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

Project DescriptionStorm water runoff will be channeled by roadside ditches to sedimentation ponds before beingreleased into existing watercourses. Haul roads will be constructed from rock fill and erosion ofside-slopes will not be a problem.During summer operations, water will be sprayed on the roads to reduce dust problems.2.8.2 All-Weather Access Road2.8.2.1 Road AlignmentThe route of the proposed Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project (BIPR) passes approximately 20km east of the Project. To provide access to the Project, a 23-km, all-season road from the minesite to the BIPR will be constructed, managed and maintained by Sabina.The preferred option for overland access to the site is via the proposed BIPR Project. However,in the absence of BIPR, Sabina would construct its own all-weather road, and deep water port, toBathurst Inlet.The area through which the road will pass is characterized by low topographic relief, with gentlyroundedhills and numerous small (and some large) lakes. Ground elevations range from 400 to450 m above sea level, with a few hills exceeding these elevations.Two options have been selected for the preliminary alignment of the access road between themine site and the BIPR to minimize environmental problems, which will principally arise fromthe affect of the road construction on bodies of surface water. Lakes appear to be deep and havebeen avoided by the design alignment, because it may not be feasible or desirable to fill them. Tominimize environmental problems, these alignments:• follow watersheds where possible• skirt lakes• minimize the number of water crossings• avoid eskers.These are the only two feasible main alignments between the mine and the BIPR road because ofthe preponderance of lakes and water crossings in the area. However, in later design, minorvariations will be made to these alignments to further reduce their impact on the environment. Atan early stage, the road designer will coordinate the road design with other stakeholders to takeinto account hydrological, geological, archaeological and environmental issues. Areas of concernthat have been identified in these discussions will be dealt with at the preliminary stage of thedesign. Mitigation techniques may include realignment of the road or the bridge over the HackettRiver, or provision of special protection measures.Both alignments that have been proposed avoid cuts in permafrost (where side slopes willcontinually melt and where snow will accumulate). In addition, the access road alignments crossfew swampy areas (except in valleys and at their connection with the BIPR), and the groundalong the routes is generally dry. It is likely that culverts can be used at water crossings (eitherJanuary 2008 Hackett River Project – Project Proposal Sabina Silver CorporationReport Version B.1 2–36 Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. (Proj. #833-2)