The government of New Brunswick has acknowledged that none of the 40 conditions set for the Sisson Mine project have been met almost ten years since they were attached to the province’s environmental impact assessment approval. This acknowledgment is providing environmentalists with additional grounds in their opposition to the significant resource project planned to be developed northwest of Fredericton.
Environment Minister Gilles LePage recently informed reporters at the legislature that the compliance with the 40 conditions is still pending, with 28 of them required to be fulfilled before construction commences. Critics argue that the conditions, issued in 2015, were inadequate and have become outdated over the past decade.
Allyson Heustis, the executive director of the Nashwaak Watershed Association, expressed skepticism about the project’s environmental standards, stating that the association officially opposes the mine as initially proposed, considering the lack of compliance with the conditions.
The conditions include a water quality monitoring plan, air quality approval, modeling for potential tailings pond failures, an emergency response plan, and a requirement to start construction within five years. The provincial government has extended the construction deadline twice already, in 2020 and 2022, and recently extended it again for another five years, until 2030.
The Sisson Mine is planned to extract tungsten and molybdenum, essential minerals used in energy applications such as batteries and military purposes. The project was estimated a decade ago to generate $280 million in royalties for the government over the planned 27-year operation period.
The federal government recently referred the mine to its Major Projects Office as part of efforts to reduce China’s dominance in the global critical minerals market. The major project designation could expedite federal regulatory approvals, with the provincial government advocating for offtake agreements and a price floor to ensure the sale of the minerals at a viable price.
Despite the approval granted in 2015, the project has not progressed significantly due to fluctuating mineral prices in the global market, making investors hesitant to support the venture. Environmentalist Lawrence Wuest highlighted the importance of fulfilling conditions such as financial guarantees for cleanup costs to attract private investment in the mine.
The government emphasizes the need to align the project with current environmental regulations, noting changes in wetland mapping and species at risk identification since 2015. Critics argue that the project’s fundamental design, including the tailings pond, is outdated and should warrant a new environmental impact assessment.
First Nations’ acceptance of the project hinges on meeting the 40 conditions, with an accommodation agreement signed between the Wolastoqey chiefs and the province in 2017. The chiefs have emphasized the importance of maintaining the conditions established for the mine.
Despite challenges and uncertainties surrounding the project, Northcliff Resources plans to make a final investment decision around 2027, with construction to follow pending approval. CEO Andrew Ing has not responded to interview requests from CBC News.