PREMIER GOLD MINES HARDROCK INC. HARDROCK PROJECT TERMS OF REFERENCE. Appendix D: Consultation Plan for the Environmental Assessment

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1 Appendix D: Cnsultatin Plan fr the Envirnmental Assessment

2 Appendix D Cnsultatin Plan fr the Envirnmental Assessment D.1 INTRODUCTION Premier recgnizes the imprtance f cnsultatin with stakehlders (cmmunity members, agencies, interested parties) and Abriginal grups as an integral aspect f the Undertaking. Active participatin thrugh cnsultatin ensures an pen and fair prcess, and strengthens the quality and credibility f results. The purpse f cnsultatin in the EA prcess is t allw Premier and the prject team t identify and cnsider cncerns and issues and t prvide stakehlders and Abriginal grups with an pprtunity t receive infrmatin abut, and make meaningful input int, review and develpment f the Undertaking. The verall study prcess must take cnsultatin int cnsideratin and demnstrate hw input was used. Public and agency cnsultatin will cntinue thrughut the EA prcess in an pen and transparent manner. Cnsultatin will be practive, flexible, and based n a gal f cntinuus imprvement, particularly as Abriginal grups and the cmmunity identify hw they prefer t be invlved. This will build n Premier s existing relatinships, and will ensure that participants are engaged in dialgue abut the current envirnment, prject activities, ptential effects, and management measures. Thrugh the cnsultatin prcess, Premier will: prvide infrmatin t the public; identify thse wh may be affected r have an interest in the undertaking; ensure all agencies, Abriginal grups, interest grups, and members f the public are ntified early in the EA prcess; welcme all input frm the cmmunity, Abriginal grups, agencies, and ther stakehlders; cnsider all input equally, regardless f surce, intentin, r viability; use input, where applicable, t fcus the baseline studies, scpe the EA, and ultimately influence design; and, dcument, transparently, what input was received, hw the prject team respnded, and hw the input was used by the team. If input culd nt influence the study r the design, the ratinale will be dcumented. Premier s gal is t create pprtunities t develp cmmitments in respnse t lcal input, fcusing n (and addressing) public cncerns, rather than regulatry prcedures and administratin. D.1

3 Key strategies t achieve successful engagement include: understanding the infrmatin needs and capabilities f the cmmunity, and tailring cnsultatin pprtunities t the lcal cntext; identifying key stakehlders and cmmunity leaders; wrking with the cmmunity t develp the gals and bjectives f the cnsultatin and engagement prgram, and asking participants fr cntinuus feedback n hw the prgram is wrking fr them; invlving participants early in design; being pen and transparent; prviding clear, cncise and relevant infrmatin; and, fcusing timing f engagement and cnsultatin activities at key decisin milestnes. Premier will attempt t crdinate cnsultatin activities under the crdinated prvincial/federal EA prcess in rder t minimize the effrt required by stakehlders t be effectively engaged. Premier will disseminate federal and prvincial EA infrmatin simultaneusly t the extent pssible and practical t minimize duplicatin and unnecessary delays. The bjective will be t use a single bdy f infrmatin that addresses bth prvincial and federal EA prcesses culminating in ne single EA dcument. This crdinatin will be directed by the Canada-Ontari Agreement n Envirnmental Assessment Cperatin (2004). The apprach t cnsultatin n the prvincial and federal EA will fllw the MOECC Cde f Practice: Cnsultatin in Ontari s Envirnmental Assessment Prcess (MOECC, 2014). The Cde f Practice dictates that the cnsultatin plan must: Indicate hw ptentially interested and affected persns, including Abriginal peples, will be identified, ntified and cnsulted; Indicate hw gvernment agencies will be identified, ntified, and cnsulted; Identify the pints in the EA prcess when interested persns will be cnsulted; Identify the methds that will be used t cnsult; and, Acknwledge the need t address cncerns raised during the EA prcess (i.e. an issues reslutin prcess). D.1.1 General Cnsultatin Plan fr the EA Premier intends t cntinue t engage a wide range f stakehlders t gather feedback n the Undertaking, baseline studies, the EA methdlgy and findings, alternative methds, ptential effects, and apprpriate effects management measures befre submissin f the EA/EIS fr gvernment review. Submissin f a draft EA/EIS fr stakehlder, abriginal and agency review will allw Premier t receive feedback and identify any utstanding issues r cncerns that need t be addressed and shuld be reslved befre the submissin f the final EA/EIS t the gvernment agencies fr review. D.2

