Summary of the Task Force meeting of September 28, 2022

The Wasamac Task Force held its 15^th meeting on September 28, 2022 at the Club de l’Âge d’Or d’Évain. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an update on the project, the advanced exploration phase, and the community consultation process, and to hear the progress report on the environmental impact assessment (EIA). As the group does each month, they also examined incoming reports from area residents.

The group welcomed new faces: Audrey Boucher, new resident on rang des Cavaliers, taking an alternate’s seat for that sector; and Chantal Vallières, a new community relations officer for Yamana. Jean-François Poulin, director of the environmental impact assessment being conducted by WSP, was also in attendance.

The meeting began with some follow-ups and updates, notably concerning community relations activities, consultations with stakeholders and interested parties, and residential inspections that have been carried out on some 10 properties. Additional information was then presented in a follow-up to the company’s applications for advanced exploration. Martin Duclos, director of Health, Safety, Environment and Permits and Marc-André Lavergne, general manager, regional and Wasamac of Yamana Gold, presented the preliminary intentions for the temporary surface infrastructure site and the tailings facility. Discussions and presentations were focused on water management, tailings disposal, hydrogeological impacts, wetland compensation and access and trucking routes. A schedule of next steps and work up to summer 2023 was also included in the minutes.

Also on the agenda was a progress report on the environmental impact assessment (EIA). First, Martin Duclos explained the decisions and contextual elements that led to delays in the production of the various studies, in particular: relocation of the preferred site for the tailings facility to Aldemac; evaluation of the project based on the assumption of a daily tonnage of 9,000 tonnes; optimization of the engineering; and issues around being the first mining project subject to new federal impact assessment legislation. Jean-François Poulin then reviewed the steps taken thus far, the work in progress, and future deliverables. The consultation and coordination process to determine and improve the project's different mitigation measures will proceed after the initial filing of the EIA during the question-and-answer period with the various government agencies.

To read the detailed report of the meeting:https://www.wasamac-consultations.com/20630/widgets/83491/documents/93095