Terrestrial Wildlife and Migratory Birdss3.amazonaws.com/.../bimc_presentation-terrestrial... · this presentation 14 . Terrestrial Wildlife and Habitat (FEIS Volume 6, Section 5.0)

Terrestrial Wildlife and

Migratory Birds

Panel Members

Oliver Curran Michael Anderson Joe Tigullaraq Mike Setterington John Binns

2

This panel will address:

Vegetation (FEIS Volume 6, Section 3.0)

Migratory Birds and Habitat (FEIS Volume 6, Section 4.0)

Terrestrial Wildlife and Habitat (FEIS Volume 6, Section 5.0)

3

Key NIRB Issues

This panel will also address NIRB issues: (b) Design considerations for construction and operation of a

railway under arctic conditions, including management plans for mitigation of potential impacts to caribou and terrestrial wildlife

(h) ... potential impact of shipping ... wake effects on birds

4

Vegetation (FEIS Volume 6, Section 3.0)

Key Issues Considered Project footprint Plant health Invasive species Reclamation

5

Mitigation — Vegetation Terrestrial Environment Management and Mitigation Plan (TEMMP) Section 3.1.1: Minimize footprint (0.36% of the RSA) Invasive species best management practices Re-vegetation research plots to determine best

reclamation approaches for north Baffin Island

6

Migratory Birds and Habitat (FEIS Volume 6, Section 4.0)

Key indicators: Peregrine Falcon Snow Goose Common and King Eider Red-throated Loon Thick-billed Murre Lapland Longspur Species at Risk

7

Key Issues Considered

Habitat loss Mortality Health

8

Baseline

Several years of seabird and land bird surveys Collaboration with Environment Canada on

seabird studies in Hudson Strait Collaboration with Arctic Raptors Inc. on falcon studies

for several years

9

10

11

Mitigation Terrestrial Minimize project footprint General mitigation for bird habitat — TEMMP 3.2.1 Subject to Transport Canada Regulations, flight paths

and altitudes to avoid disturbance Nest Management Plan — TEMMP 3.2.2

Do not destroy nests Minimize disturbance to birds

Environment Canada Guidelines Marine

Shipping route > 2 km from seabird colonies Avoid key marine bird habitats

12

Ship Wake Effects Concern: Ship wakes will impact on nesting shore birds Analyses conducted in FEIS Volume 8, App. 8D-2

Concluded most wakes reaching shoreline are minimal (much less than natural variation)

Environment Canada is satisfied with additional analyses (EC Final Submission EC-4.6, pg. 26)

Conclusion is no significant effect from ship wakes Conducted shoreline nest searches in 2012 on potentially

impacted and control shorelines to provide a basis for follow-up monitoring

13

FEIS Conclusion Minor changes in distribution may occur as birds move to less

disturbed habitat nearby, the overall effect on these birds is expected to be minimal.

Considering design and mitigation measures that minimize impacts on migratory birds, the assessment concludes that the Project will have a not significant effect on bird population dynamics and habitat (FEIS Volume 6, Section 4.13)

Assessment recommended follow up discussed at the end of this presentation

14

Terrestrial Wildlife and Habitat (FEIS Volume 6, Section 5.0)

Key Indicator Caribou Wolves were a subject of note

15

Caribou Issue scoping through community meetings, working groups, workshops and NIRB guidelines

Key Issues considered: Habitat Movement Mortality Health

16

Baseline

Traditional Knowledge Historic harvest records Historic document review Surveys — aerial, ground (scat, antlers, bones) Government of Nunavut caribou collaring program

17

Population and Habitat

North Baffin Island caribou herd Approximate 70 year population cycle Currently  low  in  numbers  (in  the  ‘100s) Decline probably due to lack of food Non-migratory, and calving occurs in high, barren areas Traditional knowledge was a key element of the baseline and

impact assessment.

18

19

20

Mitigation — Habitat (TEMMP 3.3.1)

Minimizing the Project footprint Limit sensory disturbances Dust suppression Reclamation Special care taken during the calving period between 15 May –

15 July

21

Mitigation — Movement (TEMMP 3.3.2)

Snow bank management to allow animal passage Baffinland surveyed the proposed rail route for caribou paths -

embankments will be created at crossings as per guidelines provided by QIA

Operator awareness, report caribou sightings between trains and trucks

On-site crossing inspection with elders and hunters Crossings could be modified with gentler slopes if caribou

deflections are detected Caribou likely to adapt to consistent train set passes.

22

23

Mitigation — Mortality (TEMMP 3.3.3)

Baffinland supports a no hunting/fishing policy for Baffinland employees Baffinland and QIA are in discussions respecting the application of

hunting/fishing to Inuit employees Wildlife right-of-way policy on Project infrastructure. Operator awareness, report caribou sightings between trains and trucks Adjusting speed limits to allow caribou time to get off the road or rail, and

will increase the chance of a vehicle being able to stop before collision The train is expected to operate 360 days per year, but operational flexibility

could allow for flexibility in train traffic if large groups of migratory caribou return to the area.

Design and implement means of deterring caribou from the pits and other hazardous areas.

24

Mitigation  ―  Health  (TEMMP 3.3.4)

Project-related health effects on caribou is expected to be dustfall. Dust suppression and other mitigation measures related to air

quality are detailed in the Air Quality and Noise Abatement Management Plan (Volume 10, Appendix 10D-1). No additional mitigation measures for caribou health were identified.

25

FEIS Conclusion After design and mitigation, the Project is expected to cause no significant effects on caribou habitat, movement, mortality and health (FEIS Volume 6, Section 5.4 and Table 6-5.9)

26

Effects Monitoring

Terrestrial Environment Management and Monitoring Plan (FEIS Volume 10, Appendix 10D-11) Monitoring Principles Monitor and verify potential effects related to the Project; Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures; Identify unanticipated effects; Monitor effects where predictions were based on weak data; Provide an early warning of undesirable change in the

environment; and Inform adaptive management measures.

27

Monitoring Plans Vegetation Invasive species Vegetation health Birds Falcon nesting Eider and Red Knot nesting Seabird migration and overwintering Songbirds and shorebirds

28

Monitoring Plans

Caribou General distribution Calving habitat use Movement in the zone of

influence Mortality risk Health Productivity

29

Adaptive Strategies (TEMMP Sec. 6.0)

Implemented when unexpected impacts are observed or if impacts are larger than predicted and exceed the predefined thresholds.

If impacts to vegetation, birds, or terrestrial wildlife exceed identified thresholds, then local HTOs, regulators, Baffinland’s specialists, Baffinland’s EHS Superintendent and other stakeholders will meet to discuss mitigation options that will remove or reduce the impact in question.

30

Terrestrial Wildlife Working Group

Provide direction on key monitoring indicators, methods, schedule, reporting, and adaptive management approaches

QIA, GN, EC, other stakeholders. Review progress regularly Develop monitoring details as project proceeds Advise and oversee adaptive management of unexpected

impacts

31