Ms. Celine Legault of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency reports

COTE GOLD MINE PROJECT - PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED

As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's responsible resource development initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has commenced a federal environmental assessment for the proposed Cote gold mine project located in Ontario. The agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment.

The public can review and comment on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) guidelines, a document that identifies the potential environmental effects to be taken into consideration and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS.

Iamgold is proposing the construction, operation and decommissioning of an open-pit gold mine and associated infrastructure. The proposed mine site, located 20 kilometres southwest of the community of Gogama in Northeastern Ontario, would process 60,000 tonnes per day of ore, with a mine life of approximately 15 years. Ore would be processed on site to produce a final dore bar that would be shipped off site for sale.

Written comments must be submitted by June 12, 2013, to the following address.

Cote gold mine project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
907 55 St. Clair Ave. East
Toronto, Ont., M4T 1M2
Telephone: 416-952-1576
Fax: 416-952-1573
MineCoteMine@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

To view the draft EIS guidelines or for more information, visit the agency's website, registry reference No. 80036. All comments received will be considered public.

Copies of the draft EIS guidelines are also available for viewing at the following locations:

• Dryden Public Library, 36 Van Horne Ave., Dryden, Ont.;
• Sioux Lookout Public Library, 21 Fifth Ave., Sioux Lookout, Ont.

Consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012, this is the second of four opportunities for Canadians to comment on this project. Following this comment period, the agency will finalize and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent. An application period for participant funding and a future public comment period related to the EIS will be announced later.

Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up and increased fines.