4 Cnsultatin bjectives are t: ensure stakehlders and Abriginal grups have an apprpriate pprtunity t understand the prpsed Undertaking, and identify ptential envirnmental effects; review and gather feedback n the fllwing: results f baseline r ther studies; alternative methds and evaluatin methds; final selectin f criteria and indicatrs; ptential envirnmental effects and mitigatin measures; prpsed mnitring and management plans; results f the selectin f the preferred alternative methds; and decmmissining/clsure plan; demnstrate and discuss hw cmments submitted previusly were addressed thrugh Prject designs r management practices t help t reduce r avid any ptential envirnmental effects; prvide an explanatin f why the prpsed Undertaking cannt be mdified t reduce r avid the effects, if applicable; discuss apprpriate ways that residual effects culd be managed; dcument and respnd t any issues r cncerns raised by stakehlders; and meet all regulatry requirements fr stakehlder cnsultatin. Stakehlder Identificatin Premier intends t cntinue cnsultatin thrugh the EA prcess with a wide range f stakehlders, including: Prperty wners in the immediate vicinity f the prject site; Residents f the Municipality f Greenstne, particularly thse in the Ward f Geraldtn; Nn-gvernment rganizatins and grups with interest in the Undertaking; Lcal users f the land, including hunters, trappers, and fishermen; Agencies with an interest in the Undertaking, including the Gvernment Review Team (GRT); Municipal representatives and planners; D.3

5 Based n guidance prvided by the Ontari Prvincial Gvernment (led by MNDM) and the Gvernment f Canada (led by CEAA), Premier has fcused n engaging the five Abriginal cmmunities identified belw: Lng Lake 58 First Natin; Gingaming First Natin; Arland First Natin; Métis Natin f Ontari (Regin 2); and, Red Sky Métis Independent Natin. Key Cmmunicatin Tls The fllwing key cmmunicatin tls will be utilized thrughut the EA prcess: Prject ntices published in lcal newspapers; radi advertisements; direct mailings t cmmunities; Public Infrmatin Centres (Open Huse - presentatin bard frmat and/r frmal presentatins with r withut fcus grup sessins); Public Infrmatin Centre cmment frms; a Prject website; targeted s; ne-n-ne meetings, presentatins, s and phne cnversatins with stakehlders; newsletters and/r Frequently Asked Questins; Site turs; and Cmmunity Envirnmental Mnitrs. Premier will als cnsider the use f scial media as the Undertaking prgresses. Cmmunicatins Tracking Premier will be respnsible fr tracking cmmunicatins thrugh a Cnsultatin Lg/Stakehlder Database t dcument the cmmunicatins and respnses and adequately answer the inquiry. Infrmatin cllected will include: time and date f inquiry; methd f inquiry (fr example via , regular mail, telephne call, website, etc.); name f persn making inquiry; D.4

