The Impact and Benefits Agreements (IBAs) presently being negotiated with LIA and the Innu Nation respectively, will contain an extensive and comprehensive implementation process jointly agreed upon by the respective signatories to the IBAs. The implementation process is being structured to facilitate the timely and effective implementation of both the spirit and express provisions outlined in the respective IBAs.
As stated in other chapters in this EIS, the terms and conditions of the respective IBAs are governed by confidentiality agreements with LIA and the Innu Nation and therefore the provisions outlining implementation procedures for the respective IBAs cannot be disclosed in Appendix 4H.
VBNC remains committed to implementing the terms and conditions of the respective IBAs negotiated with LIA and Innu Nation.
The purpose of VBNC's Human Resources Plan is:
to address human resource needs during the life of the Project;
to meet all obligations under provincial and federal legislation governing human resources;
to provide an employment atmosphere that will attract, develop and retain qualified personnel;
to provide work facilities and conditions that safeguard the health, safety and general well-being of employees; and
to enhance the economic and industrial benefits that will accrue to the province from direct and indirect expenditures made through the purchase of goods and services.
VBNC's Human Resource Plan is described in Chapter 3. Key components of the plan are:
hiring practices and procurement;
skills and entry requirements;
pre-orientation sessions on work setting and conditions;
harassment free workplace;
zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs;
prohibited possession of firearms;
smoking policy;
medical program;
training/education (Multi-Party Training Plan);
cross-cultural and gender sensitivity training;
training employees in practices to reduce black bear encourters;
student training, in particular cooperative learning programs;
employee/employer relations;
procedure for addressing employee concerns;
discipline procedure;
employee benefits;
health care plan;
work clothing and safety equipment;
employee assistance programs;
vacation leave; and
salary.
Human resources planning is an ongoing and dynamic process. VBNC is committed to implementing the Human Resources Plan as outlined in Chapter 3. The Human Resources Plan will be reviewed and updated periodically to address changing human resource needs throughout the life of the Project.
VBNC is committed to reclamation during construction, operations, decommissioning, and at closure. Surficial disturbances associated with the operation of the Project will be controlled and mitigated through reclamation. Reclamation will form an integral part of the mine plan and will be ongoing during the life of the Project. Progressive reclamation will provide the opportunity to reduce the extent of disturbed land over the life of the Project's operation.
The objectives of the Reclamation Plan are:
to protect public health and safety by using safe and responsible reclamation practices;
to reduce or eliminate environmental effects once the mine ceases operations;
to re-establish conditions which permit the land to return to a similar pre-mining land use; and
to reduce the need for long-term monitoring and maintenance by establishing effective physical and chemical stability of disturbed areas.
Reclamation Plans will be developed to address the phases of the Project. Each Reclamation Plan will describe the procedures to restore disturbed areas to a safe and environmentally stable condition. Reclamation plans will comply with conditions of permits and authorizations and VBNC policies, guidelines, and standards.
The following reclamation principles have been established for the Project in order to guide the overall Reclamation Plan:
plan and implement Project reclamation in compliance with all applicable legislation;
apply cost-effective and appropriate reclamation practices to reduce environmental risks and allow for traditional use of the land;
establish an internal corporate reporting and monitoring system, that verifies whether reclamation plans and practices have been appropriately implemented;
conduct environmental studies to predict post-closure environmental effects and monitor environmental effects during the Project operating period; thus sound technical and scientific knowledge is gathered for implementation of the Reclamation Plan;
incorporate Aboriginal knowledge into the Reclamation Plan, where applicable;
maintain a program of progressive reclamation as an integral part of Project operations;
regularly update the Reclamation Plan to remain current with evolving and new reclamation methods and procedures;
discuss reclamation with government officials, company employees and local communities;
control leaching of metals, and sedimentation from erosion and runoff after closure, in a way which meets applicable water quality requirements;
use appropriate handling, removal and disposal of any fuel, chemicals and other hazardous materials on site, including appropriate clean-up of any areas affected by these materials; and
reclaim any surface disturbance and surface and groundwater related effects.
