By: Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration and Government Advisory Committee
The Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration and Government Advisory Committee (SMEGAC) was established in 2001 to provide a consolidated process for consultation and information exchange between the Saskatchewan mineral exploration industry and the Government of Saskatchewan on environmental and natural resource management and concerns facing the mineral exploration industry.
SMEGAC consists of representatives from provincial regulatory bodies and mineral exploration companies belonging to the Saskatchewan Mining Association (SMA) that are active in the province.
Provincial regulatory bodies include the ministries of Environment, Economy, Government Relations and Health and potentially other agencies such as the Water Security Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Industry representatives consist of a diverse set of companies such as Cameco, Rio Tinto, Orano, Denison Mines, SSR Mining, K+S Potash, Nutrien and Mosaic.
In May 2008, SMEGAC was awarded the APEGS Award for Environmental Excellence for their development of the mineral exploration guidelines for Saskatchewan. The guidelines provide information to assist in the planning, initiation and completion of a mineral exploration program in a fashion that will help minimize environmental impacts and meet relevant legislative requirements.
The guidelines comprise a set of best management practices (BMP) that outline what is considered the industry’s best techniques and processes broken down by exploration activity. The BMP’s are living documents that reflect both evolving government regulations and the on-going, hard-earned experiences of the exploration companies in the field.
In addition to development of the BMP guidelines, the committee works along with the SMA to streamline the mineral exploration permitting process, advocate for efficient staffing levels in the regulating bodies, improve stakeholder consultation and provide input into government programs.
The committee is organized by two joint chairs, one from the Government of Saskatchewan and one representing industry. At present, those chairs are Tracey Charabin of the Ministry of Environment and Scott Frostad of Purepoint Uranium. Each provided their thoughts on the potential benefits of the committee’s joint structure.
“SMEGAC meets regularly throughout the year and this provides opportunity for real time discussion regarding what is happening in the field and the expectations from a regulatory perspective. SMEGAC also provides an excellent opportunity for relationship building between regulatory staff and the companies. Discussions are robust and diverse in the issues dealt with and ultimately result in enhanced understanding and outcomes in the field,” Charabin said.
“SMEGAC allows our company to discuss, as a group, the environmental challenges of fieldwork with government regulators and other SMA members. At our meetings, I’ve learned of potential environmental issues that our company has not yet faced, and I’ve also heard regulators describe environmental incidents they’ve attended and how best to avoid their occurrence. I consider our resulting BMPs an essential resource for exploration companies working in the province,” Frostad added.
Next year will mark the 20th year of SMEGAC’s activities, providing a good example of what can be accomplished by both companies and regulators working together to improve environmental and sustainability practices in the province.
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