Spanish Mountain Gold Project

Attachment Spanish Mountain concerns

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: university of victoria
• Reference number: 30
• Submitted: 2023-10-07 - 2:49 AM
• Project phase: Planning
• To whom it may concern,   I am writing to address some concerns that I have about the proposed Spanish Mountain Gold mining Project after reading the project description documents. There were vague promises made to the Indigenous communities on whose land the project will take place (Williams lake first Nation, Xatsull First Nation, and the Lhtako Dene Nation), to engage “meaningfully” and “deeply” in the Initial Project Description. But what does the project plan to do to go beyond considering opinions from indigenous stakeholders, and move towards seeking their consent? What economic benefits will be shared with the Nations, and how will this be negotiated? How will these actions go beyond performative or tokenizing gestures? There is also a lack of information on how the project might effect the Nation's traditional practices such as hunting, or access to their lands. There are also multiple ecological concerns that don't seem to be sufficiently addressed. For example, the effects of water diversions or erosion into the surrounding rivers and creeks, which house rainbow trout, coho and chinook salmon, and provide spawning habitat. The risk of contamination of hazardous materials into the surrounding waters is mentioned but not sufficiently planned for. How would the Nations be compensated for the potential degradation of the environment?   Sincerely, Magdalena Catella less

Attachment Natural Resources Canada's Submission of a Federal Authority Advice Record for the Spanish Mountain Gold Project

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Natural Resources Canada
• Reference number: 12
• Submitted: 2022-06-09
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• CIAR File No.: 83495 May 6, 2022 Julie Lowry Project Manager, Pacific and Yukon Region Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Sent via email: Julie.Lowry@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Subject: Natural Resources Canada’s Submission of a Federal Authority Advice Record for the Spanish Mountain Gold Project Dear Colleague, On March 30, 2022 the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) requested that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) review the Initial Project Description and provide input to identify its responsibilities and expertise related to the impact assessment of the proposed Spanish Mountain Gold Project (the Project). The Agency provided NRCan with a Federal Authority Advice Record Form to facilitate the provision of this input. NRCan is committed to improving the quality of life of Canadians by ensuring the country’s abundant natural resources are developed sustainably, competitively and inclusively. It is probable that NRCan will be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function under the Explosives Act to enable the Project to proceed. NRCan also possesses several areas of expertise that may be relevant for the conduct of an impact assessment for the Project, and has identified several issues for which additional information should be provided, should an impact assessment be required. Please find attached NRCan’s Federal Authority Advice Record submission for the Project. If you have any questions, please contact me by email at anica.madzarevic@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca or by phone at 343-571-9873. Sincerely, Anica Madzarevic A/Senior Impact Assessment Officer Office of the Chief Scientist cc: Peter Unger, Director, Impact Assessment, Office of ...

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Attachment Xatsull First Nation Comments on the Substitution Request

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Xatsull First Nation
• Reference number: 11
• Submitted: 2022-06-02
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Head Office 3405 Mountain House Rd Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 5L5 info@xtresources.ca www.xtresources.ca Archaeology ● Cultural Heritage ● Resource Management ● Environmental Services May 12, 2022 British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office 836 Yates Street Victoria, BC V8W 1L8 Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Pacific and Yukon Office 210A-757 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3M2 Sent Via Email Attention: Tanishka Gupta, Ward van Proosdij, and Katherine St James Re: Xatśūll First Nation – Spanish Mountain Gold Request for Substitution Xatśūll T’micw Resources LLP (“XTR LLP”) on behalf of Xatśūll First Nation (“XFN”) has reviewed the Spanish Mountain Gold Project (“the Project”) Environmental Assessment Office (“EAO”) request for substitution pursuant to the Impact Assessment Act (2019) (“IAA”), as well as the IAA Cooperation Agreement between Canada and British Columbia. Furthermore, we also met with your agencies to discuss the above on April 26, 2022. This letter provides an overview of XFN’s understanding on the substitution request and Cooperation Agreement, and outlines support pursuant to agreeable project engagement and consensus seeking conditions. The Project is expected to meet the definition of a designated project under the IAA and meets the thresholds for a reviewable project under the Environmental Assessment Act (2018) (“EAA”). It is our understanding that the substitution request and Cooperation Agreement between agencies is intended to align EAO and Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (“IAAC”) processes and requirements, jointly establish requirements for the assessment, enable a single assessment application/report, ...

