Quebec agency deems Rouyn-Noranda mining project unacceptable due to safety, health concerns

A provincial agency has deemed a proposed mining project in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region unacceptable due to insufficient information on risks and impacts, including concerns about public health, safety and air quality.

The Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) was tasked with assessing the environmental impacts and advising the government on Ressources Falco's Horne 5 project, proposed for Rouyn-Noranda, Que., about 600 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

The conclusion is part of the report released Tuesday morning, marking the end of the BAPE's inquiry launched last summer.

Ressources Falco plans to develop a gold and precious metals mine beneath the city of Rouyn-Noranda, which has a population of roughly 42,300.

The agency concluded the project does not meet minimum standards for safety, public health or environmental protection.

"The project, as presented, is not acceptable given the current state of knowledge," said BAPE chair Joseph Zayed, who declined interview requests.

The report highlights insufficient information about risks related to blasting and seismic activity. The local health authority, Direction de la santé publique de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue (DSPu), has already raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed project on treatments at the nearby regional radiation oncology centre.

"The issues linked to vibrations from blasting and induced seismicity raise major safety concerns that must be documented before considering any authorization of the project," the report states.

The report also pointed to risks for the nearby copper smelter, Horne Foundry, owned by Glencore. The commission noted that Rouyn-Noranda's socio-economic context, shaped by an ongoing environmental and social crisis related to air quality, is not suitable for the establishment of a new urban mine.

"This project is distinct due to its urban location, as the proposed mine would be situated directly beneath the Horne Foundry," the report states.

"The proximity of the mining operation to residential areas and critical infrastructure heightens these worries and further deteriorates a social climate already strained since the impact study was conducted."

Environment Minister Benoit Charette received the report 15 days ago.

In a news release published to its website, Ressources Falco says it "welcomes the continued application of the precautionary principle in the report's opinions and sees it as an opportunity to further improve the project, by continuing the work already started, in close collaboration with stakeholders, local communities and the competent authorities."

With the start-up scheduled for 2030, Falco has the necessary time to meet the expectations expressed, it says.

The company says it prioritizes the health and safety of Rouyn-Noranda citizens and will form an expert committee this month to establish safe operating conditions for the Horne 5 project in relation to the nearby radiation oncology centre.

Hélène Cartier, vice-president, environment, sustainable development and community relations, is quoted as saying the report's findings were expected and the company accepts the challenge of addressing its key recommendations.

"Our vision has always been to harmoniously integrate our project into the community," she said.