annual report 09/10 · 2013. 7. 15. · yesab will continue working on the 5-year review with the...

ANNUAL REPORT 09/10

www.yesab.ca

Chair’s Message

The Year in Review

What is Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment?Why Conduct Assessments?

The Benefits of Assessment

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment BoardMembers of the Board

Who are the Board Members? Organizational Structure Staff Organizational Chart

How Does Yukon’s Assessment Process Work?

Three Levels of Assessment The Responsibilities of YESAB Stages of the Designated Office Assessment Process

Designated Office Evaluation Process Assessment Districts

Outreach and CommunicationsNetworking and Presentations The YESAB Website

YESAB Online Registry Improvements to the YOR

Project Statistics

Designated Office Highlights

Executive Committee Screenings

The Year Ahead

Financials

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77

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899

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Table of Contents

YESAB AnnuAl REpoRt 2009/102

From the initial project proposal to final screening, working groups and community visits have been key to producing quality screenings.

Developing new rules for Designated Off ice Evlauations remained a priority over my three year tenure. Our present Rules and tight timelines have served YESAB and proponents well since our inception; however YESAB was committed to reviewing the Rules within two years of inception.

Extensive public consultations were initiated and I am pleased to report that our new Designated Office Rules should be approved, published in the Canada Gazette, and in effect early in the next fiscal year.

As we come closer to conducting our one thousandth assessment in just over four years I can say with great pride that the Yukon is in good hands. The care, concern and involvement demonstrated by Yukon First Nation governments, the Yukon public, the territorial and federal governments and other YESAB participants is impressive and shows how much Yukoners care about the land, water and wildlife.

Finally I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to all Board, staff and the Yukon public for making the last three years so productive, sometimes controversial, but always rewarding.

This will be the last annual report that I sign as Chair of YESAB. I’ve informed the minister responsible, the Honourable Chuck Strahl, that I am not willing to serve another term as Chair but will continue as a Board member if he wishes.

There were several major priorities that I considered to be of the utmost importance to the continual success of YESAB.

The first priority was staffing and recruitment. Professional personnel are required for a work environment that is always busy and under enormous pressure. Exceptional human resource policies had to be in place if we were to recruit and retain highly qualified and motivated staff.

Under the leadership of our Finance and Administration Manager, Kim Beacon, and the Chair of the Human Resources Committee, Ross Leef, our established human resource policies are some of the best and most progressive of any mid-sized non-government employer in Yukon.

First Nations input was also critical to the continued success of YESAA. Whenever I am asked to speak about YESAB I always acknowledge the foresight and persistence of the Yukon First Nations in creating a unique Yukon-made assessment process.

Engagement of all Yukon First Nation governments remains a high priority for all our community-based offices and we continue to involve all affected First Nations on Executive Committee screenings.

Chair’s Message

YESAB AnnuAl REpoRt 2009/10 3

2009/10 was a demanding year for the organization. YESAB remained involved in the YESAA 5-year review being conducted by the three parties (Council of Yukon First Nations, Government of Yukon and Government of Canada). The Observation and Conclusions Report was released and clearly noted the broad support for the YESAA process as a whole. YESAB will continue working on the 5-year review with the three parties.

YESAB also moved into the new head office located in the Nuvo Building at Suite 200-309 Strickland Street in Whitehorse. The new office space is in a highly visible and convenient location in downtown and will give us room to grow and allow us to better serve our clients.

Our Haines Junction Designated Office has moved to a new location. Formally located at the Haines Junction Airport, the office has move into town and is now located at 100 Steele Street. The new location has proven to be more convenient for the community and proponents.

Open houses were held in all Designated Office communities and public meetings were held in Teslin for the Red Mountain all-season tote road, in Whitehorse for the Whistle Bend Subdivision, in Ross River for the proposed Mactung Mine project, and in Dawson City for the Callison Industrial Subdivision and the Dawson Waste Water Treatment Plant project.

The Year in Review Public meetings also took place throughout Yukon in the fall of 2009 for the Designated Office Rules review. YESAB staff held meetings in Carcross, Dawson City, Haines Junction, Mayo, Teslin, Old Crow and Watson Lake. The suggestions and comments collected during the extensive consultation effort were fully considered and incorporated into the Rules when possible. A number of changes have been made and a draft should be out for final comment early in the next fiscal year.

