Section 2.8 Environmental Management Page 1370 New

Section 2.8 Environmental Management Page 1370

New Prosperity Environmental Impact Statement

September 2012

2.8 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

The following section outlines an Environmental Management System (EMS) for the New Prosperity Project.

An overview of the Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) is provided in Section 2.8.1. This series of written plans that will comprise the EMS will be designed to form the basis for more detailed procedures to be developed concurrent with project permitting and associated construction and commissioning phases.

The Decommissioning and Closure Plan is provided in Section 2.8.2.

Section 2.8.3 presents Monitoring and Follow-up Programs, and discusses adaptive management as a means of addressing unforeseen effects or for correcting exceedances.

The EMS is a structured system that Taseko will utilize to manage its regulatory and environmental commitments in a cost efficient manner. It is also a tool that will control New Prosperity Project’s environmental effects as identified during the Environmental Assessment.

Environmental Policy

Taseko is committed to continual improvement in the protection of human health and stewardship of the natural environment.

In order to fulfill this commitment throughout all stages of development, construction, operation and closure of the New Prosperity Project, Taseko will:

1. Prevent pollution, within the bounds of the operation

2. Comply with relevant environmental legislation, regulations, and corporate requirements

3. Integrate environmental policies, programs, and practices into all activities regarding the Project

4. Ensure that all employees understand their environmental responsibilities and encourage dialogue on environmental issues

5. Develop, maintain, and test emergency preparedness plans to ensure protection of the environment, workers and the public

6. Work with Government and the public to develop effective and efficient measures to improve protection of the environment, based on sound science, and

7. Establish and maintain an environmental committee to review environmental performance and ensure continued recognition of environmental issues as a high priority.

Objectives and Targets

Table 2.8-1 outlines the priority objectives required to ensure New Prosperity meets the Environmental Policy. Measurable targets and performance indicators will be set for each environmental component with the approvals and permits.



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Table 2.8-1 New Prosperity Project–Priority Objectives

Surface Water and Groundwater

Prevent offsite impacts on water quality due to mining activity

Fisheries (Loss of Fish and Fish

Habitat)

Preserve Fish Lake and is fishery; implement a successful fish compensation plan

Air Emissions Achieve or beat target air emissions objectives

Wildlife and habitat Minimize land disturbance and practice progressive reclamation; implement a habitat compensation plan

Regulatory/Legal Requirements

Taseko will implement measures to ensure compliance and review reporting performance with relevant environmental legislation and industry standards. Environmental Management Plans will reference and comply with legislation and regulations that will apply to the Project. Applicable legislation and regulations at the time of writing include but are not limited to:

Canadian Environmental Protection Act

Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act

Species at Risk Act

Fisheries Act

Navigable Waters Protection Act

Environmental Management Act

Water Act

Forest and Range Practices Act

Weed Control Act

Mines Act

Wildlife Act

Fisheries Act, and

Heritage Conservation Act.

Environmental Management Team

Essential to the success of any EMS is the clear understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and level of authority that employees and contractors have when working at the mine site.

For the New Prosperity Project, it will be Taseko’s responsibility to clearly define and communicate roles, responsibilities and authorities for implementing the Project’s EMS. This will achieve effective environmental management in line with the environmental policy and permit conditions specified by the regulatory authorities. Taseko will appoint a qualified person to ensure that EMS requirements are



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established, implemented and maintained, and that performance of the EMS is reported to management for review and action. EMS policies, programs and practices will be integrated into management plans and operational controls wherever practical.

All documentation associated with New Prosperity’s EMS will clearly state who is responsible for ensuring the requirements defined are fulfilled. Taseko will be responsible for overall management of the mine and will therefore be responsible to establish employment agreements for employees and contractors, to communicate environmental requirements to them, and to conduct periodic reviews of performance against stated requirements.

The following individuals or positions will play key roles in environmental management for the New Prosperity Mine. Currently planned division of responsibilities is as follows, with details to be finalized in a Responsibility Procedure as the Project advances.

Vice President, Operations is responsible for ensuring that adequate resources are available to the EMS and that site personnel are fulfilling their responsibilities required to achieve environmental commitments.

