Hardrock Gold Mine
Project information about this environmental assessment.
Current status
On March 11, 2019, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approved the environmental assessment for this project.
Project summary
Greenstone Gold Mines is proposing to build, operate and eventually decommission an open pit gold mine located approximately five kilometres south of Geraldton, Ontario, at the intersection of Highway 11 and Michael Power Boulevard.
The proposed Hardrock project includes:
- an open pit mine
- waste rock storage areas
- an ore stockpile
- a mill feed storage area and crushing plant
- an ore milling and processing plant
- a tailings management facility
- a mine water treatment facility
- a connection to the Geraldton Municipal Sewage Treatment Facility to treat sanitary wastewater
- a connection to the Greenstone Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant for the management of sewage waste from the temporary mining camp
- a water distribution system
- a fuel supply, conversion, storage and distribution system
- a power generation and distribution system
- an explosives manufacturing and storage facility
- a domestic and solid waste handling facility (landfill)
- buildings and yards
- internal access roads and pipelines
- a temporary construction camp
The project also involves relocation of:
- the current Longlac transformer station
- a Hydro One substation
- portions of an incoming 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line
- a 44 kv outgoing distribution line
- a portion of Highway 11
- a Ministry of Transportation patrol yard
Greenstone Gold Mines entered an environmental assessment process for this project. This assessment looked at how the mine and associated activities could impact the environment.
This project is also subject to the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
Learn more on the Hardrock project website.
Proponent
Greenstone Gold Mines
Location
Geraldton, Ontario, at the intersection of Highway 11 and Michael Power Boulevard
Type
Mining
Reference number
14175
Contact
Gavin Battarino, Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
Project history
Environmental assessment: approved
Date submitted: July 18, 2017
Expiry of public comment period: October 6, 2017
Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: November 26, 2018
Decision date: March 11, 2019
Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: January 2, 2015
Expiry of public comment period: January 31, 2015
Decision date: June 24, 2015
Voluntary agreement: signed
Date submitted: July 24, 2014
Signature date: August 28, 2014
Environmental assessment
On July 18, 2017, Greenstone Gold Mines submitted an environmental assessment report for the Hardrock project. The submission initiated a public review and comment period that concluded on October 6, 2017.
On August 17, 2018, Greenstone Gold Mines submitted an amended environmental assessment report to address comments received from Indigenous communities, government agencies and members of the public.
On October 26, 2018, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks completed its review of the amended environmental assessment report. The ministry review was made available for a five-week comment period ending November 26, 2018.
On March 11, 2019, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, with Cabinet concurrence, granted approval to proceed with the project as described in the amended environmental assessment.
Read the Order in Council and notice of approval.
Notice of completion of ministry review
An invitation to comment on the ministry review of the amended environmental assessment for the proposed Hardrock gold mine.
An amended environmental assessment (EA) has been submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks by Greenstone Gold Mines for the undertaking, which consists of the construction, operation and decommissioning of a new open pit gold mine, ore processing facility and associated ancillary activities, located five kilometres south of the Town of Geraldton, Ontario, at the intersection of Highway 11 and Michael Power Boulevard.
The ministry has prepared a review of the amended EA for public and agency comment. The review does not make a decision about the amended EA. That decision is made by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks after the comment period is over and consideration of all submissions.
You are invited to comment about the proposed undertaking, the amended EA and the ministry review of the amended EA. You may also request a hearing by the Environmental Review Tribunal. If you request a hearing you must state in your submission, whether you are requesting a hearing on the whole application or on only specified matters related to the application. Once the comment period is over, the Minister will make a decision about the EA after consideration of all submissions.
To view, or for more information about the amended EA, the ministry review and the notice of completion of ministry review, call the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks at
How to get the information you need
You can inspect the amended EA and the ministry review during normal business hours at the following locations:
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1st Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Northern Region Office
435 James Street South, 3rd Floor Suite 331
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7E 6S7
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Thunder Bay District Office
331-435 James Street South
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Trans-Canada Property General Partnership (TCP GP)
1100 Russell Street, Suite 200
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Trans-Canada Property General Partnership (TCP GP)
404 Main Street, Suite D
Geraldton, Ontario
Municipality of Greenstone
1800 Main Street
Geraldton, Ontario
Municipality of Greenstone, Nakina Ward Office
200 Centre Avenue
Nakina, Ontario
Municipality of Greenstone, Longlac Ward Office
105 Hamel Avenue
Longlac, Ontario
Greenstone Public Library, Geraldton Branch
405 Second Street West
Geraldton, Ontario
Greenstone Public Library, Longlac Branch
110 Kenogami Street
Longlac, Ontario
Greenstone Public Library, Nakina Branch
216 North Street
Nakina, Ontario
This notice of completion has been posted on the ministry’s website at www.ontario.ca/page/hardrock-gold-mine. The notice has also been posted on the proponent’s project website at www.greenstonegoldmines.com, along with a copy of the supplemental information that forms the amendment to EA and an updated record of consultation.
Be sure to express your views
If you make a submission or request a hearing before the above date, you will be notified of any decisions about this environmental assessment. Otherwise, the undertaking may proceed without further notice to you. If no submissions or requests for a hearing are received, the undertaking may be approved with no further public notice. This will allow the undertaking to proceed.
Send written comments to:
Director
Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1st Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
Attention: Mr. Gavin Battarino, Special Project Officer
Please ensure your written comments are received by November 26, 2018.
Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in all submissions become part of the public record files for this matter and can be released, if requested, to any person.
Terms of reference
On June 24, 2015 the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change approved the terms of reference with amendments. The approved amended terms of reference serves as a framework for preparing an environmental assessment.
Get details on the notice of approval.
Voluntary agreement
On August 28, 2014 the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change signed a signed a voluntary agreement with Premier Gold Limited to make the Hardrock project subject to the Environmental Assessment Act.