130419-03MN107-App G7 Air Monitoring-IA2E.pdf - NIRB

As predicted and evaluated in the TEIA (Cumberland, 2005), one potential concern withincreased dustfall along the road may be the re‐entrainment of contaminants that occurnaturally in the rock used for road construction, or in materials used to suppress dust, that maycause effects to receptors such as birds, predatory mammals or ungulates. Concentrations ofchromium in Meadowbank area soil have been found to be naturally elevated (above CCMEguidelines), and traffic could cause increased deposition on surface soil and vegetation. In 2012,AEM conducted a wildlife screening level risk assessment to quantify risk to identified receptorsof concern, which included songbirds, waterfowl, ungulates and small mammals.Concentrations of contaminants examined in the study were not elevated in samples onsite ornear site, and no risks to wildlife health through contaminant exposure were identified due tomine activities.5 ReferencesAgnico‐Eagle Mines (AEM) (2012). Meadowbank Gold Project‐ 2011 Annual Report Preparedfor the Nunavut Impact Review Board. Appendix H‐ Meadowbank Mine. 2011 WildlifeMonitoring Summary Report. Prepared by Nunavut Environmental Consulting Ltd. March 2012.Cumberland (2005). Meadowbank Gold Project ‐ Air quality Impact Assessment‐ completed byGolder Associates and submitted on October 2005Cumberland (2005). Meadowbank Gold Project‐ Terrestrial Ecosystem Impact Assessment –Completed by Golder Associates and submitted on October 2005Auerbach, N., Walker, M. and D. Walker. 1997. Effects of roadside disturbance on substrate andvegetation properties in Arctic tundra. Ecological Applications. 7(1):218‐235.Male, S. and E. Nol. 2005. Impacts of roads associated with the Ekati Diamond Mine, NorthwestTerritories, Canada, on reproductive success and breeding habitat of Lapland longspurs.Canadian Journal of Zoology 83:1286‐1296.Myers‐Smith, I. and B. Arnesen. 2006. Cumulative impacts on Alaskan arctic tundra of a quartercentury of road dust. Ecoscience 13(3):503‐510.Walker, D. and K. Everett. 1987. Road dust and its environmental impact on Alaskan taiga andtundra. Arctic and Alpine Research 19(4):479‐489.9 | Page