New Prosperity General Manager is a Taseko employee reporting to the Vice President, Operations, and is responsible for environmental performance as one aspect of his/her overall responsibility for mine operations. The position is responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental requirements and performance of the New Prosperity Project during construction and operations. This position is directly responsible for ensuring that operations carried out by Taseko employees and contractors conform to the plans and standards established in the EMS and that they meet regulatory requirements. The General Manager will support and ensure the integration of EMS programs into project operations and is responsible for allocating adequate resources for EMS implementation. This position also reports actual or anticipated non-compliance and non-performance to Taseko corporate and to regulatory agencies in a timely manner.

Operational Department Heads, reporting to the General Manager, will be responsible for effective implementation of the EMS to achieve environmental permit compliance and uphold the commitments of the Environmental Policy. Issues of non-compliance will be reported to the New Prosperity General Manager.

An Environmental Superintendent, reporting to the General Manager will be responsible for monitoring the performance of the EMS and reporting any actual or anticipated non-compliance or non-performance to the respective Department Head. The Superintendent, like every employee at New Prosperity, has the authority and responsibility to stop a specific activity if there is an environmental issue. The Environmental Coordinator is directly responsible for ensuring that environmental monitoring is undertaken in compliance with regulatory requirements, and for meeting environmental regulatory reporting requirements, including: reporting under the Mine and Reclamation Permit, Waste Management Permit, and other permits, licenses and approvals. The Environmental Coordinator will work with operational staff to plan and implement progressive reclamation, and to monitor performance of mitigation and management systems. This person will also assess needs and develop plans for contingency measures, if monitoring and surveillance plans indicate this is required. This position will also be responsible for the delivery of environmental site orientation and environmental awareness training to all employees.

Environmental Coordinator and Technicians, reporting to the Environmental Superintendent, will be responsible for environmental field sampling and construction monitoring and for compiling this data into reportable formats



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Periodically, there will be a need for consultants and students to provide additional environmental support services.

Direct responsibility and accountability for environmental performance and safety rests with all management and supervisory staff of all departments under the direction of the Department Head. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that workers are properly instructed to work in an environmentally appropriate manner, and to meet standards associated with their specific jobs. They will be supported in the delivery and documentation of the environmental policy, operational procedures, training materials, inspections, task observations, and auditing by the Environmental Coordinator.

All permanent and contract employees have the responsibility to adhere to the procedures, guidelines, plans, and environmental objectives in their area of responsibility and for immediately reporting any environmental issue to the respective Department Head or to the Environmental Coordinator. All site personnel, whether Taseko employee or contract worker, will be held accountable to work in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Further to this, all worksite personnel will be expected to work in accordance with all Taseko environmental and safety policies and management systems.

Training and Awareness

Work activities that could create an impact upon the environment will be identified so as to schedule appropriate personnel training. Mechanisms will be put in place to ensure employees, contractors and other agents associated with the Project are aware of any potential environmental impacts of their work activities, and their roles and responsibilities in conforming to the Project’s EMS policies.

The Human Resources Department will conduct formal training on the Environmental Emergency Response and spill response plans at New Prosperity. All newly hired employees, contractors and consultants will be briefed on the plan and all employees are informed periodically on any changes and updates to the plan. These plans will be subjected to periodic testing to ensure that training and awareness of policies and procedures are at an acceptable level and to ensure that the procedures are adequate.

Internal and External Communications Policy

Effective EMS implementation requires good communication between various levels and functions within the company, and between the company and stakeholders. Procedures will be established to maintain suitable internal or external communications channels for situations such as accidents, incidents and emergencies, and for statements of environmental performance. In addition, a process will be developed for:

Communicating internally to employees

Receiving documenting and responding to communication from external interested parties, and

Communicating significant environmental aspects within the Company and externally.

Documentation and Document Control

A combination of procedures and management techniques, such as environmental management plans and monitoring programs, will be used to assist New Prosperity in fulfilling its policy requirements and the



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conditions of regulatory bodies and other stakeholders. Document control procedures will be developed to ensure that documents are readily available and particularly that current versions of relevant documents are available for use by employees. Procedures will be in place to ensure documents can be easily located, periodically reviewed, updated and approved.

