The proposed Kipawa Rare Earths mine and other active mining claims lie within the traditional territory of two Algonquin First Nations
(Kebaowek and Wolf Lake). To date these communities have not provided their consent to mining within their traditional territory and have called upon the Quebec government to impose a moratorium on rare earth mining in Quebec.
Mining projects in the area currently do not have social license, the area relies heavily on tourism. The area draws tourists who fish, canoe, camp, hunt and vacation on Kipawa Lake and the surrounding area including the Opemican national park. There are several outfitting operations, recreational businesses as well as private camps and cottages. The area is of cultural and ecological significance to the Alqonguin First Nation communities who use the territory for hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering.
In 2013 Golder conducted a feasibility study for the Kipawa Rare Earths Project which identified:
- 3 protected areas within a few kilometers of the proposed site:
- An ecological reserve
- An exceptional forest system
- 2 biological refuges (located 300 meters North of open pit and 3 km South of tailings)
- Just over 5 km away:
- Old growth forests of Lac-Richelieu
- Lac-Malakisis ecological reserve
- Field surveys identified protected, vulnerable and threatened species including:
- Protected plant species:
- Northeastern bladderwort
- Northern maidenhair fern
- Bur-reed sedge
- Protected bird species:
- Olive-sided flycatcher
- Common nighthawk
- Canada warbler
- Chimney swift
- Rusty black bird
- Bald Eagle
- Protected reptile species
- Northern ringneck snake
- Snapping turtle
- Water sampling determined nearby lakes to be sensitive to acidification
- Project is located near several important recreational fishing lakes
- Upper Kipawa River (Sheffield and Sairs Lakes)
- Within Zec Restigo a controlled harvest zone
- Project site located upstream of Kipawa Lake, Lower Kipawa River, Gordon Creek, Lake Temiscaming and Ottawa River
- 28 species of fish in the region, including spawning grounds for:
- Walleye (Sander vitreus)
- Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
- Brook Trout (Salvelinus frontalis)
- Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)
- Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
- Proposed mine site is covered by 2 Red Oak/Sugar Maple stands and 1 Red Oak/Red Maple stand (25 hectares of valuable tree stands)
- Wetland communities include:
- Swamps
- Marshes
- Ponds
- Fens and bogs
- Area is rich in biodiversity
- Many mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species
- White-tailed deer, moose, black bear, coyote, Canada lynx, gray wolf, red fox, North American beaver, river otter and mink
- 81 bird species
- 18 water fowl and aquatic bird species
- 4 species of nocturnal raptors
- 6 species of diurnal raptors
- 11 species of amphibians
- 6 reptile species
- Potential Socio-cultural impacts:
- Environmental changes
- Noise and vibration
- Relocation of camps
- Effects on recreational use
- Disturbance to archeological sites (2 identified near proposed project)
- Visual modification to landscape
- Increased traffic on Maniwaki road
- Modifications to biophysical and social environment
- According to Zorilla (2009):
- Mining companies rarely hire from the local workforce. Workers from outside the area are often brought in
- Mining communities often see an increase in alcoholism, prostitution, sexual assault, rape and sexually transmitted infections or diseases
- Loss of income can occur particularly in areas that rely heavily on tourism as mining areas may no longer be attractive to tourists
- Communities may become impoverished due to increases in taxes and cost of living and higher wages going only to a small segment of the population.
- Communities may no longer have access to fish, wild game, edible plants or medicinal herbs.
- Cultural, archeological and spiritual sites may be destroyed during mining.
- The impacts on human health may be many
Keboawek (formerly Eagle Village) and Wolf Lake First Nations have identified additional Socio-Cultural impacts for their communities.