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Attachment IAAC File 83495 - Spanish Mountain Gold (SMG) Mine proposal Comments on Early Engagement/Initial Project Description

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Douglas Watt
• Reference number: 9
• Submitted: 2022-05-25 - 12:25 PM
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Preliminary concerns from Doug Watt, Likely BC The SMG slide presentation started with some pretty pictures of lakes and animals, but should also include pictures of the massive development that will occur with heaps of waste rock, tails dams and industrial roads that will be the ongoing legacy of the proposed mine. It has been at least 8 - 10 years since there SMG held a public meeting for the residents of Likely, and to suddenly spring this time-limited comment period with no prior warning is inappropriate and disingenuous of the proponent. I don’t want to hear the “covid excuse” as SMG has apparently been meeting with the First Nations community. SMG did not even provide local communities with postal notices until I suggested it to Doug Ramsey after I became aware of the impending EA process had commenced. There are many seasonal residents of the area who will have had no knowledge of the EA process commencing or opportunity to provide comments. I understand that the Likely-Xatsul Community Forest, local forest tenure holder within which the SMG is located, has not had any meetings or information from the proponent prior to this EA process commencing. Prior to the Virtual Information sessions, which I was not able to attend, I requested from IAAC by email, that they be made available on-line for streaming later. I never received a reply. The SMG presentation is available, but what about the question and answer sessions (if there were any)? The proposed SMG minesite is nominally located about 6 Km from Likely, but in fact it’s effective area of impact will stretch from Likely ...

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Attachment Spanish Mountain Golds proposal

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Alyssa and Tyler Ilnicki
• Reference number: 20
• Submitted: 2022-05-25
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• I am a resident on Quesnel lake and I’m extremely concerned about Spanish Mountain Golds proposal to build a gold mine in our area. Spanish mountain gold will have a negative impact on our environment, health and economy. The location of the mine will destroy the pristine environment of our rare interior rainforest. The loss of land by logging, building roads and extracting land in the mine process will negatively affect our rich biodiversity, pure water sources and destroy habitat and the migration of endangered species. It is extremely important that we protect our health from the toxic chemicals that they plan to use for extracting the gold. Cyanide, mercury and sulfuric acid will be released into our atmosphere, water sources and soil‘s. It will contaminate the air that we breathe, the water that we drink and our diverse ecosystem. The negative impacts will affect hundreds if not thousands of people that live, play and work in this area. Tourism, guiding, hunting and fishing provide hundreds of jobs yearly in this pristine wilderness. Spanish mountain gold will only employ 50 people for its 14 year lifetime. To allow another mine to be built in our area would be a injustice. It will be a continual threat to our communities as we struggle to regain what we have already lost from the collapse tailings dam spill from Polley Mountain in 2014. The spill was the worst environmental disaster in British Columbia‘s history. It sent 25,000 cubic meters of cyanide laden waste into nearby rivers and Quesnel lake. It poisoned water , killed fish , destroyed land , forest and affected tourism. Our communities and resources are more ...

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Attachment Spanish mountain gold

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Diana and Bill Mason
• Reference number: 23
• Submitted: 2022-05-24
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• The proposed project by Spanish Mountain Gold will negatively impact our environment, economy, society, culture, and our health. Not only for the life of the mine but for years to come. Spanish Mountain Gold would like to open a huge extraction operation which will destroy our pristine back country wilderness by logging old growth trees, fragmentation for roads, increasing mine traffic, disturbing migratory wildlife, and its habitat, while placing endangered species at risk of extinction. Gold mining is one of the most destructive industries in the world. It destroys pristine environments and pollutes air, water and land with cyanide and mercury endangering our health and the ecosystem. Spanish Mountain Gold plans to dig up and crush millions of cubic metres of rock, dowsing it with cyanide and other toxic chemicals to leech out only tiny quantities of gold. Just one ounce of gold generates twenty tons of waste with significant contamination of cyanide and mercury. Mining sites are permanent toxicological problems for the surrounding ecosystem and human health. The exploration of mineral products negatively impacts three elements of our environment: atmosphere, water, and soil. Gold mining creates mountains of toxic waste due to the nature and quantities of chemicals used for processing gold. The dust and vapours from the chemicals are toxic and can be radioactive causing an extremely dangerous problem to communities located nearby. The operation of large mining equipment requires vast amounts of fuel increasing greenhouse gas emissions as well. The most widespread and persistent form of water pollution caused by gold mining is by “acid mine drainage.” Gold is found in rock rich in ...