Emergency Preparedness

The EMS will assist personnel to identify the potential for uncontrolled situations and to prepare themselves in the advent of their occurrence. Information from the environmental impact assessment process (including specialist studies, stakeholder input, and permitting requirements) will be used to compile a list of significant issues and activities. These issues and activities may require some means of control, such as management plans, physical infrastructure, and monitoring programs. Procedures will be established for responding to actual and potential accidents, incidents and emergency situations with the aim of preventing and mitigating their effects. Emergency preparedness will be tested where practicable, and systems and procedures will be reviewed following each emergency incident.

Monitoring

Specific programs will be developed to monitor the key characteristics of the Project’s operations and activities that are considered as having potential for a significant effect on the environment. A list of environmental and socioeconomic aspects and associated impacts will also be used as a reference to identify the legal requirements that are applicable to the Project. Ongoing compliance with legal requirements will be monitored and, where necessary, reported to relevant parties. Data from monitoring and measurement will be analyzed and compared with performance criteria or predictions, or to determine compliance. Non-compliance investigations will be performed as necessary to ascertain the causes and to provide guidance for the implementation of solutions.

Incidents and Non-conformance Reporting

The Environmental Management Plans will describe methods and responsibilities for how incidents and non-conformances against specified operating criteria are recorded and reported. Corrective and preventive action implementation procedures will be established to guide the mitigation of any resulting environmental effects. Investigations into cause and effect will be conducted as appropriate.

Environmental Audits

The EMS will define the frequency and scope of internal and external audits to verify the company’s conformance with specified environmental management requirements and conditions established by regulatory bodies. Audits will also assess the effectiveness of the EMS and identify opportunities for improvement.



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Management Review

New Prosperity’s environmental committee and management team will carry out reviews of the EMS and its programs to ensure they continue to effectively meet the needs at the site. Quarterly reporting to Management is proposed during operations, with a formal annual Management Review.

Where appropriate, changes to EMS policy and systems may be approved by the General Manager, and the outcomes will be recorded and reported as necessary.



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2.8.1 Environmental Management Plans

The EMPs form an integral part of the project, as they provide guidance on all environmental aspects during the construction, operations and decommissioning phases. They convert the proposed environmental assessment mitigation measures into actions that are intended to minimize and, where possible, eliminate environmental impacts associated with the project.

The EMP overviews in this section have been developed to provide a description of procedures and records that will be further developed in compliance with both regulatory requirements as well as New Prosperity’s environmental policy. All plans are presented at the conceptual level as the project has not yet been given approval or obtained permits requiring detailed engineering plans.

The objectives of the EMPs may include but are not limited to the following:

To identify environmental protection issues for each discipline (e.g. terrain and soils, wildlife) as they pertain to each phase of the Project

To identify the environmental protection requirements for mitigating identified environmental risks

To provide a tool for achieving those requirements in the field, and more generally, and

To provide supporting information for environmental permit applications.

The EMPs will define the roles of Taseko, contractors, and subcontractors by:

Serving as a reference document for Project personnel when planning and conducting specific environmental management activities and mitigation measures, and

Establishing the scope of the procedures (to be prepared by Taseko personnel or contractors), including the contractors’ specific environmental management responsibilities.

Finally, the EMPs will outline communication requirements by:

Specifying a mechanism for communication of revisions to the procedures due to changes in site conditions, and

Establishing a framework for environmental incident reporting.

Appropriate EMPs will be provided to contractors submitting tenders at each phase of the Project. It may be necessary to prepare separate procedures for individual components of the Project, due to activity- and site-specific differences.

Conceptual management plans are provided in the following section and cross-referencing to those listed in the order of the EIS Guidelines is provided in the table below:



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Table 2.8.1-1 Conceptual Management Plans

EIS Guidelines Plan in this EIS Document

Construction Management a) Construction Management Plan Access Management b) Access Management Plan Tailings Impoundment Operations Plan c) Tailings Impoundment Operations Plan Materials Handling (non-mined materials) d) Materials Handling (non-mined materials)

and Waste Management Plan Emergency Response and Spill Contingency e) Emergency Response Plan (for Spill

Contingency see plan d) Geotechnical Stability Monitoring f) Geotechnical Stability Monitoring Soil Salvage and Storage Plan g) Soil Handling Plan Surface Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control

h) Erosion Control and Sediment Retention Plan

Air Quality Management Plan i) Air and Noise Management Plan Noise Management i) Air and Noise Management Plan Water quality/quantity management and monitoring

m) Surface and Groundwater Management Plan

Solid Waste Management j) Materials Handling (non-mined materials) and Waste Management Plan

