Environmental Assessment
Cameco, Key Lake and McArthur River, Saskatchewan: Expansion of Key Lake Mill
and McArthur River Uranium Mine Production Capacity
Environmental assessment start date: January 7, 2003
Type: Screening
FEAI reference number:
36971
Proponent: Cameco Corporation
Location: Key Lake and Waterbury Lake, Saskatchewan
Latest Update
Project Description
Project Description The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) received
notice from Cameco Corporation, seeking amendments to existing licences to
authorize the increase of production at their Key Lake and McArthur River sites.
Both licenses contain specific licence conditions that limit production of
uranium to 7.2 million kilograms of uranium per year. Cameco proposes to
increase production to 8.5 million kilograms per year, an 18% increase over its
licensed authorization.
Increased production at McArthur River would require changes to its
infrastructure to accommodate expected impacts, such as the generation of more
waste rock, mineralized waste, and minewater flows. At Key Lake, the proposed
production increase and changes to the infrastructure would result in more
tailings and treated effluent to manage. The mill circuits would require only
minor alterations.
Before the Commission makes its decision on Cameco’s application to amend its
licences at Key Lake and McArthur River, an environmental assessment must be
completed in compliance with the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act. The purpose of an environmental assessment is
to identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed project, and to
determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed
to proceed.
Further Information
For questions or information related to the environmental assessment of the
proposed production increases at the Key Lake mine and the McArthur River
uranium mine, please contact:
Mike Rinker
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Processing Facilities and Technical Support Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9
Telephone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax : (613) 995-5086
E-mail : ceaainfo@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
The CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its
environmental assessments. Lists and copies of documents may be obtained upon
request from:
Peter Courtney
Licensing Project Officer
Uranium Mines and Land Evaluation Division
Directorate of Nuclear Cycle and Facilities Regulation
Government of Canada Building
101-22nd St East, Suite 501
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 0E1
Telephone: (306) 975-6379
Fax: (306) 975-6387
E-mail: ceaainfo@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment and to respect Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
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