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Assessing Effects on Human Health Meadowbank Gold Project Margaux Brisco Nunavut Impact Review Board Final Hearings, Baker Lake, Nunavut March 27 to 31, 2006
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2 Nunavut Land Claim Agreement Requires a consideration of environmental and socio-economic effects
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3 Health Canada Expert information and knowledge about human health Promotes a holistic definition of human health: -complete physical, mental and social well- being -not only the absence of disease or infirmity.
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4 Health Canada’s Review of the Meadowbank Gold Project –Air Quality –Drinking Water Quality –Noise –Country Foods –Socio-economic –Occupational Health & Safety Plan
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5 Air Quality Issues: - Dust -construction -road traffic -mine operations - Emissions from burning fuel -trucks -machinery -power plant
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6 Air Quality Health Canada’s initial comments have been addressed No indication of concern for human health We encourage monitoring
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7 Drinking Water Quality Issues: - Dike construction (construction phase) - Discharge to lakes (operational phase) - Reflooding of mine pits (decommissioning)
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8 Drinking Water Quality Predicted maximum values for Third Portage Lake are not expected to have any health effects. Monitoring will indicate if drinking water guidelines are exceeded.
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9 Noise Issues: - Construction - Mine operations -blasting, crushing, drilling… - Road traffic
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10 Noise Potential for sleep disturbance at workers’ quarters World Health Organization’s Community Noise Guidelines
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11 Noise Possibility of summer camps near the mine site Recommendation: noise at the camp sites should also be monitored
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12 Country Foods Fish Mammals Birds
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13 Country Foods Issues: - Changes to bodies of water -dikes -reflooding
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14 Country Foods Monitoring of foods recommended -Arctic char A baseline should be collected to verify predictions
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15 Socio-Economics Issues: - Rotational Employment - Housing - Community Wellness - Public Health & Safety - Effects of Closure
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16 Socio-Economics Concerns have been addressed It is acknowledged that there is potential for some negative effects Mitigation and management are important
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17 Occupational Health & Safety Plan Health Canada recommends that a nurse be hired at the mine site. -To meet workers’ needs –Accidents –Infectious disease -To prevent pressure on health services in Baker Lake
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18 References Canadian Handbook on Health Impact Assessment http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/eval/index_e.html Determinants of Health website: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph- sp/phdd/determinants/index.html Health Canada website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca Environmental Health Assessment Services website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ehas
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