To achieve the reclamation objectives, the Reclamation Plan will address the open pit seepage; mineralized mine rock disposal facilities including dams and embankments, mine rock and overburden disposal facilities; areas of surficial disturbance; buildings and site infrastructure; pipelines; power lines; surface dismantling of openings; landfills and the removal or disposal of chemicals, waste and debris. For each of these Project components, reclamation plans will address potential environmental effects, the final end use of the land and the long term physical and chemical stability of the reclaimed component. Key environmental issues associated with the Project include protection of surface water and groundwater quality from metal contamination, sedimentation, long-term stability of the tailings and mine rock disposal facilities, and open pit slopes.
The Reclamation Plan will be implemented in a phased manner similar to that described for EPPs in Section 4.5.3.
Implementation of an EH&S Education and Orientation Plan for all employees and contractors will help all employees to understand their EH&S responsibilities. As well, it will greatly increase the effectiveness, and contribute to the success of the proposed mitigation.
The EH&S Education and Orientation Plan includes the necessary procedures and responsibilities for implementation of EH&S orientation and education.
All employees and contractors working at the Project will attend an EH&S Education and Orientation session. This session will provide workers with an understanding of VBNC's policy and principles for sound environmental management. The Engineering Procurement Technical Management on-site supervision technician will be responsible for delivering the orientation session to construction employees. Records will be kept to ensure all new employees and contractors have received awareness training. It will be the responsibility of the Engineering Procurement Technical Management technician to ensure that the orientation program is provided to all employees and contractors. The EH&S Education and Orientation Plan will be implemented and integrated simultaneously with the safety orientation described in Section 4.7.2.1
VBNC recognizes the importance of environmental issues to the Innu Nation and LIA, and has endeavoured to include these organizations in environmental aspects of Project planning wherever appropriate. VBNC will continue to seek LIA and Innu Nation involvement in its planning.
The Innu Nation and LIA have contributed to environmental management initiatives related to the Project. Presentations and comments in meetings, open houses and workshops have influenced the design of environmental baseline studies and various environmental management activities. Innu Nation and LIA members have participated in cooperative studies on socioeconomic issues and historic resources. Aboriginal employees and community members who are familiar with the environment in the Landscape Region have communicated environmental concerns to VBNC.
It should be noted that these efforts are occurring independent of any IBAs that VBNC, LIA and the Innu Nation, respectively, may agree upon in the future. It should further be noted that some or all of the efforts discussed in this section may ultimately be incorporated within the respective IBAs.
Annual agreements have been signed with the Innu Nation and LIA providing for terms of reference and funding for Aboriginal observers. The agreement with LIA has been in place since February, 1995 and with the Innu Nation since October, 1995.
The observers are responsible for monitoring certain activities at the Project site. They observe site environmental conditions, wildlife and fish presence, and the condition of known archaeological sites. They also monitor environmental performance of site personnel. The observers report regularly to the membership of LIA and the Innu Nation and advise their respective organizations of activities at site. Environmental monitoring reports are also provided to VBNC.
Aboriginal observers work with VBNC personnel to identify compliance with existing permits and environmental regulations. They review the application of good management practices for drilling activities (audit inspections) and resolve specific issues as they arise. Aboriginal observers communicate with VBNC site personnel and contractors to coordinate activities to fulfill their mandate. The observers have been instrumental in assisting with the development and implementation of environmental protection measures and generally have increased the awareness of Aboriginal concerns at the Voisey's Bay exploration site.
To develop effective working relationships among VBNC, LIA, and the Innu Nation, liaison committees have been established for communication and resolution of environmental matters. The purpose of the committee is to facilitate effective communications, consultation and, where possible, resolution of environmental matters. This is accomplished by:
sharing and discussing timely information about new permit applications and major site activities associated with environmental effects; and
anticipating and where possible, resolving issues, concerns and complaints by either party by seeking a consensus by the committees on recommendations and measures that can be readily implemented by the parties.
Where resolutions or recommendations are achieved, they are acknowledged in writing by the members of the committees. Should the committees fail to resolve concerns, the issues will be referred to senior personnel of VBNC, the Innu Nation or LIA.
The VBNC/LIA committee is called "Avatigijavut" and the VBNC/Innu Nation committee is called the Technical/Liaison Committee. These committees try to meet regularly, in person or by teleconference, at least twice a month and more frequently when circumstances warrant. As of October 31, 1997, the committees had met a total of 35 times (14 LIA meetings and 21 Innu Nation meetings), including twice at site and ten times in Labrador communities.
