080121-08MN006-Sabina Hackett River Project Proposal ... - NIRB

Identification of Potential EnvironmentalEffects and Proposed Mitigationand adherence to DFO policies. In addition, an Aquatics Effects Monitoring Program (AEMP)will be developed to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental protection measures and tomonitor the health of aquatic ecosystems associated with the proposed Hackett River Project.7.3.3 Marine Environment7.3.3.1 Air QualityPotential EffectsPotential project-related impacts to marine air quality include:• Engine exhaust emissions from marine vessels• Fugitive dust emissions from conveyors and stockpiling activities• Greenhouse gas emissionsMarine air quality effects are very similar to those presented for the land based potential effects.The predominant consideration to the marine environment is the exhaust from ships along theshipping lane which will primarily emit airborne particulates, sulphur dioxide and nitrogenoxides.This emission of exhaust will be restricted to a period when ice free conditions allow ships toreach the port. The emissions will be distributed over a relative large distance from BathurstInlet and the North Atlantic Ocean which will result in a reduced spatial intensity in comparisonto the stationary land based sources.Mitigation will focus on the same principles as outlined in the land based air quality section.7.3.3.2 NoisePotential EffectsPotential project-related impacts to marine noise (both underwater and above) include:• Ship operations required for the transport of concentrate and goods from Bathurst Inlet toLancaster Sound (and onwards to overseas markets);• Conveyors for loading ships, and port activity at Bathurst Inlet.The majority of noise will be generated at the Bathurst Inlet Port site, where ships will be loadedand unloaded, but some underwater noise will be generated along the entire shipping route due tothe passage of ships. The amount of noise generated as part of Sabina’s Project will be primarilyassociated with ship loading/unloading activities. It is expected that the most underwater noisewill be generated during times when a ship is entering or departing the area, or when concentrateis being loaded onto ships. Noise along the shipping route will be localized around the ship as ittravels along its route.January 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 7–27 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)