Report on the Task Force Meeting of September 21, 2021

This fifth meeting of the Task Force was the first of a series of meetings on different subjects within the framework of the environmental assessment study. The group’s choice of first topic was unequivocal: water, which has long been a concern and a frequently mentioned priority for the neighbourhood. The purpose of the meeting was therefore to draw a portrait of the concerns collected to date, gauge the group’s interest in tackling this subject in greater depth, and collect, study, and reflect on new concerns or avenues of discussion that would advance the thinking on this subject. The meeting was also an opportunity to present progress reports on the exploration program, the environmental assessment study and, more specifically, the previous meeting’s discussion of the report on the characterization of residential wells.

Next, prefacing the discussions, a presentation of terminology and key concepts around the topic of water was done by Martin Duclos, Yamana Gold’s Director of Health, Environment and Permits. Also presented were summaries of previous hydrogeological studies, an overview of the monitoring done of the mining operations, and environmental follow-ups carried out by the provincial and federal governments. The discussion was then structured around the list of citizens’ concerns, which were compiled at coffee meetings held by Richmont Mines and Monarch Gold; the consultations held by the Canadian Impact Assessment Agency; and the document listing neighbours’ concerns presented during the recent site tours. The objectives of the discussion were to clarify the list of fears and concerns, validate the level of popularization of the contents, highlight the issues and opportunities for the Task Force and, finally, identify the need for future activities with the entire neighbourhood on the subject.

Lastly, the meeting provided an opportunity to follow up on the monthly reports, plan the next meetings, and present the approach of the sub-group that will soon begin updating and improving the Property Value Maintenance Program (PMVP) and the Commitment Project related to the potential impacts of the advanced exploration program (Richmont Mine).

Read the detailed report