Mines

Eligibility conditions

The Department has established terms and conditions of eligibility for mineral exploration in the Norebec-Manitou, Lacs Guillaume-Delisle and à l’Eau Claire, Rivière Témiscamie, Monts Otish and Monts Puvirnituq reserves.

Any legally incorporated mining company may be authorized to carry out exploration on lands reserved to the State. Furthermore, all mineral substances are eligible, with the exception of:

  • in the Norebec-Manitou reserve
    • hydrocarbons, peat, mine tailings and surface mineral substances;
  • in the Lacs Guillaume and à l’Eau Claire, Rivière Témiscamie, Monts Otish and Monts Puvirnituq reserves
    • hydrocarbons, placers, sand and gravel, stone used as construction material and peat.

Duration of mining exploration work

The duration of mining exploration work on the reserved land may not exceed July 7, 2009. After four years, a committee will evaluate the work carried out. Any land not covered by a mining right may be withdrawn from mining activities, and appointed as park. On the expiry of July 7, 2009, all claims that do not present significant mineral potential will have to be abandoned by the claim holder without any form of compensation.

However, areas presenting significant mineral potential will be excluded from the land reserved to the State, and the mining companies concerned will be authorized to continue their development work. Only claims with inferred mineral resources will be recognized as having significant mineral potential by the Department, following an examination of a complete geological report and a preliminary evaluation of the mineral and economic potential of the claims making up the mining property. The Department will base its examination on the definitions of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum .

Mining exploration activities

In principle, all mining exploration activities will be permitted on land reserved to the State. However, the activities will be subjected to conditions and requirements concerning the type of work carried out.

Additional requirements

For the Lacs Guillaume-Delisle and à l’Eau Claire, Rivière Témiscamie, Monts Otish and Monts Puvirnituq reserves, fieldwork likely to impact the environment such as stripping, trenching, excavation, drilling, logging, bulk sampling, line cutting and storage, shall be the object of a pre-project environmental study. This study must be approved by the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife before the work starts. It must include:

  • a wildlife inventory identifying any threatened or vulnerable species of fauna on the exploration sites;
  • a plantlife inventory identifying any threatened or vulnerable species of flora on the exploration sites;
  • an analysis of the regional archaeological and historical context, establishing a link with the exploration sites;
  • a review of the literature detailing the regional context of flora, fauna, rare, threatened or vulnerable species, exceptional ecosystems and fragile environments;
  • a list identifying all exceptional ecosystems and fragile environments on the exploration sites;
  • an evaluation of anticipated environmental impacts;
  • recommendations, with mitigation and protective measures.