6 name f persn receiving inquiry; nature f issue, cncern r cmment; Prject Team respnse; and fllw-up (if required). Public and Agency Cnsultatin Premier has undertaken numerus cnsultatin and engagement activities t-date, and will cntinue thrughut the EA prcess. The fllwing n-ging activities are anticipated: Cntact lists Premier has created a cntact list f participating agencies and stakehlders. This list will be maintained thrughut the duratin f the Undertaking. Issues Scping Meetings Premier is undertaking nging meetings with agencies and stakehlders thrughut the develpment f the Undertaking. Public Infrmatin Centres (Open Huses) Open Huses will be held in the lcal area thrughut the EA prcess. Gvernment Review Team Premier has been wrking with prvincial and federal ministries thrugh a Gvernment Review Team (GRT). Meetings with the GRT will be cntinue t be held in Thunder Bay and/r Trnt at key milestnes in the EA prcess. Premier anticipates that envirnmental wrking grups will be established as the prject prgresses (these may include, but nt be limited t: water, fisheries, atmspheric and terrestrial wrking grups). Ntice and Radi Annuncements Premier will publish Ntices assciated with the Open Huses and EA prcess (cmmencement/submissin) in lcal newspapers and prvide by mail t stakehlders. Premier will cntinue t air radi annuncements f specific cmmunity events, as apprpriate. Circulatin f Draft Dcuments (envirnmental baseline reprts and EA/EIS) Premier will circulate cpies f draft dcuments fr review and cmment t agencies and select stakehlders if requested. Premier will review and gather feedback n the results f baseline studies, evaluatin and selectin f alternative methds, ptential envirnmental effects and mitigatin measures, and clsure planning. Plain Language Summaries Premier will circulate plain language summaries f technical dcuments (as apprpriate) in rder t ensure that feedback can be received by nntechnical reviewers General Meetings/Presentatins Premier will cntinue t undertake face-t-face meetings/presentatins with stakehlders as apprpriate, thrugh the EA and planning prcess, and ultimately cnstructin and peratin f the Undertaking. Newsletter Premier will cntinue t publish Prject Newsletters at key milestnes, t be circulated electrnically and made available n the Prject website. Prject Website Premier will cntinue t maintain a Prject website thrughut the duratin f the Undertaking. D.5

7 Abriginal Engagement The intent f the Plan is t establish a framewrk and prvide a prcess fr meaningful engagement with Abriginal grups thrughut the duratin f the Undertaking. Premier s Abriginal Engagement Plicy recgnizes that all stakehlders have rights and deserve respect, and this strategy guides cllabratin with adjacent cmmunities. Furthermre, it recgnizes that wrking practively with cmmunities is integral t a viable future. Effective and meaningful cmmunicatin/engagement requires building trust between the Prject team and Abriginal grups, enhancing awareness f the Undertaking, and prviding flexible cnsultatin pprtunities, issues reslutin and feedback. Key strategies t achieve successful engagement include: understanding the cmmunicatins needs, capabilities and resurces f the cmmunity; identifying key cmmunity wrking cntacts; invlving Abriginal grups early in the planning phase; tracking cnsultatin and engagement activities using the Cnsultatin Lg/Database; being respectful, pen and transparent; prviding clear, cncise and relevant infrmatin; fcusing timing f engagement activities at key decisin milestnes, and in respect f seasnal cmmitments f cmmunity members; demnstrating hw ideas/issues/cncerns frm previus cnsultatins have r will be cnsidered; prviding flexible cmmunicatin tls t prvide infrmatin and cllect feedback; evaluating and imprving the engagement prgram at key milestnes t review applicability and success; and, adapting t the changing needs f cmmunities. The bjectives f Premier s cmmitment t Abriginal engagement are t: be practive and transparent in its engagement with cmmunities; build cmmunity engagement and capacity by develping and implementing activities that will supprt scial infrastructure, prvide pprtunities fr emplyment and training, and create lng term and sustainable benefits; cntribute t the reginal ecnmy thrugh develping and supprting reginal infrastructure and businesses; cntribute t lcal envirnmental sustainability and imprvement; and D.6

