp decline

in 2015, are due to revegetation of the riverbanks.

9 2017-0518-03 353

3214-10-017

Monitoring program for fish communities and population dynamics in

the Rupert diversion bays - 2014 study report,

dated July 2015, submitted along the communication plan

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform her that the COMEX members took note of the 2014 study report on monitoring

of fish communities and population dynamics in the Rupert diversion bays (“Rapport d’étude 2014,” dated July 2015), submitted along with the communication plan. COMEX finds that

the report satisfies conditions 5.4 and 5.5 of the certificate of authorization issued on November 24, 2006 as well as Condition 1 of the amended certificate of authorization issued on July 28, 2008, and that the observed trends are consistent with the assumptions in the proponent’s impact statement. Furthermore, COMEX thinks

that the study is an effective way to track changes in fish communities over time and that monitoring will continue until

2022, and beyond if deemed necessary based on results.

(4)

10 2017-0518-04 353

3214-10-017

Monitoring of the integrity and utilization

of the multispecies spawning grounds developed in the Rupert

river diversion bays - 2015 study report and monitoring results (2010-

2015), dated December 2016

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform her that the COMEX members took note of the monitoring report on the integrity and utilization of the multispecies spawning grounds developed in the Rupert River diversion bays – “Rapport d’études

2015 et bilan du suivi (2010-2015),” dated December 2016.

Furthermore, the final account shows that, generally speaking, the development of multispecies spawning grounds is an effective measure to compensate for the loss of fish habitat. Lake trout is an

exception, as this species is the subject of a separate monitoring program and a separate monitoring report. Monitoring of the four

target species, namely, whitefish, lake sturgeon and suckers, as well as user observations and visual inspection of spawning grounds confirmed the physical integrity and the target species’

utilization of the multispecies spawning grounds developed. Both monitoring reports cover the final year of monitoring the integrity and utilization of multispecies spawning grounds developed in the

Rupert River and its diversion bays under the 2007-2023 environmental monitoring program and, in the opinion of the COMEX members, the proposed monitoring satisfies Condition 5.6

requiring a program to monitor the efficiency of spawning ground enhancements as well as Condition 5.24 of the same certificate of

authorization. The proponent also satisfied Condition 1 of the amended certificate of authorization issued on July 28, 2008 as

regards the time limit for submitting the monitoring report following the field campaign.

11 2017-0518-05 353 Québec Mining Association

2017 Presentation N/D N/D

...to put together a detailed program for the session to be given at Québec Mines 2017 and send it to the organizers as soon as it is

ready.

Prepare a detailed program

(5)

12 2017-0518-06 353

2016-2017 Stratégic plan : assessment and forecast for

2018

N/D N/D

...to adopt the report on the 2016-2017 Action Plan and finalize the new strategic plan for 2017-2018 so that it can be adopted soon

while continuing the actions undertaken to date, including discussions with the JBACE, COMEV and the climate change

branch of the MDDELCC.

Finalize the 2017-2018 strategic plan and determine the related

actions

13 2017-0622-01 354

3214-10-017

Monitoring of hydrology, hydraulics and continental thermal

regime, 2014 and 2015 reports

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform her that the COMEX members reviewed the 2014 and 2015 reports on monitoring of hydrology, hydraulics and continental thermal

regime by the proponent and submit the some comments.

14 2017-0622-02 354 Eleonore mining project 3214-14-042 Request to amend CA

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform her that the COMEX members went over the request to enlarge the waste rock

dump (Phase V) and recommend that she authorize the project.

15 2017-0622-03 354

Kakabat granular material deposit project (Community

of Wemindji)

3214-03-034 Environmental impact assessment

...to write to the Regional Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the environmental and social impact assessment and recommend that he authorize the project with the

some conditions.