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Attachment Wildlife and water

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Deanna Hoversland
• Reference number: 8
• Submitted: 2022-05-23 - 9:34 AM
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• In an event such as this what happens to all the wildlife? Birds, bees, moose, deer,etc? And what happens to the water table when all the trees and vegetation gets wiped out? Where does the rain run off go to when there is no root system to absorb the rain? I know this comment is just a formality but i just want someone somewhere to do an evaluation of the costs to our planet vs the gain to corporations and individuals bank accounts? I am just not sure if it's worth the price?!!

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Attachment Concerns and Questions for Spanish Mountain Gold Project - May 11-22 Virtual Meeting

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Concerned Citizens of Quesnel Lake submitted by Christine McLean
• Reference number: 7
• Submitted: 2022-05-22 - 2:44 PM
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Thank you for the opportunity to attend the virtual meeting with IAAC and EAO and SMG – you answered a lot of my questions however as a resident on the Lake I still have huge concerns about this mine, especially when you take into consideration that we have a mine the same size a stone’s throw away, Mt Polley Mine. I would like access to the slides however the EAO did not say how that could be done? I would like to know how many people attended the virtual meetings, are you able to say if they were residents of QL or not? Can you please explain in detail what Substitution mean with regards to the Provincial and the Federal approval process? I would like to know what the footprint of SMG is going to be at the end of 27 years?  SMG is employing the same number of people that Mt Polley employs, are the two mines similar in size? Where will SMG draw fresh water from? How much water does SMG use / annually? How much will be recirculated for production? How much will go through the RO system? and how much will be discharged into Cedar Creek? How are you going to address the POSITIVE WATER BALANCE that has plagued Mt Polley? I would like a more detailed explanation of how it’s not going to affect this mine.  I am very concerned about this issue not being addressed properly as in the Mt Polley mine plan. Did SMG revise its mine plan from 40,000 ton to 20,000 ton to make it easier to gain Environmental approval? The water treatment systems used for water treatment for this site, is it successfully used on any other mine in BC/ Canada? Where will the TSF be located and what waterways will it affect – what is the approx. ...

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Attachment Spanish Mountain Gold concerns

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Carole Whitmer
• Reference number: 6
• Submitted: 2022-05-17 - 12:56 PM
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• A couple of comments/concerns.  First a concern about the lack of public consultation.  The initial project description summary reports Spanish Mountain Gold (SMG) completed a significant level of public and community engagement during the original entry to the approval process - so guessing that would have been back in 2011 or 2012, PRIOR to the Mount Polley tailings pond breech.  Current public consultation is definitely lacking.  A second concern about requesting the substitution of the federal Impact Assessment process for the BC Environmental Assessment process.  As a result of the Mount Polley breech, I have concerns about BC processes.  A recently published paper from the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University concluded that BC mining companies have been able to amend their original operating conditions in ways that can have serious effects on water resources. The third concern is the impact on the environment, wildlife, water and water quality, and residents of the area – noise, dust, daily road closures due to blasting, increased traffic and wear and tear on roads, tailing pond storage, and amendments to operating conditions.   On the diagram included in the summary report, it looks like the some of SMG operation will be on the existing community forest (hard to tell as diagrams are small).  If so, what is the impact on our community forest? The online comment process limits residents who do not have access to internet.  It also has not been well publicised.  The process to submit a comment to the federal Impact Agency Assessment is ...

