Mary River Project

Project Overview

The Mary River Project is located on Baffin Island in the Qikiqtani Region of Nunavut, Canada. The project is approved as a 22.2 million tonne per year (Mtpa) open pit iron ore mining operation, with a railway over continuous permafrost and year-round shipping using ice breaking bulk carriers. An initial 4.2 Mtpa operation was commissioned in 2015.

Project Role

Knight Piésold provided environmental services for the project for more than 20 years starting in 2004, including:

• Traditional knowledge/Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit studies
• Environmental assessment lead on freshwater, socio-economics, accidents and malfunctions, cumulative effects
• Developed the aquatic effects monitoring plan
• Public consultation support
• Ongoing permitting support (water licensing, Fisheries Act authorizations)
• Regulatory support including annual environmental reporting
• Mine closure planning
• Groundwater monitoring
• Lead consultant on the original environmental impact statement
• Lead consultant on water licensing

In addition, Knight Piésold provided engineering services, including:

• Geotechnical engineering investigations supporting mine, rail, road, and port infrastructure, including offshore drilling at dock locations
• Site water management planning and design
• Road crossing upgrades, including design and fish passage assessments
• Geomechanical investigations and design of open pit and railway cuts and tunnels
• Pre-feasibility study of renewable energy alternatives (hydroelectric and wind)
• Engineering support to advanced exploration and bulk sample programs