061211-Environmental Screening Report-IMAE.pdf - nirb

2.12 AIRCRAFT ACCESS AND TRAFFICThe site is accessible by fixed-wing aircraft utilizing existing gravel airstrips at Mary River, MilneInlet and an airstrip located part-way along the Milne Inlet tote road. Figure 1.2 shows the locationsof each of these airstrips. These airstrips can provide nearly year-round access by fixed-wingaircraft, and have been used by Baffinland during the summer exploration seasons over the pastthree years to land a variety of aircraft including Twin-Otter, Shorts Skyvan, DC-3, and Herculesaircraft.At present, none of the airstrips are equipped with lighting, so that landings must be undertakenduring periods of daylight, which is 24-hours during summer months and very limited to non-existentfor several winter months. Airstrip lighting will be installed at the Mary River and Milne Inlet airstripsto support year-round access to the site by air.Some drainage problems have been experienced at both the Milne Inlet and Mary River airstrips,creating soft ground particularly during the spring. Minor improvements to the airstrips at Mary Riverand Milne Inlet are proposed, including surface crowning, ditching or culverts to provide positivedrainage. A “stabilizing” polymer binding agent, called EK35, will be applied to the surface of theairstrips. This material is used by the Government of Nunavut airports division as dust control onvarious airstrips throughout Nunavut as an alternative to calcium chloride, which cannot be appliedto airstrips because it is corrosive to aluminium on aircraft.During the bulk sampling program, as in 2006, it is expected that at least one Shorts Skyvan aircraftwill be stationed at Mary River full-time. The Skyvan is a 9-person capacity twin-engine plane with arear cargo door and a 4500-kg cargo capacity, making the plane an excellent workhorse. Thisplane will be used to move personnel and equipment. In addition, a Dornier 228 operated also as acombined 8-passenger and cargo plane, will operate scheduled air charter movements from Iqaluitto Mary River several times per week. Additional aircraft including Hercules, Buffalos and Hawker748 may be chartered to deliver cargo to Mary River from various southern destinations.Air traffic will adhere to the recommended flight altitude of a minimum of 300 m, in accordance withthe NIRB recommendation in Baffinland’s Land Use Permit #N2004C0017. Flying will occur atheights in excess of the minimum flight altitude, when feasible.2.13 MARINE ACCESS AND TRAFFICMilne Inlet can be accessed by conventional non-ice class ships during the open water season ofapproximately early August to early October. In previous years, Baffinland has utilized the samesealift destined for Pond Inlet to deliver materials to Milne Inlet in late August or early September.Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc. (NNSI) operates the Camilla and Cecilia Desgagnés, whichentered Milne Inlet in 2006. Sealift operations have included off-loading to a shallow-draught bargepowered by a tug, which comes ashore and unloads on the beach (Figure 2.6).Page 17 of 169NB102-00181/6-1Revision 0November 20, 2006