Residential, Commercial and Industrial Land Development was the leading sector for project proposal submissions to YESAB with 61 over the fiscal year. Project proposal submissions in the placer and quartz mining sectors increased this year as well, while forestry, agriculture and power generation remained relatively unchanged from last fiscal year.

Overall, there were 261 project proposal submissions to the Designated Offices. The Executive Committee received one new project during the year, the proposed Silver Hart Mine project. The Committee now has a total of three projects submitted for screenings.

Statistics for assessment timelines were generated from the YESAB Online Registry. Of the past 996 DO level project assessments, the average assessment time frame has been 34.5 days. An impressive accomplishment considering the diversity of projects submitted.

Photo: YESAB

4 YESAB AnnuAl REpoRt 2009/10

Environmental and socio-economic assessment is a process that identifies the environmental and socio-economic effects of proposed activities before they are carried out. If significant adverse effects are identified, assessors recommend measures to limit or eliminate those effects.

Why Conduct Assessments? Assessments are conducted to ensure that projects are undertaken in a way that results in development that does not undermine the environment and social systems of individuals and communities. This is done by minimizing or avoiding adverse environmental and socio-economic effects before they occur.

The Benefits of Assessment Environmental and socio-economic assessment offers a number of benefits to Yukoners. It provides opportunities for the public to become involved in the development of the territory, allows for increased protection of human health, and minimizes environmental risk. Yukon’s assessment process ensures that assessments are done independently by an impartial body and increases the accountability of decision-makers by ensuring all information relating to an assessment is available to the public. The process also reduces uncertainty by having set time lines at every stage.

What Is Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment?

Photo: YESAB


Chapter 12 of the Umbrella Final Agreement and Yukon First Nation Final Agreements called for the establishment, through federal legislation, of an assessment process that would apply on all lands within Yukon: federal, territorial, First Nation and private. The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and the Yukon Government agreed to work with the Government of Canada to establish a unique development assessment process for Yukon. YESAA, the federal legislation establishing this process, has functionally replaced previous regimes.

The purposes of YESAA are to: •Provideacomprehensive,neutrally conducted

assessment process applicable in Yukon.

•Requirethat,beforeprojectsareundertaken,theirenvironmental and socio-economic effects are considered.

•Protectandmaintainenvironmentalqualityandheritage resources.

•Protect and promote the well-being ofYukonFirst Nations, their societies and Yukon residents generally, as well as the interests of other Canadians.

•Ensurethatprojectsareundertakeninaccordancewith principles that foster beneficial socio-economic change without undermining the ecological and social systems on which communities, their residents, and societies in general, depend.

•Recognizeand,totheextentpracticable,enhancethe traditional economy of Yukon First Nations and their special relationship with the wilderness environment.

•Guarantee opportunities for the participationof Yukon First Nations and make use of their knowledge and experience in the assessment process.

•Provideopportunitiesforpublicparticipationintheassessment process.

•Ensurethattheassessmentprocessisconductedina timely, efficient and effective manner that avoids duplication.

•Providecertainty to theextentpracticablewithrespect to assessment procedures, including information requirements, time limits and costs to participants.

Key features of YESAA•A single assessment process that appl ies

throughout Yukon, to all projects, and to the federal, territorial and First Nation governments.

•Aneutralprocessconductedatarms-lengthfromgovernments.

•Ahigh leveloftransparency–recommendationsinclude written reasons and are made available on the public registry.

•Considerationofsocio-economicfactors.

•Guaranteedprovisionsforpublicparticipation.

•Guaranteed opportunit ies for First Nationparticipation.

•Traditionalandlocalknowledgeareconsidered.

•Mandatory time lines forbothassessmentanddecision-making stages.

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act


YESAB is an independent, arms-length entity, responsible for the implementation of the YESAA and associated regulations. Specifically, its role is to administer the YESAA process.

Members of the BoardYESAB is comprised of a three-person Executive Committee, one of whom is the Chair of YESAB, and four other Board members. All Board members are appointed by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Nomination and appointment provisions for the Board are set out in YESAA. One member of the Executive Committee is nominated by the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and one member is appointed by the federal minister after consultation with the territorial minister. The third member of the

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board

Executive Committee, the Chair, is appointed after the federal minister consults with the other two Executive Committee members. Of the four remaining Board members, two are nominated by CYFN, one is nominated by the territorial minister, and one is a direct appointment by the federal minister.