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Attachment Xatsull First Nation Comments on the Initial Project Description

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Xatsull First Nation
• Reference number: 10
• Submitted: 2022-05-11
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Head Office 3405 Mountain House Rd Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 5L5 info@xtresources.ca www.xtresources.ca Archaeology ● Cultural Heritage ● Resource Management ● Environmental Services May 11, 2022 British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office 836 Yates St, Victoria, BC V8W 1L8 Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Pacific and Yukon Office 210A-757 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3M2 Sent Via Email Attention: Tanishka Gupta, Ward van Proosdij, and Katherine St James Dear Tanishka Gupta, Ward van Proosdij, and Katherine St James Re: Xatśūll First Nation – Spanish Mountain Gold Initial Project Description Comments Xatśūll T’micw Resources LLP (“XTR LLP”) on behalf of Xatśūll First Nation (“XFN”) has reviewed the initial project description (“IPD”) from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (“IAAC”) and B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (“EAO”). Attached to this letter, please find our comments on the Spanish Mountain Gold IPD along with recommendations for consideration. Should there be any questions or comments, please address them to Alexander Fanni, Project Manager. XTR LLP. Sincerely, Alexander Fanni, Project Manager Xatśūll T’micw Resources LLP CC: Chief Sheri Sellars, Xatśūll First Nation Mike Stinson, Mining Coordinator, Xatśūll First Nation Natural Resources Department with various cultural, heritage and environmental services. Project owners <Original signed by> 2 Xatśūll First Nation – Spanish Mountain Gold IPD Report Comments IPD Initial Environmental Review, May 5, 2022, Prepared by Adam Neil Introduction: This initial assessment of the IPD is built off the amalgamation of best practices ...

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Attachment Women and Gender Equality Canada Federal Authority Advice Record and Comments - Spanish Mountain Gold Project

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Women and Gender Equality Canada
• Reference number: 21
• Submitted: 2022-05-06
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Please see the attached submission
• Attachment included
• Page 1 of 4 Women and Gender Equality Canada Comments on: (BC) Spanish Mountain Gold Mine Project IPD (version March 15, 2022) (for improving intersectional GBA Plus approach) Note: WAGE recommends using the term “GBA Plus” instead of “GBA+”. The Plus is no longer a symbol, rather spelled out to emphasize the intersectional approach of GBA Plus. Comment Organization Document Section/Page # Participant Issues, Description or Comment WAGE-01 Initial project Description Summary Potential Project Interactions / Table S3 Preliminary identification of potential project interactions (page xix) WAGE has some concerns related to the lack of information in the preliminary identification on potential project interactions. Currently it does not include potential health, social and economic components based on Project-social interactions (FYI: Canadian research/evidence demonstrates that designated projects impact women, Indigenous peoples and other historically excluded groups in unequal ways (Goldenberg et al., 2010; Nightingale, Tester and Aaruaq 2017; Cox & Mills, 2015; Windsor & McVey, 2005; O’Faircheallaigh, 2013. For example, research has highlighted the links between resource development projects and risks of gender-based violence and sexual harassment for Indigenous, Métis and Inuit women in Canada (Amnesty International, 2016; National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, 2019; Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, 2021). It is, therefore, standard practice in impact assessment to consider a project’s effects on groups that are historically excluded or more impacted to a project’s adverse effects. This can include populations close to the project site, ...
• Attachment included
• Federal Authority Advice Record Form Spanish Mountain Gold Project – Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Response due by May 6, 2022 Please submit the form to: SpanishMountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Agency File: 005827 Registry Reference No.: 83495 Department/Agency Women and Gender Equality Canada Lead IA Contact Denise Gareau Full Address 22 Eddy St., Gatineau QC Email CFC.EvaluationImpacts-ImpactsAssessment.SWC@cfc-swc.gc.ca Telephone 819-938-1132 Alternate Departmental Contact Jessica Bialek 1. Is it probable that your department or agency may be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function related to the Project to enable it to proceed? If yes, specify the Act of Parliament and that power, duty or function. WAGE does not hold any regulatory power, functions or duties. 2. Is your department or agency in possession of specialist or expert information or knowledge that may be relevant to the conduct of an impact assessment of the Project? WAGE holds expertise in the application of GBA Plus (as intersect ional analysis) as well as information related to gender-based violence. 3. Has your department or agency considered the Project; exercised a power or performed a duty or function under any Act of Parliament in relation to the Project; or taken any course of action that would allow the Project to proceed in whole or in part? Specify as appropriate. No. 4. Has your department or agency had previous contact or involvement with the proponent or other party in relation to the Project? (for example, enquiry about methodology, guidance, or data; introduction to the project) Provide an overview of the information or advice exchanged. ...

