Stake holder involvement in the Canadian review process for uranium production projects in Northern Saskatchewan

This report describes the Canadian environmental review process for uranium production projects as a case study for the purpose of understanding the nature and value of stakeholder involvement in the management of radiological hazards. While the Canadian review process potentially applies to any development, this case study focuses on the assessment of the uranium projects of northern Saskatchewan conducted during the 1990's. It describes the environmental assessment (EA) conducted in the 1990's for six new uranium facilities (including mines and mills and related tailings disposal sites) planned in northern Saskatchewan. Both the Canadian federal and the Saskatchewan provincial government have extensive environmental review processes that must under law be complete before any major industrial development judged to have potential environmental impacts is undertaken within their respective territories. However, even in those instances where no clear potential environmental impacts are evident, Canadian law mandates 'if public concern about the proposal is such that a public review is desirable, the initiating department shall refer the proposal to the Minister for review by a Panel'. (Wh95) As a stakeholder under law, in both Canada and Saskatchewan, the public plays an important role in the environmental review process. To encourage participation and assist the public in its review the two governments may provide funding (as done in this review) to assist qualified individuals or groups to participant in the review process. The first section of this case study sets the scene. It describes the Saskatchewan uranium mining story, focusing on how the importance of the public stakeholder evolved to become a major component, under law, in the EA process for new uranium mines. This increase in stakeholder involvement opportunities coincided with heightened public concern for the socio-economic impacts of the projects. In the late 1980's both governments were advised by proponents of their intent to develop new uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan. This resulted in Canada and Saskatchewan cooperating in 1991 to establish the Joint Federal/Provincial Panel on Uranium Mining Developments in Northern Saskatchewan (Canada-Saskatchewan) (the Panel) to conduct an EA of the proposed projects. This Panel employed a public hearing process for intensive consultation with all stakeholders. The second part of this case study describes the Panel review process. It recounts how the Panel consulted with public stakeholders, and then took into consideration the input and stakeholders concerns in reporting the results of the review and decisions regarding recommendations for development of the uranium projects. It includes a description of how stakeholders were identified and involved in the review process, together with the important outcomes. The third part of the case study examines the effects of the environmental review. Indications of the relative success of the stakeholder involvement process are given in the opinions expressed in a workshop held in 1998 to review the Panel process. Most participants agreed the Panel hearings contributed by improving projects and developing additional benefits that may not have otherwise occurred. (author)