16 2017-0622-04 354 Whabouchi mining project 3214-14-052

Follow-up on conditions 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the general certificate of

authorization and condition 2 of the amendment date July 27,

2016

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform her that the COMEX members take note of the follow-up given to conditions 5,

7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the general certificate of authorization and deem that the proponent has met those conditions satisfactorily.

As regards Condition 2, COMEX reviewed the information provided and is still waiting to receive additional information from

the proponent in follow-up to conditions 17, 18 and 19.

(6)

Action (action plan):

Linguistic revision and translation. Send the report

to the administrators, the JBACE, COMEV and the Direction des évaluations environnementales des

projets nordiques et miniers of the MDDELCC.

Post on COMEX website

17 2017-0622-05 354 2017-2018 Stratégic plan and

action plan follow-up N/A N/A ...to adopt the 2017-2018 Strategic Action Plan and action plan follow-up.

(7)

Action (action plan follow- up): Suzann Méthot will

ensure the necessary follow-up so that an exploratory meeting can be held in September between COMEX, COMEV, the JBACE, and experts from

the MDDELCC and the Ouranos consortium to identify steps to ensure better integration of climate change into the environmental and social

impact assessment and review procedure for the

James Bay Territory (Action 1.1 of the Action

Plan).

18 2017-0720-01 355 Renard diamond project 3214-14-041

Request to amend CA - Modified processed kimberlite containment

area

… to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the request to amend the certificate of

authorization and recommend that he athorize the requested amendment under some conditions.

Relay of correspondence 17 2017-0622-05 354 2017-2018 Stratégic plan and

action plan follow-up N/A N/A ...to adopt the 2017-2018 Strategic Action Plan and action plan follow-up.

(8)

Request to modify conditions 12, 14, 17 and 18 of the certificate of authorization and the final effluent discharge

site

…to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the resquest to modify conditions 12,

14, 17 and 18 and change the final effluent discharge site.

However, the letter will deal solely with the final effluent discharge site. COMEX's recommendations regarding conditions 12, 14, 17 and 18 will be sent to the Provincial Administrator at a later date.

COMEX considers that additional information is needed to complete the review process. Therefore, the proponent is asked to

answer some questions.

20 2017-0720-03 355

3214-05-075 Follow-up on conditions 4 and 9

…to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members took note of the compliance with conditions 4

and 9 of the certificate of authorization and consider that additional information id needed in ordre to clarify certain aspects

of the natural environment characterization program. COMEX would like the proponent to answer some questions, taking

COMEX's comment into consideration.

21 2017-0830-01 356 Renard diamond project 3214-14-041 Fish habitat compensation program

... to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the proponent’s fish habitat compensation program and would like the proponent to answer

some questions.

Request to modify conditions 12, 14, 17 and 18 of the certificate of authorization and the final effluent discharge

site

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the request to modify conditions 12, 14, 17 and 18 and the request that some questions and comments

be sent to the proponent.

(9)

23 2017-0830-03 356

Metanor Resources

3214-14-027

2016 Environmental monitoring and follow- up report, Responses to

the conditions of amendment of the

certificate od authorization date February 10, 2017 and

Progress report on the treatment plan for tailings pond water -

condition 11

...to write to the Provincial Administrator 1) to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the documents provided by the proponent and 2) to submit comments and recommendations for the

proponent. COMEX will also mention that the following comments must be taken into account in the proponent’s 2017 annual report

and that the proponent must satisfy, with due diligence, the authorization conditions that have not been met or have been met

only partially.

24 2017-0830-04 356 Troilus mining project 3214-14-025

Response to the request for additional

information

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the proponent’s request to wait for transmission of Phase III, but that COMEX nevertheless wishes to

immediately receive the results of kinetic testing on airborne particles referred to in subsection 6.2 of the 2015 annual report.

25 2017-0830-05 356

3214-14-017

Monitoring of integrity and use of natural spawning grounds developed for lake trout -

2015 study report

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the 2015 report on monitoring of the

integrity and use of the natural spawning grounds developed for lake trout and wish to make a comment.