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Attachment Federal Authority Advice Record

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Transport Canada (TC)
• Reference number: 19
• Submitted: 2022-05-06
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Federal Authority Advice Record Form Spanish Mountain Gold Project – Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Response due by May 6, 2022 Please submit the form to: SpanishMountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Agency File: 005827 Registry Reference No.: 83495 Department/Agency Transport Canada Lead IA Contact Megan Bennett Full Address Pacific Region, Environmental Services Suite 600-800 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2J8 Email megan.bennett@tc.gc.ca Telephone (613) 292-8422 Alternate Departmental Contact Suzanne L’Heureux (suzanne.lheureux@tc.gc.ca; (604) 836-9371 1. Is it probable that your department or agency may be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function related to the Project to enable it to proceed? If yes, specify the Act of Parliament and that power, duty or function. Yes. Canadian Navigable Waters Act Transport Canada (TC) may be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function with respect to the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA) based on the initial Project description provided. TC requires further detailed project information, outlined in response 6, to confirm whether or not TC would be required to issue an approval to enable the project to proceed. Under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA), Transport Canada issues approvals for (a) a designated major work that may interfere with navigation on any navigable water; (b) a work – other than a designated major or minor work – that may interfere with navigation and that is located on a navigable water listed on the Schedule; (c) a work – other than a designated major or minor work – that may interfere with navigation, and that located on a navigable water that is not listed on the ...

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Attachment Federal Authority Advice Record

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
• Reference number: 18
• Submitted: 2022-05-06
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• CIAR File No.: 83495 May 6, 2022 Julie Lowry Project Manager, Pacific and Yukon Region Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Sent via email: Julie.Lowry@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Subject: Natural Resources Canada’s Submission of a Federal Authority Advice Record for the Spanish Mountain Gold Project Dear Colleague, On March 30, 2022 the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) requested that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) review the Initial Project Description and provide input to identify its responsibilities and expertise related to the impact assessment of the proposed Spanish Mountain Gold Project (the Project). The Agency provided NRCan with a Federal Authority Advice Record Form to facilitate the provision of this input. NRCan is committed to improving the quality of life of Canadians by ensuring the country’s abundant natural resources are developed sustainably, competitively and inclusively. It is probable that NRCan will be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function under the Explosives Act to enable the Project to proceed. NRCan also possesses several areas of expertise that may be relevant for the conduct of an impact assessment for the Project, and has identified several issues for which additional information should be provided, should an impact assessment be required. Please find attached NRCan’s Federal Authority Advice Record submission for the Project. If you have any questions, please contact me by email at anica.madzarevic@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca or by phone at 343-571-9873. Sincerely, Anica Madzarevic A/Senior Impact Assessment Officer Office of the Chief Scientist cc: Peter Unger, Director, Impact Assessment, Office ...

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Attachment Federal Authority Advice Record

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
• Reference number: 14
• Submitted: 2022-05-06
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Federal Authority Advice Record Form Spanish Mountain Gold Project – Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Response due by May 6, 2022 Please submit the form to: SpanishMountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Agency File: 005827 Registry Reference No.: 83495 Department/Agency Employment & Social Development Canada (ESDC) Lead IA Contact Sarah Strapps, Director, PISP Full Address 140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV, Gatineau, Québec K1A 0J9 Canada Email sarah.strapps@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca Telephone Alternate Departmental Contact Andre Gossignac, Manager, Impact Assessment andre.gossignac@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca 1. Is it probable that your department or agency may be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function related to the Project to enable it to proceed? ESDC does not exercise powers, nor perform specific duties or functions related to the Project to enable it to proceed. The ESDC Minister’s powers, duties and functions extend to and include all matters relating to human resources and skills development in Canada or the social development of Canada over which Parliament has jurisdiction, and which are not by law assigned to any other Minister, department, board or agency of the Government of Canada. 2. Is your department or agency in possession of specialist or expert information or knowledge that may be relevant to the conduct of an impact assessment of the Project? As a federal authority, ESDC provides advice on: social development; learning, skills development, employment, unemployment, underrepresented groups, and; working conditions and workplace relations, including relevant programming with respect to Indigenous Peoples. 3. Has your department or agency ...