ARD/ML management for mine waste j) Mine Materials Handling and ARD/ML Management

Vegetation Management Plan, including invasive species

k) Vegetation and Wildlife Management Plan

Protection of migratory birds See Section 2.7.2.8 and Appendices for Habitat Compensation Reference Document

Bear-human and wolf-human conflict management

k) Vegetation and Wildlife Management Plan

Cultural and Heritage Protection l) Cultural and Heritage Protection Plan Reclamation and Closure 1. See Section 2.8.2, Reclamation and

Decommissioning Plan 2. Follow-up and Monitoring 3. See Section 2.8.3, Monitoring and

Follow-Up Programs 4. Surface water and groundwater quantity and

quantity management and monitoring 5. m) Surface and Groundwater

Management Plan 6. Follow-up, compliance and effects monitoring

of groundwater and surface water quality and quantity during closure and post-closure

7. m) Surface and Groundwater Management Plan

8. Others 9. n) Occupational Health and Safety Plan



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A. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PLAN

An environmental management plan specific to the construction of New Prosperity will include, at a minimum, procedures, policies and control measures with respect to site access planning, geotechnical stability monitoring, materials management including soils salvaging, erosion prevention and sediment control, minimizing disturbance to sensitive vegetation or wildlife habitat, avoidance of cultural and heritage resources, and planning emergency response. This plan will be prepared prior to the commencement of construction activities, and used to guide employees and contractors through initial development phases of the project. Roles and responsibilities of environmental supervisors for contractors will be the key to each component of this plan to emphasize the need for on-site training, monitoring and communications.

Access

The access component for the Construction Phase will be designed to safely meet the needs of mine employees, contractors, local residents, and the general public. The plan will describe the policies and procedures that will control transportation and access to and from the New Prosperity mine site, and access restrictions for lands surrounding the property.

Geotechnical Stability

Geotechnical stability monitoring for the Construction Phase will focus on construction-related slope stability issues during excavation and building of various Project elements and their components, such as the access road, transmission line, and mine site infrastructures.

Prevention of damage to soil and mass wasting events will be a focus of the geotechnical stability assessments and monitoring. Detailed on-site terrain stability will be assessed as needed to identify unstable areas, particularly slopes greater than 60%. Slopes surrounding the excavation and building sites will be surveyed prior to the start of work and as needed during construction. The survey data will be used to monitor the slope stability. Slope stability problems could necessitate some adjustments to the alignment of the access road and transmission line, and the final positions of some infrastructures, to ensure that Project components are constructed on stable terrain.

Groundwater and surface water monitoring data may be used to avoid geotechnical events, as high groundwater content and erosion from surface flows can weaken slopes. Strategies that will be implemented to minimize water-related geotechnical events including surface water diversions, selective work stoppage during heavy rain and snowmelt events (as needed), and protection of banks that could become undercut. It may be necessary to re-grade slopes or reduce the load on upper slopes to reduce the risk of mass wasting. Banks and slopes affected by construction will be stabilized, restored and re-vegetated as needed to increase their stability and minimize the rates of surface water runoff or ground-water infiltration.

Soil Salvage

A variety of best management practices will be employed to ensure that soils are properly handled and stored during all phases of mine development. Soil salvage protocols specific to construction areas will be developed, including measures to prevent erosion and to minimize soil compaction. The protocol will



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detail how stockpiles will be designed to prevent anaerobic conditions and where they will be located to protect them from further disturbance or contamination.

Non-Mined Materials Handling

Non-mined materials during the Construction Phase will include:

Putrescible waste (food packaging, organics)

Building materials

Fuel and maintenance materials for mobile equipment

Spoil/cut and fill/rock

Timber

Organic and mineral soils

Construction debris

Concrete produced on site at a concrete batch plant, and

Asphalt Pavement.

Procedures will be developed that outline how these materials will be produced, transported, used, stored, and disposed of in order to prevent or minimize environmental effects during construction.

