Department Of Fisheries And Oceans Letter

Received Jul. 21 2011

Dear Mr. So - And- So

"Thank-you for your correspondance of June 23, 2011, expressing concerns regarding delays in the regulatory approval process for the Jolu Central Mill project near La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

As you may be aware, once the environmental assessment process has been concluded, Environment Canada leads in the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations process As partof this process a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement was posted in the Canada Gazette Part I on February 19, 2011. This statement allowed members of the public 30 days to comment on this particular proposed amendment to the MMER. The reference on page 17 of the Canada Gazette Part I, which you mention in your email, is not the actual amendment but rather the working of the proposed amendment to include Mallard Lake as item 19 to Schedule 2 of the MMER.

Governor In Council (GIC) approval to add Mallard Lake to Schedule 2 of the MMER is required before Mallard Lake may be used as a tailings impoundment area. If the GIC approves the addition of Mallard Lake to Schedule 2 of the MMER, Fisheries And Oceans Canada (DFO) will need to issue an approval under Section 27.1(5) of the MMER for the fish compensation plan as well as a Section 35(2) Fisheres Act authorization for the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitiat asociated with the construction of a control structure in Mallard Creek at the outlet of Mallard Lake.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss these matters further, please contact Mr. Vincent Harper, Habitat Management Team Leader in DFO's Prince Albert Office by telephone at (306)-953-8784.

Thank-you for taking the time to express your concerns.

Keith Ashfield

Ottawa"

So it looks like the GIC did not actually meet and the Schedule 2 of the MMER has not yet been modified, even though this information has been publicly available in the Canada Gazette since February.

I leave it up to anyone living in Prince Albert, Sask. or the vicinity to do the honours and contact the DFO. Environment Canada has not replied to my email inquiries.