Registration Number: 1758

Buchans Barite Harvesting and Processing Operations

Proponent: Barite Mud Services Inc.

Summary of Environmental Assessment Process

Project Description:

Buchans Barite Mud Services Inc. is proposing to re-start the Buchans DevelopmentCorporation owned barite operation in order to recycle remaining base-metal tailings fromASARCO’s Buchans mine and to extract and concentrate barite for sale and use as drillingmud to be used in Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil industry. This is a brownfieldoperation and will process tailings currently stored in a tailings pond (TP1). Tailings will beremoved from TP1 via dredging. No new construction is required. Approximately 40,000 -50,000 tonnes will be removed per season to make 10,000 tonnes of barite product.Extraction operations will commence in early May and continue until late October annually.The operation is anticipated to start during the summer of 2014 and continue for aminimum of 15 years.

  • May 15, 2014 – The undertaking was registered.
  • June 20, 2014 – Deadline for public comments.
  • June 29, 2014 – The Minister’s decision is due.
  • July 11, 2014 – The Minister announced that the project is released.

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