26 2017-0830-06 356

3214-14-017 Beaver monitoring in 2014

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the report on beaver monitoring in 2014 and have no comments. In addition, the members applaud the

amount of effort put into the beaver survey.

27 2017-0830-07 356

3214-14-017 Moose monitoring in 2014

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the report on moose monitoring in

2014 and have no comments.

(10)

28 2017-0830-08 356

3214-14-017 Waterfowl monitoring in 2014

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the 2014 waterfowl monitoring report

covering the nesting pair and clutch survey, the Canada goose survey and the use of wildlife enhancements by waterfowl and wish

to submit some comments.

29 2017-0830-09 356

3214-14-017 Raptor monitoring in 2014

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the 2015 report on raptor monitoring

and wish to submit some comments.

30 2017-0928-01 357

3214-10-017

Lake strugeon larvae drift in Rupert River (reduced-flow section) -

2010-2014 monitoring report, Monitoring of spawning by walleye,

suckers and lake whitefish in the spawning grounds at KP

2016 and 281 in Rupert River - 2014 and 2010- 2014 monitoring reports, Effectiveness monitoring

of instream flow for spawning habitat in Rupert River - juveniles of target species, Use of natural lake sturgeon

spwning grounds in Rupert River, 2015 and

2010-2014 monitoring report

… to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the four monitoring reports submitted

by the proponent and decided to wait to receive the 2016 monitoring results for juveniles of target species before commenting in all of the above-mentioned reports. To that end,

COMEX will ask that the proponent send the final monitoring report as soon as possible.

(11)

31 2017-0928-02 357

Metanor Resources

3214-14-027 Conditions 10 and 20

…to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the document pertaining to conditions 10 and 20 and would like the proponent to respond to the following

comments and recommendations.

32 2017-1208-01 359

3214-10-017

List of flow, water level and temperature measuring stations in operation in 2014 and

2015

,,, to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the list of flow, water level and temperature measuring stations in operation in 2014 and 2015 and

deem that the proponent provided the additional information requested by the Committee.

33 2017-1208-02 359 Eleonore mining project 3214-14-042

2016 annual environmental monitoring and follow-

up report

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the 2016 annual environmental monitoring and follow-up report. While the report satisfies the conditions of authorization, COMEX would nevertheless like to

make some comments.

34 2017-1208-03 359 Extension of route 167-Nord,

MTMDET 3214-05-077

Summary of the 29 conditions of the initial

certificate of authorization

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the document submitted by the proponent and request that he transmit some comments to the

proponent.

35 2017-1208-04 359 Extension of route 167-Nord,

MTMDET 3214-05-077 Information on false willow monitoring

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the report on monitoring of the false willow population and do not have any comments, but still expect

to receive the 2018 monitoring report.

36 N/A 359 Project to restore the

Principale Mine 3214-14-058

Update on the project to restore the Principale

Mine

The COMEX members went over the document submitted by the proponent and are still waiting to receive a possible request to

amend the certificate of authorization, as mentioned in the proponent’s letter to the Administrator dated November 13, 2017.

It is also waiting to receive follow-up information on conditions 1 and 2 once the remediation work has begun.

(12)

37 2018-0201-01 360

Wood pellet production plant project in Chapais, Les Entreprises Barrette Ltée

3214-23-005

Supplementary information to the impact study: Dispersion

of atmospheric emissions and project

schedule

...to recommend that the Provincial Administrator authorize the project to build a wood pellet production plant in Chapais subject

to some conditions.

Environmental and social monitoring program – revised report

(v1)

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the revised environmental and social

monitoring program and would like the proponent to respond to some questions and comments and modify its environmental and

social monitoring program accordingly.

Request to amend the location of the final effluent discharge point

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the request to change the location of the final effluent discharge point and recommend that the request

be approved under some conditions.

