Comments on Draft EIS for New Uranium Mine in Saskatchewan (NexGen’s Rook I Project)

SUBMISSION BY THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ASSOCIATION TO THE CANADIAN NUCLEAR SAFETY COMMISSION REGARDING THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR NEXGEN ENERGY LTD.’S PROPOSED ROOK I PROJECT

CELA responded to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) for a proposed uranium mine on the Patterson Lake peninsula in northern Saskatchewan. CELA’s legal analysis of the Draft EIS was accompanied by two expert reports: “Radon and Gamma Monitoring & Workers’ Health” by Luc Lance, and “Source Water Protection” by Dr. Robert Patrick. Due to deficiencies within the Draft EIS, the requisite statutory and regulatory requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (the Act governing the project’s environmental assessment process) have not been fulfilled. CELA has requested that before the Draft EIS can be deemed sufficient, additional information pertaining to NexGen’s [the mining proponent] assessment of the precautionary principle, climate change and sustainability, cumulative effects, environmental effects, accidents and malfunctions, and alternative means, must be remedied. Details surrounding critical worker and environmental health and safety, and plans for a source water protection program, should also be provided. CELA requested that the 56 recommendations and 20 information requests should be addressed before the environmental assessment of the Rook I Project proceeds to further review.

Authors:
Sara Libman, Legal Counsel
Luc Lance
Dr. Robert Patrick

CELA Publication No. 1499
To download submission click here.

Photo: Autumn in northern Saskatchewan/Canva