Putting the PDAC Principles into. Avalon Rare Metals Inc. Bill Mercer VP-Exploration

Transcription

1 Putting the PDAC Principles into Practice Avalon Rare Metals Inc. Bill Mercer VP-Exploration

2 Corporate Social Responsibility Good Practice= Good Business Open, honest and regular dialogue with local communities Minimizing impacts on the land Sustainability exploration to mine closure The environment and workplace health and safety Hiring local people & promoting training Partnerships to provide lasting benefits 2

3 Good Practice = Good Business! Rare metals key to energy efficiency and a cleaner environment Operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner Proactive community engagement philosophy Reducing risk of delays on receiving operating permits and be attractive to socially-responsible investors

4 Strengths Before the Principles Green Corporate marketing strategy: Specializing in rare metals that enable the Green Economy such as rare earths, lithium, indium, gallium Applications in renewable energy, energy conservation, lowering CO2 production, hybrid vehicles, LED lighting Progressive community consultation approach with First Nations Early adopter of CSR principles Lead and participate in industry CSR initiatives Strong emphasis on early community engagement Formed CSR Advisory committee Applying E3 & Health and Safety Guidelines

5 Corporate Social Responsibility Actions CSR Advisory Committee PDAC Principles and Guidelines Community engagement Key element for success community visits, community site visits Local employment ~15 First Nations people employed at site over past 18 months Training for First Nations First Aid responder Driller Helper 5

6 Environment Corporate Social Responsibility Actions Cleaning up past exploration materials Quick proactive reaction to Land Use comments Environmental baseline studies underway Health and Safety Proactive One lost time accident in the period June 2007 to December

7 Weaknesses Before the Principles CSR initiatives were not organised in an overall plan No real measurable targets and no real auditing of results internal or external Sometimes CSR suffered -took second place to keeping the technical work going Could not prove we are in the forefront

8 PDAC Principles and Guidelines Makes CSR a core activity Engages Advisory Committee with objectives Systematic review wrtthe Principles and Guidance Notes an internal audit Categorize activities into Relevant or not relevant Already achieved or in progress (on going) - continue Relatively easy to achieve put in place Difficult to achieve needs major corporate change. Prioritize and plan actions. Look for quick hits that lead to results and early success 20% of the effort for 80% of the results

9 PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE EXPLORATION 1. Adopt responsible governance and management 2. Apply ethical business practices 3. Respect human rights 4. Commit to project due diligence and risk assessment 5.Engage host communities and other affected and interested parties 6.Contribute to community development and well being 7.Protect the environment 8.Safeguard the health and safety of workers and the local population

10 EXAMPLE 1. Adopt responsible governance and management Guidance Notes and Avalon s Existing Actions - 1 Corporate Capacity Avalon has corporate policy for ethics, SD. Need to be more proactive in training project personnel. Legal Compliance Already comply. Making sure employees are aware of legal obligations.

11 EXAMPLE 1. Adopt responsible governance and management Guidance Notes and Avalon s Existing Actions - 2 Relationship with contractors with regards to Principles Pressure on contractors can be difficult for junior company. Improving with declining economy (client has more leverage). Draw into training programs. Specify in contracts. Daily via Project Geologist/Manager. Interaction with governments (national, local, regional, indigenous) National/local/regional: progress being made. Working hard on indigenous communication (see also Principles 5 & 6) Involvement of Civil Society Needs work. Start made with communication about project.

12 1. Adopt responsible governance and management Examples of Avalon s Planned Actions - 1 Corporate Capacity Start communication program with project employees on Ethics/SD policy with sign off. (Timelines, Annual review) Legal Compliance No actions right now. Relationship with contractors Developing through driller training course. Lever the course to further objectives.

13 1. Adopt responsible governance and management Examples of Avalon s Planned Actions - 2 Interaction with governments (national, local, regional, indigenous) Initiate plan for interaction with administration of indigenous groups with targets. Training and business development plan. Put in place plan for engagement with government bodies such as Fisheries, Parks, etc Involvement of Civil Society Communication with environmental NGOs. Outlining of concerns. Response plan to concerns.

14 PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSIBLE EXPLORATION 1. Adopt responsible governance and management 2. Apply ethical business practices 3. Respect human rights 4. Commit to project due diligence and risk assessment 5.Engage host communities and other affected and interested parties 6.Contribute to community development and well being 7.Protect the environment 8.Safeguard the health and safety of workers and the local population

15 6. Contribute to Community Development and Wellbeing Employment 15 community members employed at site. Hiring done through community organisations, not directly. Training First Aid First Responder training Drill Helper training Business opportunity Core box manufacturing Donations Youth sports teams Elders pilgrimage Education Youth site visit planned WHERE challenge

16 Community Engagement Employment Yellowknife Dene First Nation Nazon Guilet Ricky Drygeese Lyle Sangris Through Deton Cho Peter Tasetta Johnathon Mackenzie Lutsel k e Matthew Abel North Slave Metis Kurt Bulmer Deninu Kue First Nation Alphonse King Sheldon Boucher Fred Lafferty Michael Lafferty Paul Mandeville Robert Sayine Robert Sayine Jr. Northwest Territory Metis Shawn McKay

17 2009 Environmental Baseline Employment of First Nations people on placement of groundwater monitoring pipes Program Groundwater 2008 data has indications of horizontal and vertical mixing of lake water with groundwater Installing monitoring wells at Thor Lake in 2008

18 2008 Environmental Baseline Program Community Employment on Baseline Environmental Work (Kurt Bulmer, North Slave Metis Association) Fisheries 12 lakes and three streams assessed for fish presence Kurt Bulmer (NSMA) weighing lake whitefish

19 Employment Opportunities & Environmental Cleanup Hallway as it was Rotting collapsing roof Constructing new hallway Demolished hallway

20 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING Concept initiated by Avalon Ventures Shortage of qualified medical first responders in NWT people brought in from Newfoundland Enhances employability, salary and skills of First Nations people May lead to more advanced training In cooperation with St John and Mine Training Society Avalon placed three people from Akaitcho Dene into training in January 2009 Three out of four graduates from Avalon Graduating Class

21 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIAMOND DRILL TRAINING Avalon initiated drill training for First Nations people Well paid employment, relatively close to communities Drill helper training in 2009, can lead to being drill runner and foreman Potential for employment at mines as trained driller Ontario Common Core with job guarantee JOINT PROPOSAL Avalon Ventures initiated Supported by: Mine Training Society Aurora College Akaitcho communities Deton Cho Corp Helicopter companies, environmental companies, drilling companies

22 THOR LAKE UPDATE BOARD MEETING APRIL 2008 Please go to Avalon s website to see supplementary powerpoints or bmercer@avalonventures.com