Who are the Board Members?•KenMcKinnon|Chair&ExecutiveCommittee

Member

•SimonMason-Wood|ExecutiveCommitteeMember

•StephenMills|ExecutiveCommitteeMember

• TaraChristie|BoardMember

•DaveKeenan|BoardMember

•RossLeef|BoardMember

•CarlSidney|BoardMember

Photo: Archbould Photography

Ken McKinnonBoard Chair/Exec. Committee

Stephen Mills Exec. Committee

Simon Mason-Wood Exec. Committee

Ross Leef Board Member

Carl Sidney Board Member

Dave Keenan Board Member

Tara Christie Board Member

Wendy Randall Executive Director

Bobbi Stevenson Executive Assistant

Rob Yeomans Communications/Info. Mgr.

Kim BeaconFinance & Admin. Mgr.

IT Officer

Bemi Dionne Finance & Admin. Asst.

Marlaine Joe Admin. Asst.

Michael MullerProj. Assessment Mgr.

Andrew McCoySr. Assessment Officer

Vacant Term-Assessment Officer

Keith MaguireSr. Assessment Officer

Lauren HaneyAssessment Officer

Nathan AasmanAssessment Officer

Chris Evans YOR Client Support Officer

YESAB Board and Staff

Steve Caram Proj. Assessment Officer

Whitehorse office

Aliesha Narain Manager, DO

Monique Chatterton Assessment Officer

Stephanie Routley Assessment Officer

Vacant Admin. Assistant

haines Junction office

Daniel Beaudoin Manager, DO

Astrid Grawehr Assessment Officer

Yolande Cherepak Admin. Assistant

Mayo office

Loralee Johnstone Manager, DO

Russell McDiarmid Assessment Officer

Kerri Ellis Admin. Assistant

DaWson city office

Shelby Jordan Manager, DO

Janice Rose Assessment Officer

Melissa Andrews Assessment Officer

Gwen Franks Admin. Assistant

teslin office

Vacant Manager, DO

Melissa Valja Assessment Officer

Tess Lamberton Admin. Assistant

Watson lake office

Steven Jakesta Manager, DO

Christina Guillemette Assessment Officer

Jessica Condon Admin. Assistant


Organizational Chart

Organizational StructureYESAB is made up of a head office located in Whitehorse and six Designated Offices located in Dawson City, Haines Junction, Mayo, Teslin, Watson Lake and Whitehorse. The Designated Offices (DOs) carry out the majority of the project assessments under YESAA. Taking guidance from YESAA, the Designated Office Rules, and the associated regulations; the Designated Offices are independently responsible to carry out evaluations and make recommendations for a wide variety of projects. The community-based staff are the primary point of contact for many Yukoners and are available to provide information and assistance to

those involved in the assessment process. The head office houses Executive Committee assessment personnel, the Executive Director, administrative and communications personnel and the Executive Committee members.

StaffIn March 2010, YESAB had 32 full-time and part-time staff positions within seven offices throughout the territory. Below is the organizational chart which lists Board members, permanent employees, and their position titles.

An assessment under YESAA is required when a project activity is listed in the regulations and requires a permit or authorization, when there is a transfer of land, or if the project utilizes federal funding. The assessment process is initiated when an individual or organization submits a project proposal to YESAB. Once the proposal is received, YESAB assessors ensure that the proposal contains the information necessary to commence an assessment. Assessors look at the potential environmental and socio-economic effects of proposed activities by gathering and analyzing relevant information from various sources (First Nations and other governments, experts in the field, the public, and people or groups who may have an interest in the proposed activity) and by conducting extensive research to enable a complete and thorough assessment. Once the appropriate information has been collected and considered, the assessor recommends whether the project should proceed, proceed with terms and conditions, not proceed or is referred to the Executive Committee. Unless a referral is required, when an assessment is complete the recommendation with reasons is submitted to the relevant Decision Body(s). Decision Bodies can be federal, territorial and/or First Nation governments. The Decision Body(s) will then decide whether to accept, reject or vary the recommendation of YESAB and issue a Decision Document. Decision Documents are placed on the YESAB Online Registry and filed in paper format in the YESAB Document Registry.

How Does Yukon’s Assessment Process Work?Three Levels of Assessment Depending on the type, size and complexity of a proposed project, an assessment can take place at three different levels.