40 2018-0201-04 360

3214-10-017

Monitoring of the multispecies spawning

grounds developed at KP 203 and KP 207 on

Eastmain River / Monitoring of the fish

pass at KP 207 on Eastmain River / Fish population monitoring in

the increased-flow section – 2015 monitoring report

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the above three monitoring reports and

wish to make some comments.

(13)

41 2018-0201-05 360

3214-10-017

Monitoring of the multispecies spawning

ground developed downstream of the Sarcelle generating

station – 2015 monitoring report

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the 2015 environmental monitoring report on the multispecies spawning ground downstream of the Sarcelle generating station for the operation phase and consider that the 2015 monitoring data meet the objectives of this specific

monitoring requirement.

42 2018-0201-06 360

3214-10-017

Request to amend the certificate of authorization – Permanent housing complex on the site of the temporary workcamp

for Eastmain-1 – Resumption of the

analysis

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the request to amend the certificate of authorization for the permanent housing complex on the temporary Eastmain-1 workcamp and that, considering the importance of this

request as well as the questions raised by its review, COMEX recommends that the proponent submit the whole project in a comprehensive, detailed document that incorporates, without being

limited to, the answers to the questions transmitted.

43 2018-0301-01 361

3214-05-075

Updated characterization program for the natural environment (Condition 4) and Measures to protect threatened or

vulnerable wildlife species (Condition 6)

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the documents sent by the proponent

and find that the proposed new characterization program (Condition 4) including Condition 6 meets COMEX’s expectations.

Relay of correspondance Get a courtesy English

translation

44 2018-0301-02 361

3214-05-075

Archeological potential study (Condition 8) and Monitoring committee

(Condition 9)

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the documents sent by the proponent

and believe that the archeological potential study protocol is adequate and that the proponent can proceed with the study.

translation

(14)

45 2018-0301-03 361

3214-05-075

Monitoring of the Nottaway and Assinica caribou herds (Condition

3)

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the document sent by the proponent and are in favour of the proponent’s contribution and recommend

that, insofar as possible, the collars be fitted

on individuals that are most likely to range in the impact area of the project.

translation

46 2018-0301-04 361

3214-10-017

Monitoring of the lake sturgeon spawning grounds developed in the Rupert forebay and

at KP 290 on Rupert River – 2015

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the monitoring report and find that, to date, the data collected during the 2015 monitoring campaign meet

the set objectives.

47 2018-0301-05 361

3214-10-017

Monitoring of the integrity and use of the multispecies spawning grounds developed in Rupert River – 2015 and

results for 2011-2015

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the monitoring report and find that, to date, the data collected during the 2015 monitoring campaign meet

the set objectives.

48 2018-0301-06 361

3214-10-017

Waterfowl monitoring 2014 – Respondents’

answers to Cree questionnaire

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the respondents’ answers to the Cree

questionnaire and have no comments, but recommend that, in future, a summary of such consultations held with the Crees be

presented in table form.

(15)

49 2018-0301-07 361

3214-10-017

Monitoring of navigation conditions,

Rupert River sector – Lots 2 to 5 and 7 – 2014

– Final report and Monitoring of navigation conditions,

Rupert River sector, 2014 – Lot 6:

Consultation of non- Cree users – Final report

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the monitoring reports and find that

the results confirm the proponent’s initial assumptions.

50 2018-0301-08 361

3214-10-017

Niskamoon Corporation annual reports for 2013

to 2017

...to write to the Provincial Administrator to inform him that the COMEX members reviewed the annual reports received and that COMEX has no comments. However, COMEX wishes to continue receiving the Niskamoon Corporation’s annual reports when

available.

51 2018-0301-09 361

Iron-vanadium mining project, BlackRock Metals

Inc.

3214-14-050 Request to amend the general CA

… to write a letter to Jacqueline Leroux to obtain public access to eletronic documents.

Follow-up with Jacqueline Leroux of BlackRock Metals to obtain public

access to e-documents