At COGEMA Resources, our responsibility does not end when Cluff Lake operations are suspended in the year 2000. We want to return the land to a safe and productive natural state suitable for future uses. To complete this natural progression, we are developing a final decommissioning plan... and that's where you come in. We want your ideas. Tell us what you think.

Completing the Circle

COGEMA Resources' Cluff Lake mine is approaching the final stages of its life cycle - a natural progression from exploration and discovery in the early 1970's to decommissioning and site rehabilitation following a planned suspension of operations in the year 2000.

Why Stop Production?

What Happens Now?

What Is Decommissioning?

How Will The Public Be Involved?

How Do We Plan For Decommissioning?

What About Social And Economic Impacts?

What Are The Key Issues?

Who Are You Going To Call?

Cluff Lake Site Map

Why Stop Production?

The decision to suspend operations at Cluff Lake was announced in August 1998. The reasons are economic:

• In its present form, the mine is only marginally economic.
• Today's uranium prices are too low to sustain operations at Cluff Lake.
• Under current economic conditions, the mine does not have the reserves necessary to support investment in a new tailings management facility which will be required in the year 2000.

What Happens Now?

COGEMA will continue to look at market conditions to assess the future of the Cluff site.

In the meantime, facilities not required will be decommissioned with the existing Tailings Management Area (TMA) being one of the first.

During the suspension of operations, a small crew will remain to monitor facilities and safeguard the environment.

Before and After: The Claude open pit mine at Cluff Lake (shown above) during the mining phase. Below is a photo of Cluff's first open pit mine - "D" Pit - after decommissioning.

What Is Decommissioning?

The process of decommissioning a mine site involves the following:

• Making the site physically stable and free from long-term pollution potential.
• Taking the land back to its original condition.
• Providing a safe environment for people and wildlife.

To achieve these goals, COGEMA's decommissioning plan provides details on issues such as...

• Engineered rock and soil covers to be constructed over the Tailings Management Area.
• Re-sloping the surfaces of the waste rock piles.
• Partial backfilling and flooding of the open pits.
• Dismantling and disposal (or other final use) of buildings, equipment and facilities.
• Techniques to revegetate the site.

Decommissioning the Tailings Management Area

Decommissioning a Mine Rock Pile and an Open Pit Mine

How Will The Public Be Involved?

To actively encourage public participation, COGEMA Resources will...

• Inform the public about the project and answer any questions.
• Identify and discuss issues and concerns about the project.
• Discuss various alternatives.
• Discuss the recommended proposal.

The West Site EQC viewing the DJX Pit

West Side communities and the West Side Environmental Quality Committee will be the focus of public involvement through meetings, tours and workshops. Other individuals and groups with an interest in this project will also be involved. When the decommissioning plan is complete, final approval is in the hands of federal and provincial regulatory agencies.

How would you like to participate?

How Do We Plan For Decommissioning?

Whatever the mine's future, we are preparing a plan for its ultimate decommissioning. The plan will answer several questions:

• How will the suspension of operations occur?
• What will happen to the buildings, equipment, contaminated materials and the site itself?
• How will the environment be protected over the long term?
• What are the northern employment and business opportunities?
• How can northerners participate in planning, monitoring and other aspects of the decommissioning process?

The decommissioning plan will set out the management systems to be employed, identify detailed work programs, and specify safety and environmental protection procedures. Issues like public involvement and alternative technical designs will be discussed. Also to be evaluated is the environmental impact on the downstream biological community for the next 10,000 years.

What steps do you think should be involved in the planning process?

What About Social And Economic Impacts?

Cluff's resident trapper continued his activities throughout the site's development and operation.

To help link socio-economic issues and values to environmental concerns, surveys of present and former employees have been conducted, along with interviews of West Side community leaders, residents, elders and business people.

COGEMA employees who lose their jobs will receive advance notice and severance packages... and opportunities to provide additional assistance are being investigated.

COGEMA employees will be used for decommissioning activities as much as feasible.

Will the Cluff Lake decommissioning affect your lifestyle or livelihood? What about others in your community?

What Are The Key Issues?

A number of public concerns or issues have been raised during reviews of other projects and at workshops with the West Side Environmental Quality Committee (EQC). These can be divided into four categories:

Public Involvement

• Northern and local input into decommissioning plans.
• Northern participation (including the EQC) in monitoring and decommissioning.
• Effective and ongoing consultation during and after the decommissioning planning and implementation.
• Impact communities should be part of the final decommissioning approval process.

Employment and Business Effects

• Impact community and northern access to employment and business opportunities arising from Cluff Lake decommissioning.
• Loss of jobs, business and government revenue when operations cease before reserves are depleted.
• Potential use of camp buildings and other Cluff facilities such as the airstrip after the mine closes.
• West Side residents involved in environmental research as trainees, and with sponsorships for post secondary education in monitoring and engineering.

Community and Health Impacts

• Worker health and safety practices while decommissioning.
• The long-term impact of a decommissioned facility on human health and safety.
• Monitoring lands traditionally used by northern communities after the mine is gone.
• Potential social and economic impacts of mine closure.
• Other benefits beyond northern employment and business opportunities.

Environmental Concerns

• The impact of air and water emissions on water, soil, fish, animals, birds and plants - particularly those resources important to people - after several decades.
• Chemicals that go into the tailings.
• Long-term integrity and monitoring of tailings and their cumulative effects.
• A contingency fund is required to deal with environmental issues in the long term, regardless of the financial status of the mining company.
• Wildlife monitoring, independent northern monitoring and northern involvement in decommissioning.
• Revegetate with native plant species.

What concerns you the most about this project?

Who Are You Going To Call?

If you have any questions or concerns about the Cluff Lake Decommissioning Plan, we invite your comments and participation in finding solutions that best satisfy the needs and expectations of all stakeholders.

COGEMA Resources, Saskatoon

TOLL FREE!
1-888-9COGEMA
(1-888-926-4362)

COGEMA Resources Northern Affairs

• La Ronge: Morris Onyskevitch (306) 425-6880
• Buffalo Narrows: Joe Whitehawk (306) 235-4555

West Side Environmental Quality Committee

• Beauval: Sandy Rediron (306) 288-2110
• Birch Narrows First Nation: Chief Robert Sylvestre (306) 236-6184
• Buffalo Narrows: Raymond Laliberte (306) 221-4822
• Buffalo River First Nation (Dillion): Lawrence Chanalquay (306) 282-2033
• English River First Nation (Patuanak): Norman Wolverine (306) 396-2066
• Green Lake: Gerald Regan (306) 832-2131
• Ile-a-la-Crosse: Jim Favel (306) 833-2467
• Jans Bay: Louis Morin (306) 829-4320
• La Loche: John Janvier (306) 822-2032
• Michel Village: Ernest Sylvestre (306) 282-4401
• Patuanak: Ernie Laliberte (306) 396-2006
• St. George's Hill: Edward Lalonde (306) 282-4408

Or If You Prefer...

Write or fax your questions or comments to:

Alun Richards
COGEMA Resources Inc.
Box 9204
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7K 3X5
Fax: (306) 653-1126
e-mail: publicrelations@areva.ca

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