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Attachment Reference 83495

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Andrew Ferguson
• Reference number: 22
• Submitted: 2022-05-06
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Sir,   Please find attached a letter expressing my strong opposition to the Spanish Mountain Mine proposal.   Thank you   Andrew Ferguson
• Attachment included
• Andrew Ferguson North Vancouver, BC Email Spanish Mountain Gold Project Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Suite 210A - 757 West Hastings Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3M2 Telephone: 604-666-2431 Email: spanish.mountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca May 6, 2022 Reference: 83495 Spanish Mountain Gold Project Via email Sir I am very opposed to the proposal By Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. for an open pit Gold mine in the Spanish Lake /Quesnel Lake area. I own property and pay tax at and the memory of the Mt. Polley Mine disaster in 2014 still very fresh in my memory. There are approximately 26 properties and cabins in the Winkley Creek area and I would not want a similar disaster to take place 12 kms upstream of me. There are numerous BC Forest Service Recreation Sites such as Spanish Lake FS, Boswell Lake FS and Quesnel Lake FS which would be negatively impacted by the mine. In closing I think this mine is in the wrong place and at the wrong time and the only benefit I can see is to pull shiny rocks out of the ground to make money for the Mine Shareholders. Thank you for your time. Andrew FeriLlson <Original signed by> <Original signed by> <email address removed> <personal information removed> <personal information removed> <personal information removed>

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Attachment Environment Climate Change Canada Federal Authority Advice Record - Spanish Mountain Gold Project

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Reference number: 13
• Submitted: 2022-05-05
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Please see the attached submission
• Attachment included
• Environmental Protection Operations Directorate Pacific and Yukon Region 101 - 401 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3R2 May 5, 2022 ECPT: 22-BC-001 CIAR: 83495 Julie Lowry Project Manager, Pacific and Yukon Region Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Dear Julie Lowry, Re: Spanish Mountain Gold Mine Project- Federal Authority Advice Record On March 30, 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) received a request from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) to review Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (the Proponent)’s Initial Project Description (IPD) for the Spanish Mountain Gold Mine Project (the Project). ECCC’s response to this request is included as an attachment to this letter (Annex 1: ECCC’s Federal Authority Advice Record for the Spanish Mountain Gold Mine Project). ECCC’s comments are founded upon departmental mandate and are related to air quality, greenhouse gases and climate change, water quality and quantity, wildlife, species at risk, migratory birds, wetlands, and environmental emergencies. In addition to the completed Federal Authority Advice Record, ECCC would like to provide clarification on the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) and recommendations for revisions to the migratory birds information provided in the IPD. ECCC recommends that the row listing the “Migratory Bird Convention Act (Section 5)” be removed from Table S1: Summary of Possible Federal Authorizations. Section 5 of the MBCA does not authorize permits for impacts to migratory birds, their eggs or nests. For specific situations, ECCC may review and authorize a permit under Section 4(1) of the Migratory Bird Regulations (MBR), including damage or danger, airport, avicultural, ...

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Attachment Water license and impact from mine project