•DesignatedOffice: The majority of assessments are conducted in the

six community-based Designated Offices located in Dawson City, Haines Junction, Mayo, Teslin, Watson Lake and Whitehorse.

•ExecutiveCommittee: The Executive Committee of the Board will assess

larger projects that are submitted to it directly, or are referred by a Designated Office.

•PaneloftheBoard: A Panel of the Board may be established to assess

projects which have potential significant adverse effects, are likely to cause significant public concern, or involve the use of controversial technology.

Photo: YESAB


STAgE 1

STAgE 2

STAgE 3

STAgE 4

STAgE 5

STAgE 6

With the help of a regulator, the proponent or project developer determines if an assessment is required.

Proponent fills out a “Project Proposal Form” and submits it to one of YESAB’s Designated Offices.

YESAB assessors review the proposal to ensure that enough information is included to commence an assessment.

The YESAB assessor then begins the assessment and gathers and reviews relevant information from the public, First Nation and other governments, experts and people and groups who may have an interest in the proposed activity.

After considering all relevant information, the assessor determines whether the project will have adverse environmental and/or socio-economic effects. The YESAB assessor then makes a recommendation to the relevant Decision Body(s) (federal, territorial, and/or First Nation governments) or refers the project to the Executive Committee for a higher level of assessment.

The Decision Body(s) reviews YESAB’s recommendation and either accepts, rejects, or varies it through the release of a Decision Document.

Stages of the Designated Office Assessment Process

YESAB has a broad range of responsibilities when conducting environmental and socio-economic assessments. The organization collects and considers public comments, conducts research related to project activities, ensures proponents submit appropriate information, and notifies interested parties and the public of current project assessments. In addition to this, YESAB remains impartial and independent while providing sound recommendations that eliminate or mitigate adverse effects.

However, the mandate of the organization does have its limits. For example, all final decisions related to

The Responsibilities of YESAB

project approvals are made by decision-makers; First Nation, territorial or federal governments. YESAB provides those decision-makers with recommendations. While an assessment is often required when a permit or authorization is needed, YESAB does not issue any permits, authorizations or any other type of approval. The regulatory bodies within governments are responsible for issuing all permits and approvals. When permits are issued, the terms and conditions of those permits are not enforced by YESAB. Enforcement of the terms and conditions within a permit or authorization is the responsibility of regulators.


Assessment Districts The territory has six assessment districts. Each district contains a Designated Office that is responsible for all Designated Office Evaluations for that region.


Outreach and CommunicationsYESABs most recent communications plan continued to be implemented throughout the year. YESAB has worked towards identifying, informing, and educating various audiences about the YESAA process and project activities throughout Yukon. We do this by:

•WritinganddistributinganumberofYESAA-relatedarticles to local and national publications;

• Implementinglocaladvertisingcampaigns;

•MonitoringlocalmediaandassistingreporterswithYESAA-related stories;

•Offering interviews to radio, newspaper andtelevision as required; and

•Continuallyupdatingandmaintainingourwebsiteand other external communication tools.

relationships and ensure open communication among all those involved in YESAA. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year we met with the following groups and organizations:

•YukonFirstNationsHeritageGroup

•DucksUnlimited

•YukonWaterBoard

•YukonMineralAdvisoryBoard

•ParksCanada

•YukonPlacerSecretariat

•YukonChamberofCommerce

•CityofWhitehorse

•YukonChamberofMines

•YukonConservationSociety

•YukonTourismAssociation

We participate in frequent meetings with government regulators. These meetings provide a valuable forum in which participants learn about the needs and constraints of both the assessment and permitting sides of the process. We also meet regularly with potential proponents of both small and large scale projects. These meetings have been an effective way to ensure proponents know what will be required of them when they go through the assessment process. It also assists in providing us with early notice of what projects we can expect to be submitted to our offices.

