News Release
Hopes Advance Mining Project – Public Comments Invited

OTTAWA – October 11, 2012 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has determined that a federal environmental assessment is required pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 for the proposed Hopes Advance Mining Project located near Aupaluk in Nunavik. The Agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment.

The public can review and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines, a document that identifies potential environmental effects to be taken into consideration and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS.

The project consists of the construction, operation and decommissioning of an open-pit iron ore mine near Aupaluk, in Nunavik. The proponent estimates that the mine will generate from 10 to 20 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate product per year over a planned operation period of 48 years with a daily average extraction rate of 72,000 to 144,000 tonnes. The ore would be concentrated by a process based on gravity separation. For the shipment of the iron ore to European and Asian markets, the proponent is proposing to construct a marine terminal consisting of a 330 meter loading wharf, a tug moorage area, a commercial wharf and a causeway. The concentrate would then be pumped to the marine terminal through a 26 km long pipeline for shipping.

Written comments must be submitted by November 12, 2012 to:

Hopes Advance Mining Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
901 - 1550 d'Estimauville Avenue
Quebec QC G1J 5E9
Telephone: 418-649-6444
Fax: 418-649-6443
ProjetHopesAdvanceProject@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

To view the draft EIS Guidelines or for more information, visit the Agency's website (registry reference number 80008). All comments received will be considered public.

Following this comment period, the Agency will finalize and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent. An application period for participant funding and a future public comment period related to the EIS will be announced later.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

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For more information, media may contact:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Céline Legault
Communications Advisor
Tel.: 613-957-0278