6 April 2020
Inside this issue
Response to COVID-19 1 Licensing and Permitting Update 2
Elliot Lake
Closed Sites Community Newsletter
Response to COVID-19
Rio Algom Limited (RAL), a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP, is closely monitoring the global COVID-19 pandemic and is following the advice of health authorities and the Federal and Provincial Governments. Consistent with published health u from government agencies, we have implemented a range of measures including physical distancing, working u home and flexible rostering. We will continue to communicate with our work h to follow hygiene, travel and quarantine advisories and guidance. Our team is focused on maintaining the health and safety of our employees and the community while still executing our regulatory obligations.
We continue to keep the residents of Ontario, its businesses, our t and contractors, community residents and other business partners close to our minds during this time.
We look forward to resuming normal operations when this unprecedented situation sufficiently subsides and the local and provincial health authorities issue appropriate clearances.
It is with public safety in mind that together with the City of Elliot Lake and in alignment with the Province of Ontario and public health official directives, the following measures are being implemented effective immediately and will remain until further notice:
Closure of Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, associated trails and parking lot.
Closure of Quirke Lake Seniors Campground. RAL public bus tours postponed.
RAL sites are closed to the public. This includes public use of RAL private roads.
Do not park along RAL roads or in front of RAL site access gates.
Please obey all posted signage.
Thank you for your cooperation with these measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Please stay safe and stay healthy.
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Licensing and Permitting Update
RAL is continuing to modernize its permits and licenses with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
In 2019, RAL submitted an application to amend its Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for the Nordic effluent treatment plant. This application included an update to the monitoring program to reflect the current approved monitoring program for the Serpent River Watershed Monitoring Program (SRWMP), Source Area Monitoring Program (SAMP) and the Tailings Management Area Operational Monitoring Program (TOMP). The submission also included a proposal to replace aged infrastructure.
In 2020, RAL is planning to submit ECA amendment applications for Pronto, Quirke and Stanleigh. These applications will include:
Alignment of the monitoring requirements to the
approved monitoring programs for the SRWMP,
SAMP and TOMP.
Request for limited operational flexibility which
enables predefined modifications to be approved by the MECP District Manager without amendment of the ECA. This can include things such as modification to equipment that will not affect water treatment quality or quantity, and modification of monitoring requirements to match the most recent approved monitoring programs.
In addition, RAL is continuing to work with the CNSC to transition our current Radioactive Waste Facility Operating License to a modernized License Condition Handbook.
Thank you Miigwetch Merci
Sheriff Creek Sanctuary RAL sites and private roads Quirke Lake Seniors Campground
Please be advised that the Sheriff Creek Sanctuary and the Quirke Lake Seniors Campground are closed until further notice. RAL sites are also closed to the public and this includes public use of RAL private roads. We appreciate your cooperation during this time.
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