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Dustin Campbell
• Reference number: 24
• Submitted: 2022-04-29
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Archived: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 3:58:06 PM From: Spanish Mountain Gold (IAAC/AEIC) Spanish Mountain Gold (IAAC/AEIC) Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 5:59:28 PM To: Spanish Mountain Gold (IAAC/AEIC) Spanish Mountain Gold (IAAC/AEIC) Subject: Dustin Campbell Response requested: No Sensitivity: Normal From: Dustin Campbell Sent: April 29, 2022 9:47 AM To: Spanish Mountain Gold (IAAC/AEIC) <Spanish.Mountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca> Subject: Re: Water license and impact from mine project One more thing I'm curious to is there not two separate UREP's in the proposed development area? I thought these were protected land reserves, are they not? How can they be developed? Regards, Dustin Campbell From: Dustin Campbell Sent: April 29, 2022 9:30 AM To: spanish.mountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca <spanish.mountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca> Subject: Re: Water license and impact from mine project I would also like to add, the road in which I use to access the property is also in the "Initial Project Description" and it is mentioned it would be moved. Will there be any alternate route to access my property set in place? There is little to no mention of how the owners of property in the project boundaries will be accommodated. From: Dustin Campbell Sent: April 29, 2022 9:23 AM To: spanish.mountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca <spanish.mountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca> Subject: Water license and impact from mine project Hello, I am reaching out with questions in regards to the residential water license I hold and the impact the proposed Spanish Mountain Gold open pit mine(reference #83495) will have on it. I currently hold a surface water license(License # ) for residential use and I am half way through building a house on my property in B.C. which will be ...

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Attachment Federal Authority Advice Record

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Health Canada (HC)
• Reference number: 17
• Submitted: 2022-04-29
• Please see the attached submission.
• Attachment included
• Federal Authority Advice Record Form Spanish Mountain Gold Project – Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Response due by May 6, 2022 Please submit the form to: SpanishMountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Agency File: 005827 Registry Reference No.: 83495 Department/Agency Health Canada Lead IA Contact Herbert Antill Full Address 218-757 West Hastings Street Sinclair Center, Federal Tower Vancouver, BC V6C 1A1 Email Herbert.Antill@hc-sc.gc.ca Telephone (604) 809-7652 Alternate Departmental Contact Yota.Hatziantoniou@hc-sc.gc.ca, Paula.Smith@hc-sc.gc.ca 1. Is it probable that your department or agency may be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function related to the Project to enable it to proceed? If yes, specify the Act of Parliament and that power, duty or function. Not applicable 2. Is your department or agency in possession of specialist or expert information or knowledge that may be relevant to the conduct of an impact assessment of the Project? Specify as appropriate. As a federal authority, Health Canada (HC) will provide specialist or expert information and knowledge in the Department’s possession (expertise) to support the assessment of impacts on human health from projects considered individually and cumulatively under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). The Department provides expertise in the areas described below; it does not play a regulatory role. How the expertise provided by HC will be used in the impact assessment process will ultimately be determined by the reviewing body(ies). It should also be noted that expertise related to assessing human health that are relevant to impact assessments may be held by other federal, provincial and municipal ...

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Attachment Concerns involving the proposed Spanish Mountain Gold project

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Dustin Campbell
• Reference number: 26
• Submitted: 2022-04-29
• Project phase: Planning
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Hello,     As a property owner within the boundaries of the proposed Spanish Mountain Gold open pit mine project I have several concerns that I wish to have noted with the proposed project.   Concerns with this project include:     My existing residential surface water license is within mine boundaries and is at risk of being diverted with the proposed location of the mine and proposed "diversion of ground and surface water" described in the Initial Project Description which was recently released. This could potentially leave my residential property without running water.   ----   There are 2 separate Section 16 UREP(Use, Recreation and Enjoyment of the Public) land reserves within the boundary of the proposed open pit mine that the "Initial Project Description" make no note of reference to. (UREP File #'s 5402790 and 5402791). This should be concerning as a project of this scale should at the very least be aware of existing land reserves/conservancy areas within its proposed development area boundaries. The "Initial Project Description" that was released to the public for comment states:   "There are no federal or regional parks, wilderness or conservancy areas, ecological reserves, or protected areas immediately adjacent to the Project. However, there is one recreational area, Boswell Lake ...

