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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. Nunavut Land Claim Agreement. Requires a consideration of environmental and socio-economic effects. Health Canada.
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Assessing Effects on Human HealthMeadowbank Gold ProjectMargaux BriscoNunavut Impact Review Board Final Hearings, Baker Lake, NunavutMarch 27 to 31, 2006
Nunavut Land Claim Agreement • Requires a consideration of environmental and socio-economic effects
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.
Health Canada’s Review of the Meadowbank Gold Project • Air Quality • Drinking Water Quality • Noise • Country Foods • Socio-economic • Occupational Health & Safety Plan
Air Quality • Issues: - Dust -construction -road traffic -mine operations - Emissions from burning fuel -trucks -machinery -power plant
Air Quality • Health Canada’s initial comments have been addressed • No indication of concern for human health • We encourage monitoring
Drinking Water Quality • Issues: - Dike construction(construction phase) -Discharge to lakes (operational phase) - Reflooding of mine pits (decommissioning)
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.
Noise • Issues: - Construction - Mine operations -blasting, crushing, drilling… - Road traffic
Noise • Potential for sleep disturbance at workers’ quarters • World Health Organization’s Community Noise Guidelines
Noise • Possibility of summer camps near the mine site • Recommendation: noise at the camp sites should also be monitored
Country Foods • Fish • Mammals • Birds
Country Foods • Issues: - Changes to bodies of water -dikes -reflooding
Country Foods • Monitoring of foods recommended-Arctic char • A baseline should be collected to verify predictions
Socio-Economics • Issues: - Rotational Employment - Housing - Community Wellness - Public Health & Safety - Effects of Closure
Socio-Economics • Concerns have been addressed • It is acknowledged that there is potential for some negative effects • Mitigation and management are important
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
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