Reaching out to those involved with the assessment process is an important part of what YESAB does. We continue to focus our outreach efforts on general and specific audiences and topics. Staff and Board have been giving presentations and attending conferences, trade shows and symposiums locally and beyond, including:

•AlaskaOilandGasCongress

•ArcticGasSymposium

•AppearancebeforetheStandingCommitteeonAboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

•CYFNGeneralAssembly

•DawsonCityInternationalGoldShow

•MineralExplorationRoundup

•ObtainingandSecuringProjectApprovals North of 60

•YukonFirstNationsResourceOpportunitiesConference

• TIAYukonConference

We also meet with groups and individuals who play a vital role in Yukon’s assessment process. These efforts have resulted in a better understanding of the priorities and issues of groups in the territory and a clearer understanding of the assessment process. Outreach efforts by Board members and staff help build strong

Networking and Presentations

Photo: YESAB


The YESAB WebsiteWe developed www.yesab.ca with the objective of it becoming the first place you look for information about YESAB and the assessment process in Yukon. The website provides up-to-date information about our organization and our assessment process. Reference and guidance documents that describe how assessments are conducted are also available, as well as instructions and guidebooks about developing project proposals. Our website links to the YESAB Online Registry (YOR) which is the electronic registry and document management system used to track assessments. You will also find contact information for our six Designated Offices and our head office in Whitehorse.

YESAB Online Registry (YOR)The YOR is a tool used by proponents, Decision Bodies, First Nations, and members of the public to participate in the assessment process. The three main functions of the YOR are to provide public access to assessment-related documents, allow proponents to develop and submit project proposals, and to help people submit comments and information into the assessment process. It is also designed so that the public will become aware of new projects and can track them throughout the assessment process. Both the YESAB website and the YOR provide an interactive medium for proponents, stakeholders, Decision Bodies, First Nations, and the public who are involved or interested in assessments and gives unprecedented access to the assessment process.

Improvements to the YORThe YOR went through some changes during the year. The efficiency of the site was improved with automated notifications and increased functionality overall. The site now allows for more proponent control over proposal content, including attachments and an increased ability to closely monitor project assessments. The hardware for the YOR was upgraded to improve the speed and ability of the database.

The Type of Projects Submitted

Agriculture\Aquaculture 10

Camps 4

Energy - Petroleum 1

Energy - Power generation 7

Energy - Transmission (Gas, Electricity)

4

Forestry 7

Mining - Placer 59

Mining - Quartz 37

Other Industrial Activities 14

Recreation and Tourism 6

Residential,Commercial&IndustrialLand Development

61

Scientific Research/Wildlife Management

1

Transportation - Rail, Marine, Air 1

Transportation - Roads, Access Roads &Trails

25

Utilities - Telecommunications 1

Utilities-Water&Wastewater 2

Waste Management - Contaminated Sites

14

Waste Management - Solid Waste 3

WasteManagement-Special&Hazardous Waste

0

Other 4

Total Projects Submitted (2009/10 Fiscal Year)

261

Projects Submitted to Designated Offices 2009/10 Fiscal Year

Designated Office

Submitted Cancelled or Withdrawn

Active or Assessed

Dawson City 80 8 72

Haines Junction 44 4 40

Mayo 43 4 39

Teslin 19 1 18

Watson Lake 35 8 27

Whitehorse 40 8 32

Total 261 33 228

Project Statistics

Total Projects Submitted during the 2009/10 Fiscal Year

DO Level Projects Submitted 261 projects

Executive Committee Level Project 1 project

Timeline Averages (# of days)(Based on 996 projects completed from Jan 1, 2005 to March 31, 2010)

AVERAGE 34.5 days

MAXIMUM 106 days

Photo: YESAB


Designated Office HighlightsSolid Waste Disposal SitesYukon Government, Community Services and a number of municipalities continued submitting solid waste facility projects in 2009. In total, over 30 solid waste project proposals were submitted. While similar in nature each project was unique due to its location, scope of activities and information received during the public comment period. The principal purpose of these projects was the continued operation and management of existing solid waste facilities. While a number of adverse effects were identified and addressed; the burning of garbage was the issue that gained the most public attention. In every case, YESAB’s key recommendation was to stop the burning of garbage as soon as possible. Since then the Yukon Government has made a commitment to develop a plan and implementation strategy to switch to alternative methods of operation and stop the practice of burning garbage by January 2012.