8 cntribute t develping cmmunity prgrams thrugh apprpriate participatin and supprt. Premier intends t reach ut t Abriginal grups as fllws: Cntact lists Premier has created a cntact list f all participating Abriginal grups, which will be maintained thrughut the duratin f the Undertaking. Issues Scping Meetings Premier will cntinue t meet with Abriginal grups thrughut the develpment f the Undertaking. Engagement in Envirnmental Baseline Studies Premier has engaged Abriginal Envirnmental Mnitrs t supplement field teams in cllecting envirnmental baseline infrmatin. The Envirnmental Mnitr acts as the cmmunity s eyes and ears n-site t ensure traditinal interests are prtected. The Envirnmental Mnitr slicits and recruits cmmunity participatin in engagement activities in a manner that supprts the needs f the cmmunity. A key rle f the Envirnmental Mnitr is t cmmunicate envirnmental findings t cmmunity leadership fr cnsideratin n mitigatin/supprt decisins. Premier will cntinue engagement thrughut the EA prcess as apprpriate Resurce Sharing Cmmittees Premier is determining the interest in the frmatin f resurce sharing cmmittees t facilitate discussins with Abriginal grups. Pssible cnsideratins may include traditinal knwledge, envirnment, and/r educatin and training. The decisin t frm cmmittees and determine ptential fcus f discussins will be determined with the cmmunities as the Undertaking prgresses. Engagement in TK/(TLU Studies TK/TLU studies will be facilitated by the respective Envirnmental Mnitr in each cmmunity. Cmmunity Meetings/Open Huses Premier will endeavr t hst meetings in each First Natins cmmunity, as apprpriate (Gingaming, Lng Lake 58 and Arland). Open huses fr Métis grups (RSMIN and MNO) will be held at apprpriate venue(s) in lcatins t be determined jintly with the grups. These wuld be in additin t any cmmunityrganized pen huses that Premier wuld participate in. Ntice and Radi Annuncements Premier will publish Ntices assciated with the Open Huses and EA prcess in lcal newspapers and prvide by mail t stakehlders. Premier will cntinue t air radi annuncements f specific cmmunity events, as apprpriate. Circulatin f Draft Dcuments (envirnmental baseline reprts and EA/EIS) Premier will circulate cpies f draft dcuments fr review and cmment. Where pssible, these dcuments will be prvided t Abriginal grups prir t public release. Premier will wrk with cmmunities t determine apprpriate timelines. Premier will review and gather feedback n results f baseline studies, evaluatin and selectin f alternatives, ptential effects and mitigatin measures and clsure planning. D.7

9 Plain Language Summaries Premier will circulate plain language summaries f technical dcuments (as apprpriate) in rder t ensure that feedback can be received by nntechnical reviewers General Meetings/Presentatin Premier will cntinue t undertake face-t-face meetings/presentatins with cmmunities and/r Chief and Cuncil, as apprpriate, thrugh the EA prcess. Newsletter Premier will cntinue t develp Prject Newsletters at key milestnes, t be circulated electrnically and made available n the Prject website. Prject Website Premier will cntinue t maintain a Prject website thrughut the duratin f the Undertaking. D.1.2 Ntificatin Premier will advertise the fllwing Ntices in lcal newspapers (general distributin and Abriginal newsletters where available), thrugh radi annuncements, and n the prject website: Ntice f Cmmencement; Ntices f Public Open Huses and Cmmunity Meetings, if apprpriate; Ntices f Submissin; These ntices will als be given t lcal municipalities (including elected fficials), ptentially affected Abriginal cmmunities, and all thse wh have expressed an interested in the undertaking (and are n the cntact list). As a minimum, all ntices will be published and/r psted in the same lcatins fr cnsistency, unless it is determined that the lcatins are nt apprpriate. There may be additinal ntificatins frm the gvernment agencies utside f thse listed abve. Premier will als cntinue t prvide ntificatin and cnsultatin materials in bth fficial languages, as well as having bilingual attendees at all public and Abriginal events. D.1.3 Flexibility t Accmmdate New Circumstances The cnsultatin and engagement apprach and activities prvided in this Plan are preliminary and will be updated thrughut the EA. During the curse f implementing the wrk prpsed in this Plan, Premier may determine that adjustments t the appraches and methdlgies described herein are necessary and/r apprpriate. Adjustments may include, but are nt limited t: prvisin and/r identificatin f additinal infrmatin requirements; technical studies r cnsultatin methds/events t address cncerns expressed by the public as EA results becme available; r, D.8

