Current status

Terms of reference amended: submitted, January 25, 2013

On November 20, 2013, Cliffs announced that it was indefinitely suspending its chromite project in Northern Ontario.

Project summary

The purpose of the undertaking is for construction, operation and retirement of the four interrelated and key components, the Mine Site located near McFaulds Lake; an Ore-Processing Facility, co-located at the Mine Site; an Integrated Transportation System (ITS); and a Ferrochrome Production Facility (FPF) located near Capreol.

Proponent

Cliffs Natural Resources

Location

Ring of Fire near McFauld’s Lake in northern Ontario

Type

Mining

Reference number

11075

Contact

Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch

Project history

Terms of reference—amendment: submitted
Date submitted: January 25, 2013

Terms of reference: submitted
Date submitted: July 27, 2012
Expiry of public comment period: August 26, 2012

Designation (voluntary agreement): granted
Date submitted: June 2, 2011
Decision date: August 5, 2011

Terms of reference

Cliffs Ferroalloys (Cliffs) is proposing to develop the Black Thor chromite mine, the largest known deposit of chromite ore in North America. The mine is expected to have a lifespan of 30 years or greater and the discovery of additional mineral deposits is expected to extend the lifespan even further.

The mine is located near McFaulds Lake in the Ring of Fire, on the edges of the James Bay Lowlands and within the province’s Far North planning area, 150 kilometres west of the De Beers Victor diamond mine. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates (Cliffs), intends to develop the Black Thor deposit in the McFaulds Lake area in Northern Ontario, known as the Cliffs Chromite Project.

The Project is comprised of four components; the Mine Site located near McFaulds Lake; an Ore-Processing Facility, co-located at the Mine Site; an Integrated Transportation System (ITS); and a Ferrochrome Production Facility (FPF) located near Capreol.

The Project is subject to both the provincial and federal environmental assessment (EA) processes under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Cliffs is working with both federal and provincial regulatory agencies to carry out one coordinated EA process.

Mine and ore processing facility (Mine Site)

The Mine and Ore Processing Facility are co-located at the Mine Site, which is located in Northern Ontario, in an area of the James Bay Lowlands near McFaulds Lake, within the District of Kenora. The Mine Site occupies approximately 2,600 hectares.

The proposed mining operations comprise development of an open pit mine with a projected life of approximately 30 years. The Mine Site also includes components of the ITS, an Accommodations Complex, the Ore Processing Facility, a Tailings Management Area, a waste rock management area and a number of supporting and/or ancillary facilities.

Integrated transportation system (ITS)

The ITS is proposed to facilitate the movement of people and supplies between the Mine Site and the existing road and rail network, including the transportation of concentrate from the Mine Site to the Transload Facility situated adjacent to CN’s existing transcontinental rail line located approximately 340 km to the south.

Ferrochrome production facility (FPF)

The proposed FPF site is situated within the City of Greater Sudbury, approximately 20 km north-west of the community of Capreol.

Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes of concentrate will be processed each day using electric arc furnaces to produce between 1,250 and 1,750 tonnes of ferrochrome. In order to house the necessary facilities, the site is approximately 95 hectares (ha), with an additional 65 ha required to house the slag stockpile north of the FPF site.

Rationale

The purpose of the Cliffs Chromite Project is to enable Cliffs to help satisfy growing global demand for chromite while meeting its business objectives. The principal use of chromite is in stainless steel production. The ore is also used in superalloys and chromium chemicals. Proceeding with the Project would provide economic opportunities to Northern Ontario. The project is expected to employ approximately 850 to 1,250 workers during the construction and operations phases.

Terms of reference

Based on comments received on the July 2012 Terms of Reference, Cliffs decided to take a time out on October 12, 2012 to amend its ToR and consult with those who provided comments. Cliffs submitted an amended Terms of Reference to the Ministry of the Environment on January 25, 2013. The amended Terms of Reference and updated Record of Consultation can be found on the Proponent project website.

Designation (voluntary agreement)

Mining development projects are carried out by private sector proponents and are not subject to the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA), although certain components of the project (such as the construction of ancillary facilities, modifications to provincial highways or the construction of a tranmission line) may trigger EAA requirements. Construction of the actual mine is subject to Ontario’s Mining Act, 1990, which falls under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.

However, on August 5, 2011, Cliffs entered into a voluntary agreement with the Ministry of the Environment to make the proposed mine subject to the requirements of the EAA.