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Attachment Indigenous Services Canada Federal Authority Advice Record and Comments - Spanish Mountain Gold Project

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada
• Reference number: 15
• Submitted: 2022-04-26
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Please see the attached submission
• Attachment included
• GCDOCS # 102022794 Federal Authority Advice Record Form Spanish Mountain Gold Project – Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Response due by May 6, 2022 Please submit the form to: SpanishMountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Agency File: 005827 Registry Reference No.: 83495 Department/Agency Indigenous Services Canada  Lead IA Contact Anik Guertin Full Address 10 Wellington Street, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H4 Email anik.guertin@sac-isc.gc.ca Telephone 613-297-3730 Alternate Departmental Contact Joseph Whiteside: Joseph.Whiteside2@sac-isc.gc.ca Danielle Jeddore: Danielle.Jeddore2@sac-isc.gc.ca 1. Is it probable that your department or agency may be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function related to the Project to enable it to proceed? If yes, specify the Act of Parliament and that power, duty or function. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is not responsible for approving or issuing licences, permits or authorizations for the assessments of large, proposed projects. 2. Is your department or agency in possession of specialist or expert information or knowledge that may be relevant to the conduct of an impact assessment of the Project? Specify as appropriate. ISC has specialized knowledge pertaining to Indigenous peoples including information on and knowledge of Indigenous matters on Federal lands. ISC has a mandate to support Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) in their efforts to improve social well-being and economic prosperity; to develop healthier, more sustainable communities; and to participate more fully in Canada’s political, social, and economic development.  3. Has your department or agency considered the Project; exercised ...
• Attachment included
• 1 GCDOCS # 102424156 Spanish Mountain Gold Project The following comments have been provided by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) regarding the Initial Project Description (IPD) for the Spanish Mountain Gold Project proposed by Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (SMG). Manager: Name: Email: Anik Guertin anik.guertin@sac-isc.gc.ca Project Officer(s): Name: Email: Danielle Jeddore danielle.jeddore2@sac-isc.gc.ca Joseph Whiteside joseph.whiteside2@sac-isc.gc.ca Comment #: Page #: Section: Original: Suggested Amendment: ISC-01 XIX Table S3 Preliminary Identification of Potential Project Interactions Economic: support Indigenous communities’ agencies with training and skills development. Recommend including employment and procurement opportunities as additional examples of potential mitigation. The text could potentially read: Example of potential mitigation Economic: support Indigenous communities’ agencies with training and skills development, and employment and procurement opportunities. ISC-02 8 3.3 Project Location Figure 3.2 It is difficult to ascertain what mine facilities are being depicted in the map. The legend indicates a line as symbolizing facilities, however, reviewers cannot distinguish the project components that are represented by each line. Recommend adding labels to identify each mine facility mailto:anik.guertin@sac-isc.gc.ca mailto:danielle.jeddore2@sac-isc.gc.ca mailto:joseph.whiteside2@sac-isc.gc.ca 2 GCDOCS # 102424156 that is symbolized by lines to ensure all project components are included in the project footprint (e.g., temporary ...

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Attachment Fisheries Oceans Canada Federal Authority Advice Record - Spanish Mountain Gold Project

• Spanish Mountain Gold Project
• Author: Administrator on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Reference number: 16
• Submitted: 2022-04-21
• Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Summary of the Initial Project Description
• Please see the attached submission
• Attachment included
• Federal Authority Advice Record Form Spanish Mountain Gold Project  Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Response due by May 6, 2022 Please submit the form to: SpanishMountain@iaac-aeic.gc.ca Agency File: 005827 Registry Reference No.: 83495 Department/Agency Fisheries and Oceans Canada Lead IA Contact Tessa Richardson Full Address 401 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC. V6C 3S4 Email Tessa.Richardson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Telephone (604) 362- 4645 Alternate Departmental Contact Kevin deBoer Kevin.deBoer@dfo-mpo.gc.ca (236) 380-0145 1. Is it probable that your department or agency may be required to exercise a power or perform a duty or function related to the Project to enable it to proceed? If yes, specify the Act of Parliament and that power, duty or function. Yes. Death of fish and/or harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat may be able to be avoided and mitigated through project design and planning. However, authorization under Section 34.4(2)(b) and 35(2)(b) of the Fisheries Act may be required for works, undertakings or activities that would result in death of fish or harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat following avoidance and mitigation. For example, potential infilling or realignment of existing streams or lakes, or potential alteration of stream flows that affect downstream fish or fish habitat may require authorization. 2. Is your department or agency in possession of specialist or expert information or knowledge that may be relevant to the conduct of an impact assessment of the Project? Specify as appropriate. DFO can provide specialist or expert information or knowledge on fish and fish habitat and ...

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