Minto MineThe Minto Mine Water Management project was assessed by the Mayo Designated Office. After an extensive evaluation the Mayo Designated Office recommended that the Minto Mine Water Management project could proceed, providing all 32 terms and conditions were implemented collectively. Assessors found that the proposed project presented a real and potential ly signif icant risk to the downstream aquatic environment and particularly Chinook salmon. What made this part icular assessment unique was that the absence of one recommended mitigation would undermine the purpose and effectiveness of the others. The water monitoring requirement meant extra effort from both the proponent and the regulator and required the proponent to be legally responsible for compliance at both the discharge location and the receiving environment. This was the first assessment released by YESAB that highlighted the interdependence of all the recommended terms and conditions. The evaluation report (2009-0206) was accepted by both the Selkirk First Nation and Yukon Government.

Alexco Keno Hill MineThe Alexco Resource Corporation proposed to take their advanced underground exploration project at Bellekeno Mine into production. The project was submitted to the Mayo Designated Office and garnered a lot of public interest. The views and information received during the public comment period highlighted the need for an alternative mill site to reduce the potential adverse effects for noise, dust and overall air quality from the mill. In response, the proponent proposed an alternative mill site for the project during the assessment. Mitigations proposed by the proponent in addition to 90 recommended terms and conditions by the assessor were adequate steps to eliminate, reduce and control the significant adverse effects of the project.

Whistle Bend SubdivisionThe Whitehorse Designated Office assessed Phases 1&2oftheWhistleBendSubdivisionproposedbyYukon Government, Community Services department. The project would result in the development of 295 lots and the future construction of 918 residential units. Public meetings were held and the public comment period was extended to a total of 31 days. Scoping of the project was challenging since only phases one and two were submitted for assessment. Public interest was high and concerns around the potential effects to McIntyre Creek and future road development in the area were raised. The Whitehorse Designated Office determined that the project would have significant adverse environmental and socio-economic effects but that those effects could be mitigated with specific terms and conditions.

Chinook Salmon found on Sidney Creek & Iron CreekThe Teslin Designated Office commissioned a study on two creeks in the Teslin district. Sidney Creek and Iron Creek were to be mined under the placer regime classification system and were the subject of an assessment in the area. The study found that


Mactung Mine Project - North American Tungsten CorporationNorth American Tungsten Corporation (NATC) is the proponent for the proposed Mactung Mine development project (Mactung), which was submitted to the Executive Committee on December 24th, 2008. The Mactung property is located in eastern-central Yukon, approximately eight kilometers northwest of the Macmillan Pass.

Based on the size of the deposit as well as the average grade, NATC has estimated that the development of an underground tungsten mine could produce tungsten concentrate over an 11-year mine life. The purpose of the proposed Mactung project is the construction, operation, decommissioning, and closure of a tungsten mine and concentrating plant.

The principal activities include:•Extracting tungsten-bearing ore from Mt. Allan by

underground long-hole blasting and cut-and-fill mining;

Executive Committee Screenings•Concentrating the tungsten mineral at a milling rate

of 2,000 tonnes-per-day, and;

•Transportingthetungstenconcentratetomarketbyway of Edmonton, AB and Vancouver, BC.

Accessory activities including:

•Anew 35 km access road and upgrade of an existing 10 km service road on NATC’s mineral claims.

Assessment update

After receiving additional information from the proponent, the Executive Committee deemed the Mactung Mine project proposal adequate on October 16, 2009. The first public comment period in the screening was open between October 22 and December 7, 2009. Following the public comment period, the Executive Committee completed a review of submissions received and determined that additional information was required from the proponent before preparing the draft screening report. As a result, a request for supplementary information was issued to the proponent. Focus was placed on

the creeks did in fact contain spawning and rearing habitat for Chinook salmon. The results of the study highlighted the need to revisit the classification of these watercourses under the placer regime and helped make the assessment for the Sidney and Iron Creek placer mine effective in mitigating potential effects.

New Designated Office Evaluation Report TemplateYESAB staff are continually looking for ways to improve the process for YESAA participants. Most recently the Designated Offices reviewed and improved the format and layout of the Evaluation Report. Now the reader can quickly find basic

project information, the recommendation, and any terms and conditions within the first few pages. Detailed information that outlines the reasons for the recommendation and associated information follow. The relevant environmental and socio-economic setting will now be described in its own section and specific values considered in the assessment will be dealt with individually and in detail. Additionally, key mitigations proposed by the proponent will be summarized in an appendix of the Evaluation Report. This will allow that information to be carried forward into the decision document and into the operating conditions of the authorization. The new report format has made reading the reports easier and the overall layout allows for specific detail and context. The new format will be used in every Designated Office in Yukon.

