Prodigy Gold Incorporated - Permit for activities to achieve an overall benefit to a species

Prodigy Gold Incorporated has submitted a proposal in relation to an overall benefit permit under clause 17(2)(c) of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 with respect to two species of bat:

• Little Brown Myotis
• Northern Myotis

The permit is to develop an open pit mine within Finan Township.

The proposed works have the potential to adversely affect Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis and their habitat.

Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 protects species that are listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as either extirpated, endangered or threatened. If a species is endangered or threatened, its habitat also receives protection under section 10 of the Act.

The minister may issue a permit under clause 17(2)(c) of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 that authorizes a person to engage in an activity that would otherwise be prohibited by sections 9 or 10 of the Act if the minister believes that:

• an overall benefit to the species will be achieved within a reasonable time through requirements imposed by conditions of the permit
• reasonable alternatives have been considered, including alternatives that would not adversely affect the species, and the best alternative has been adopted
• reasonable steps to minimize adverse effects on individual members of the species are required by conditions of the permit

Providing an overall benefit to a protected species under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 means improving circumstances for the species in Ontario. Overall benefit is:

• more than “no net loss” or an exchange of “like for like”
• grounded in the protection and recovery of the species at risk
• must include more than mitigation measures or “replacing” what is lost

Actions to achieve an overall benefit to species

Prodigy Gold Incorporated is working to identify proposed actions (during design, construction, etc.) that would achieve an overall benefit for Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis. These may include:

• designing and constructing an artificial hibernaculum to replace the hibernaculum on the property
• monitoring the artificial hibernaculum annually and reporting to MECP for at least three years
• creating 20 artificial roosting structures to provide summer roosting habitat will be installed and maintained at the mine site
• using the artificial roosting structures for occupancy monitoring annually for three years and reported to MECP

Reasonable alternatives being considered

Reasonable alternatives are being considered, including alternatives that would not adversely affect Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis. These may include:

• not proceeding with the proposed mine
• establishing the mine elsewhere
• building an underground mine rather than an open pit

The best alternative for carrying out the project involves:

• constructing the open pit mine
• taking steps to minimize impact to Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis and their habitat

Actions to minimize adverse effects on the species

Potential approaches to minimizing adverse effects on Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis may include:

• ensuring no bats are present within the existing hibernaculum prior to construction, deferring construction on open pit until after the bat hibernation period is over
• conducting all tree clearing during the overwintering period
• carrying out progressive rehabilitation of associated infrastructure when no longer required
• providing species awareness training for employees and contractors

Other information

Canada's recovery strategy for Little Brown and Northern Myotis (Environment and Climate Change Canada 2018) ranks White Nose Syndrome as the greatest threats facing bats and research into "techniques to prevent or reduce the spread, mitigate the effects of, and/or treat WNS as a high priority.

A government response statement under subsection 11(8) of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 for Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis has not been prepared.

Please note that the posting of this proposal on the Environmental Registry does not imply that a permit will be approved. A permit may only be issued where the legal requirements set out in clause 17(2)(c) of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 have been satisfied.