Panel Report

11.1 Contamination of Air, Water and the Food Web

As we have noted previously, [D.G. Lee, J.F. Archibald, J. Dantouze, R. Neal and A. Yassi, Dominique-Janine Extension, McClean Lake Project, and Midwest Joint Venture, Supply and Services Canada, October, 1993, p. 21.] a fundamental concern of many northerners is the possibility that uranium mining and milling operations are poisoning the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the country foods they eat. Some of the attempts to quantify these risks have been described in Sections 10.4 and 10.5.

A food chain study, involving the Cumulative Effects Monitoring Working Group, [T. Gates and L. Chamney, Uranium Mining Cumulative Effects Monitoring and Assessment, Submission to Midwest Project Public Hearings, Regina, Saskatchewan, June 10, 1996.] was done on caribou harvested by local hunters in the Wollaston Lake area.[P.A. Thomas, Radionuclide Analyses of Saskatchewan Caribou - 1995, Final Report for Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management and Saskatchewan Health.] The objective of this study was to measure radionuclide body-burdens and to assess transfers of radionuclides from lichen to caribou, and potentially to humans. The data obtained indicated that the radiation dose from eating Wollaston area caribou meat is similar to the dose received from eating caribou meat harvested in the Northwest Territories, where there is no uranium mining. We encourage government agencies to continue the involvement of local area residents in such monitoring programs.

There is no indication from available information that there has been regional contamination of the food web in northern Saskatchewan. It appears that there is no danger, at this time, associated with the consumption of locally grown plants, meat or fish. This is a fortunate situation because locally harvested foods continue to be an important contribution to the diet of many people in northern Saskatchewan. It is important, however, that precautions be taken to eliminate the possibility of future contamination of the food web. Protection of the food web by continuous monitoring and mitigation would be far more acceptable (and less expensive) than would the efforts required to restore a clean environment, should contamination become extensive.

11.2 Environmental Quality Committees

The Government of Saskatchewan established three Environmental Quality Committees (EQCs) in 1995 in response to a recommendation from the panel. [D.G. Lee, J.F. Archibald, J. Dantouze, R. Neal and A. Yassi, Dominique-Janine Extension, McClean Lake Project, and Midwest Joint Venture, Supply and Services Canada, October, 1993, p. 11.] Our impression is that Cogema and the various government departments are taking these committees seriously and trying to involve them in monitoring activities. This is a welcome step because the effectiveness of the EQCs depends on the opportunities provided for them to work in concert with both the mine operators and the government regulatory agencies.

We endorse the establishment of these committees and commend Cogema and government departments for their willingness to work with, and support, the three EQCs. We do, however, have two concerns specific to the EQCs. The first is that adequate financial support be provided to educate and train committee members in the various issues related to uranium mining and milling. Committee members do not have to be experts, but they do need to understand the different issues and this will require ongoing training. The second concern is that the committees should not become dependent on the mining companies for revenue. Such a situation could compromise the apparent objectivity of the EQCs.

11.3 Community Vitality

Community vitality, defined as the social well-being and quality of life experienced by community residents, [D.G. Lee, J.F. Archibald, J. Dantouze, R. Neal and A. Yassi, Guidelines for the Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements and Government Information Requests for the Cigar Lake and McArthur River Projects, September, 1992, p. 53.] is subject to both positive and negative impacts from uranium mining.

On the positive side, enhanced employment and business opportunities in northern communities may provide a better standard of living and be a source of optimism and hope for community members. Mine employees may also provide good role models, encouraging students to stay in school and others to upgrade their education. The seven-day-in, seven-day-out rotation may provide an opportunity for wage earners to remain active in traditional pursuits and to have quality time to spend with their families. In addition, the presence of mines in the region often results in an improved infrastructure (roads, electrical power lines, water and sewer, etc.) that contributes to the viability and vitality of the community.

On the negative side, uranium mining may cause a deterioration in the traditional way of life that is valued by many northerners. In addition, employment at a mine can cause family stress because of the periodic absence from home of the mother or father. Fear that environmental pollution may have an impact on existing or unborn children can create anxiety in communities that share the same watershed as the mines. Tensions may develop between community members because of income differences and conflicts may arise between those who oppose mine development and those who favour it. Some employees may decide to move to southern cities, thus depriving northern communities of potential leadership. In addition, improved infrastructure may result in concerns about traffic accidents and possible spills of toxic materials.

Although this description of possible impacts is far from exhaustive, it does indicate that uranium mining has the potential for causing both positive and negative impacts on the vitality of northern communities. Therefore, if uranium mining is to remain a feature of the northern economy, it is as important to monitor its impacts on community vitality as it is to monitor its impacts on the environment. At least as much attention should be directed toward maintaining the well-being of the people of the region as is devoted to preserving the biota. In order to do this, it will be necessary to identify a set of indicators that can be used to assess the impact of uranium mining on the quality of life experienced by residents of northern communities.

There is a need for baseline health studies to be done in the North to address the incidence rates of cancers and the relation, if any, to the uranium mining.

J. MacDonald, Chairperson, Athabasca EQC, Transcript of Midwest Public Hearings, Black Lake, Saskatchewan, June 7, 1996, p. 47.

Cogema has acknowledged the value of monitoring community vitality and noted "the need for improved socio-economic databases for northern Saskatchewan and the Athabasca communities in particular". [The Midwest Project Environmental Impact Statement, Supplemental Information, Cogema Resources Inc., May, 1996, Part 3, Attachment 4, p. 7.] Recognizing the limitations of existing data, the company has suggested that the Athabasca Working Group address any community vitality impacts directly. While the concept of local participation (by the Athabasca Working Group or the Environmental Quality Committees, for example) is sound, the task of identifying indicators that can be used to monitor the impacts of uranium mining on community vitality will require professional assistance. Because many factors play a role in the life of modern northern communities, development of an appropriate protocol for monitoring the impacts of uranium mining will likely prove to be a challenging undertaking.

11.4 Conclusions and Recommendations

The information currently available indicates that there has been no regional contamination of the food web in northern Saskatchewan. Continuous monitoring and mitigation are necessary to protect it from deterioration as the region experiences development activities.

The Environmental Quality Committees provide a good avenue for incorporating local participation in decisions related to uranium mining activities in northern Saskatchewan. Adequate financial support should be provided to educate and train committee members in the various issues related to uranium mining and milling.

Just as the monitoring of biophysical impacts requires the participation of professional biologists and chemists, the monitoring of community vitality impacts will require assistance from social scientists. Cogema should cooperate with other uranium mining companies and northern leaders to set up a system that can be used to monitor the impacts of uranium mining on community vitality and all of the companies should jointly commit to mitigate any identified negative impacts.