Artemis Gold Inc.’s Post

Transcript

The environment has been a passion of mine. Like a lot of other people, I like working outdoors and it's something that you really need to protect for future generations. I want to make sure if someone was in my backyard, that we would protect it. And that's exactly how I feel for the First Nations communities. Upper management is very good at conveying how important the environment is, and protecting the environment isn't something that should conflict with your job description or tasks. It's something that's a part of your job. The environmental conditions and permissions that we have to build and operate this mine are complex and are numerous. We have a full team of industry professionals and scientists and monitors who are helping us comply with all those rules, and we have built an infrastructure and a management protocol that makes sure that we remain on track on all of those conditions. There was a lot of consultation with the First Nation communities during the environment assessment process, and that also translated into the number of management plans that we have to follow. The environment programs at Blackwater are quite extensive. We have over 50 management plans, from a soil management plan to an aquatic effects monitoring program. All of those management plans are implemented and will be implemented for the life of mine. Water quality is pretty important because it's the most important part of the land. Trying to keep it as clean as we can in our territory. Something to be proud of. In a typical day, we���ll ensure that downstream environments are monitored and water quality is maintained. Caribou monitoring, any required amphibian or bird denning species surveys before any work. We have a bi-weekly meeting with the First Nation communities where we do touch base, give project status updates and hear any potential concerns. We have really, really extensive habitat offsetting programs for wildlife, aquatics, fish. One of our fish habitat projects is the Lake 15/16 connector channel. And basically ensuring that clean, non-contact water is diverted away from site. This area of Davidson Creek, we���ve done a fish recovery and relocation program. We've completed, I believe, over 40km, 18,000 fish and relocated them. And it was a very successful program. Myself and the team are always eager to make sure it's done right and to compliance, not with just the regulators, but the First Nations as well.