Presentation Outline:

• Who is Keefer Ecological Services?

• EA Review Team

• What is an EA?

• Federal and BC EA processes

• Core elements of the EA process

Presentation Outline:

• Keefer Ecological Review Team

• Initial Findings: Aquatics and Terrestrial

• Document submission and meetings

• Responding

• Remaining findings

• Project improvements

• Next steps

Presentation Outline:

• Project overview and goals

• Methods

• Use of the document

• Key findings

• Opportunities and recommendations

• New Gold's response 

This briefing provides an update on the work of Keefer Ecological Services (KES) and its team of experts. As you are aware, KES was engaged by your community to conduct a third party techincal review of the Blackwater Environmental Assessment (EA). This document is concerning the higher level comments on the assessment. 

Keefer Ecological Services (KES) presented this letter and document to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO) on behalf of Ulkatcho First Nation and Lhooks'uz Dene Nation. The New Gold Blackwater Gold Project sits on the traditional lands of these two Nations, which the Nations hold closely to their hearts.

The document is divided between the Aquatic and Engineering Technical Reviews and the Terrestrial Technical Reviews. Our comments centre on four general subject areas: water, wildlife, cumulative effects and socioeconomic effects. 

Some general comments and questions regarding the New Gold Memorandum Response to comments on the Blackwater Gold Project.

Previous reviews of the Environmental Assessment (EA) identified serious deficiencies in the modelling of water quality within the mine area and the water management strategies during mine operations. Changes to the water quality modelling, mine water management, and associated impacts to the environment were submitted to the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) on August 12, 2016. The following documents, submitted by New Gold, were reviewed on behalf of Ulkatcho First Nation and Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation.

• Updated Surface Water Quality Model Report and Appendices

• Updated Surface Water Quality Effects Assessment

• Assessment of Effects Related to Project Changes

A review of the Blackwater Gold Project, the Environmental Assessment (EA) process, the Impact Benefit Agreement, education and training opportunities, and the historical signing of the MOU between the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), BC EAO, Ulkatcho First Nation and Lhoosk'uz Dene Nation. 

​Presentation Outline:

• Review Process

• Past Comments & Responses

• Current Comments

• Conclusions

​Keefer Ecological Services traveled to Anahim Lake to present an update on Part C to the community and to get their input on important health values that they feel should be considered in Part C and the Environmental Assessment. BC EAO and CEAA representatives were also in attendance.