Photo: YESAB


Activities and project submissions are hard to predict but with gold pushing over $1000/oz combined with the recent discoveries in the White Gold District near Dawson City; YESAB anticipates another busy year of activity. The Executive Committee will also continue into 2010 with screenings for the Mayo B Hydro Enhancement project, the Silver Hart Mine project and the Mactung Mine project.

YESAB will complete its DO Rules review process in 2010 and will make changes to the DO Rules. Clients and participants will see some improvements that will allow for more effective, efficient and practical assessments. The Rules Review Committee expects to have the new Rules completed and in effect in the summer of 2010.

In January 2010 the independent contractor (SENES) completed and released the Observations and Conclusions Report of the YESAA Five Year Review

The Year Aheadprocess. Now the representatives of the three Parties (the Government of Canada, the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Government of Yukon), First Nations and YESAB will jointly consider the report. It is expected that the representatives of the three Parties will then publish a final Review Report that will include an implementation and follow-up schedule.

After just over four years of operation YESAB is quickly approaching its one thousandth assessment. This will be a big milestone for YESAB which has built itself up to be a progressive leader in the area of environmental and socio-economic assessment.

Terms for five of the seven board members will be ending next year. The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians will make the appointments early in the next fiscal year. Appointments are for a three-year term.

potential project effects to water quality and water quantity as well as the prediction of acid rock drainage and metal leaching potential at the mine site.

Silver Hart Mine CMC Metals Ltd. submitted a project proposal to the Executive Committee on February 9, 2010 for the development of a silver lead zinc mine located in south central Yukon between the Meister River and the Oake Lake/Oake Creek watersheds. Mine production is estimated at 63,000 tonnes of ore over a 3 year period with a mill capacity rate of 80 tonnes per day. The project is anticipated to have a lifespan of approximately 5 years.

The Watson Lake Designated Office referred the project proposal to the Executive Committee concluding that the Designated Office could not determine whether the project would have significant adverse or economic effects after taking into account mitigative measures included in the project proposal. Currently the Executive Committee is anticipating a response to an Executive Committee Adequacy Review Report that identifies additional information

required by the proponent before a screening can begin.

Mayo Hydro Enhancement Project Yukon Energy Corporation submitted a proposal to the Executive Committee on February 27, 2009 for the Mayo Hydro Enhancement Project (Mayo B). The purpose of the project is to enhance power generation capacity on the Mayo River by installing a new powerhouse and penstock to the existing facilities. The project will increase existing hydroelectric generating capacity on the Mayo River system from approximately 5 MW to approximately 15 MW. Project construction will require two years, and the operational life of the project facilities is 50 to 100 years. The project is located in central Yukon, roughly 5 km north of the Village of Mayo. New project infrastructure will be installed just downstream of Wareham Lake on the lower Mayo River. The Executive Committee will issue a Screening Report and Recommendation in May 2010. The Decision Bodies for the Mayo B project include Yukon Government, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, and Infrastructure Canada.


Following is the audited financial report for the period of April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010.

Financials

YESAB Designated Offices

Dawson City Designated OfficeBag 6050, Dawson City, Y0B 1G0Telephone: 867-993-4040Fax: 867-993-4049

Haines Junction Designated OfficePO Box 2126, Haines Junction, Y0B 1L0Telephone: 867-634-4040Fax: 867-634-4049

Mayo Designated OfficePO Box 297, Mayo, Y0B 1M0Telephone: 867-996-4040Fax: 867-996-4049

Teslin Designated Office PO Box 137, Teslin, Y0A 1B0Telephone: 867-390-4040Fax: 867-390-4049

Watson Lake Designated Office PO Box 294, Watson Lake, Y0A 1C0Telephone:867-536-4040Fax: 867-536-4049

Whitehorse Designated Office7209B-7th Avenue, Whitehorse, Y1A 1R8Telephone: 867-456-3200Fax: 867-456-3209

YESAB Head Office 200-309 Strickland Street Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2J9Telephone: 867-668-6420 Fax: 867-668-6425 Email: [email protected] Toll Free: 1-866-322-4040

Below are the mailing addresses, phone and fax numbers of the six Designated Offices (DOs) which are currently open. For more information about our DOs, including their locations, visit: www.yesab.ca/about_us/designated_offices.html