10 adjustments t the sequence f the EA prcess that may be required depending n EA results and circumstances. Premier is cmmitted t nging cnsultatin with interested persns as the Undertaking prgresses thrugh cnstructin, peratin, and decmmissining/clsure. Premier will develp plans fr cnsultatin based n evaluatin f and in respnse t expressed interests. In recgnitin f the evlutinary nature f this Plan, changes may be made t the prcess described in this dcument, as required. The fllwing steps will be taken t ensure apprpriate tracking f cmmunicatins and disseminatin f infrmatin t the Prject team: All Prject cmmunicatins frm stakehlders and agencies will be tracked fr respnse by the prject team, and t ensure all cncerns raised are addressed and cnsidered in preparatin f the EA/EIS dcumentatin. The Prject cntact list will be reviewed thrughut the prcess, and updated as new individuals r grups express interest in the undertaking. All interested parties are welcme t prvide infrmatin, cmments, and/r feedback at any pint in the prject planning, cnstructin, peratins, and/r decmmissining stages. Premier will endeavr t address all cmments and cncerns raised, and will demnstrate hw these were cnsidered in the Recrd f Cnsultatin dcumentatin. D.2 KEY EA MILESTONES Table D.1 utlines the cnsultatin tls and activities that are planned t supprt the preparatin and review f the EA and stated cnsultatin purpse and bjectives. Table D.1: Cnsultatin Tls and Activities Planned t Supprt Preparatin and Review f EA Activity Purpse Distributin/Participants Gvernment Agency Meetings Newsletters Ntices T plan and crdinate cnsultatin activities related t the draft EA T update and infrm stakehlders and Abriginal cmmunities abut the Prject status and prgress n the EA Newsletters will highlight infrmatin abut upcming public meetings, and t encurage feedback thrugh the Prject website, dedicated address, r thrugh direct cntact with Premier staff. T prvide ntice f public and Abriginal cmmunity cnsultatin events r as required t infrm stakehlders and the Gvernment Review Team (prvincial and federal agencies) Mailed t Prject mailing list including all stakehlders invlved in the Prject t date. Available n Prject website and at meetings/pen huses. Psted in lcal newspapers and in Abriginal cmmunities. Mailed t Prject mailing list including all stakehlders invlved D.9

11 Table D.1: Cnsultatin Tls and Activities Planned t Supprt Preparatin and Review f EA Activity Purpse Distributin/Participants public abut the EA prcess (e.g. in the Prject t date. Ntice f Cmmencement f an EA) Available n Prject website. Draft EA/EIS Dcument Review Meetings, Open Huses and Wrkshps Final EA/EIS Dcument Review T prvide an pprtunity fr review and cmment n the Draft EA/EIS dcument T cnsult n the Draft EA/EIS and clsure plan cncepts T prvide an pprtunity fr review and cmment n the Final EA/EIS dcument Cpies f the Draft EA/EIS/ will be mailed/curiered/hand delivered t Abriginal grups, key stakehlders and the Gvernment Review Team. Cpies f a Draft EA/EIS will be placed fr review at public lcatins such as public libraries, Abriginal cmmunity ffices and gvernment ffices. The Draft EA/EIS will als be available fr dwnlading frm the Prject website. Abriginal grups Key stakehlders Gvernment Review agencies Interested public (pen huses planned fr XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX) Cpies f the Final EA/EIS will be mailed/curiered/hand delivered t Abriginal grups, key stakehlders and the Gvernment Review Team. Cpies f a Final EA/EIS will be placed fr review at public lcatins such as public libraries, Abriginal cmmunity ffices and gvernment ffices. The Final EA will als be available fr dwnlading frm the Prject website. D.10