Various workshops have been held under the auspices of the liaison committees on topics relating to the Project. One purpose of these workshops was to review baseline studies being conducted by VBNC, thereby improving understanding of the Project and its potential environmental effects and mitigation. These sessions have brought together members of both committees, community representatives and specialists involved in conducting or reviewing these studies. Workshops on technical and other matters concerning the Project will continue. The workshops that have taken place to date include:
Historic Resources Protection (February 21, 1996);
Tailings Management (March 25, 1996);
Shipping (November 12-13, 1996 and January 20, 1997);
Mine Waste Management (January 9, 1997);
Acid Rock Drainage: Waste Rock Investigation (January 30, 1997); and
Black Bear Management (March 26, 1997).
A protocol was established by VBNC to inform LIA and the Innu Nation of permit applications related to exploration activities. A copy of actual approvals issued for exploration is also provided to LIA and the Innu Nation. A monthly status report is prepared by VBNC and sent to both organizations. These status reports list approvals received, the applications that were submitted and the approvals anticipated in the month to come. A sample of the VBNC Permit Protocol Status for February 1-28, 1997 is provided in Appendix 4E.
As a protection measure, hunting and fishing are not permitted at VBNC operation sites.
No person working for VBNC or its contractors shall be permitted to hunt, trap or fish at any time during his/her work term at any VBNC camp or facility.
Firearms are only permitted as authorized by government regulators and VBNC for use in protection against wildlife.
In 1995 a site rule was established that prohibited hunting and fishing by workers within the area of the exploration site. Over time, a number of questions and challenges were raised with respect to the scope and enforcement of the rule. This issue was raised by the LIA Environmental Observer and, at VBNC request, the observer provided a draft re-wording of the rule. This text was reviewed by VBNC and, with minor changes, was accepted and implemented by VBNC.
Following the workshop held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, a joint proposal was developed by LIA and the Innu Nation to take a lead role in conducting a major archeological field study program. A major cooperative historic resources program was undertaken by VBNC, Mushuau Innu Band Council and Torngâsok Cultural Centre (LIA) in 1996. The program had an important training component including both curriculum development and delivery. Two intensive training programs were held in May and June 1996 over two weeks each in Utshimassits and Nain. Of the twenty-six participants in the training programs, sixteen were hired as research assistants and participated in the field survey portion of the work.
A total of 66 Labrador residents have participated in Project environmental and archeological field surveys.
VBNC made special provision for local participation in the 1995, 1996, 1997 baseline studies. Aboriginal workers participated in biophysical baseline studies conducted in the three year period and contributed their skills as members of field study teams on freshwater, marine, and terrestrial baseline studies.
During the spring 1996 Environmental Baseline Workshops in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the importance of ice to Inuit and the concern over winter shipping led to a series of meetings that discussed this issue. LIA arranged for two community representatives to be selected from each of the North Coast communities. To date, two workshops have been held in Nain to exchange information and views. At the first workshop, VBNC, its consultants and government officials presented an overview of scientific knowledge about plans for shipping. A guest participant, an Inuk, related the experience of his community, Arctic Bay, to shipping to the Nanisivik Mine in Strathcona Sound. The LIA representatives outlined their concerns and requested more information, both on the need for winter shipping and possible alternatives which would not disrupt landfast ice. The second workshop focused on these two issues.
A workshop on the management of black bears was held at Anaktalak Bay on March 26, 1997. Innu elders and representatives flew over the Eastern Deeps and bear den locations in the vicinity of the two camps. The group toured incineration facilities and the Voisey's Camp Exploration Camp. Presentations on bear management at the Project site, bear collaring and tracking, and wildlife regulations were made by VBNC, consulting biologists, and the Provincial Wildlife Division. Innu elders described their concerns, contributed their views on the treatment of bears and discussed possible management measures.
Members of the Innu Nation and LIA have assisted VBNC with the compilation and review of local Innu and Inuit place names in the Voisey's Bay area. The LIA study includes a map of Inuktitut place names within the Nain District (Figure 4.4). A map of Innu-aimun place names is included as Figure 4.5.
VBNC is committed to implementing an Aboriginal Involvement Plan and will continue to diligently to pursue this approach. The manner and style of implementation will reflect of the views of LIA and the Innu Nation.