Emergency Response

The Emergency Response Plan for the Construction Phase will include detailed procedures on preparedness, prevention, response, and contingency plans to address:

Health and safety requirements

Information on hazardous products used and stored on site

Practice drill procedures

Preventative measures (e.g. re-fuelling procedures)

Initial notification procedures

Personnel responsibilities and contact information

Response procedures for initial response, control, containment, and clean-up, and

Procedures for incident reporting, assessment and follow-up.

In addition, the Emergency Response Plan will be developed to address potential construction-related accidents and malfunctions discussed in Sec. 2.7.6, and spills as discussed in plan d (Materials Handling and Waste Management Plan) below. All Project employees and contractors will receive training on appropriate emergency response procedures.



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Air Quality and Noise Management

Land clearing and burning during construction are the primary sources of criteria air contaminants (CAC) emissions (mainly particulates) while construction and mining equipment is the primary source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Procedures will be developed to ensure contractors use the Best Available Technology Economically Available (BATEA) and Best Management Practices to minimize emissions from both of these sources, such as contractors minimizing burning, ensuring efficient burn piles and prioritizing revegetation (for carbon sequestration) in temporarily disturbed areas.

Several components of the Project will produce noise that could disturb the acoustic environment. Policies may be developed to minimize the effects of noise and artificial light on nearby communities, such as restricting construction activities to daytime hours (07:00 to 21:00) wherever possible in areas identified as noise and light sensitive, and by regularly inspecting and maintaining construction equipment to ensure that high quality mufflers are installed.

Erosion and Sediment Control

The erosion prevention and sediment control procedures specific for the Construction Phase may include, but not be limited to, the following:

Use of erosion prevention and sediment control techniques, materials and equipment

Control strategies for contact water, and non-contact water as it pertains to the construction area, for each Project feature including diversion ditch designs and sediment control ponds

Erosion prevention and sediment control procedures around fish-bearing waters during installation of any proposed clear-span bridges

Delineation of areas requiring potential erosion control

Restoration of eroded areas

Contingency plans for stream loading and sediment control, and

Monitoring and surveillance program.

All necessary erosion prevention and sediment control mitigation measures will be in place and operational prior to construction. Measures will also be monitored to ensure they continue to function as intended.

Vegetation Management

Activity specific measures will be developed for contractors to minimize damage to vegetation at each of the Project components, but several general measures include:

Minimize vegetation loss (including rare plants and ecosystems of conservation concern) through environmentally sensitive Project design

Implement best management practices including the creation of buffer zones around wetland habitats, maintaining connectivity among wetlands within wetland complexes, and restricting employee and contractor access to wetlands outside of construction or work areas



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Where possible, minimize the extent of grubbing, stripping and the removal of shrubs and herbaceous species, and retain the humus layer and vegetation root mat

Re-establish vegetation on disturbed areas as soon as reasonably possible

Ensure water flow around work site is not interrupted

Wherever possible, schedule any construction to occur in sensitive wetland and riparian areas to occur when potential impacts are minimized

Remove any green felled or wind thrown spruce from the site as required in consultation with MFLNRO, to avoid buildup of spruce bark beetle populations; leave any mountain pine beetle “green attack” trees from the site except under MOFR direction, and

Encourage slope stability and minimize soil quality degradation through grass seeding and slope revegetation.

The Invasive Plant Strategy (Appendix 2.7.2.7) outlines procedures to be followed during all phases of mining, some of which are specific to contractors that will be arriving on site with equipment.

Wetland and riparian ecosystems will be monitored during construction of the mine access road and any access roads used to support construction or maintenance of the transmission line right-of-way.

Wildlife Management

Control measures and environmental protection procedures will be put in place to minimize risks to wildlife and humans during the Construction Phase. Measures and procedures to be developed prior to the initiation of work on the site may include:

Education for drivers to minimize the risk of collisions with wildlife

Consideration of work windows when planning proposed work methods, activities and schedule, in order to protect listed populations and/or species and their habitat

Development of a problem wildlife prevention and response plan, including non-lethal deterrent methods in an event develops, waste management to avoid attracting bears, and education/training components for all employees and contractors

Initiate Bear Aware and Safety training

Minimizing activities where possible in the inlet area to Fish Lake during spring in order to minimize disturbance to bears feeding in this area

Avoiding site clearing of moderate or higher quality denning habitat in mid-winter unless pre-winter assessment of the area was conducted to determine active dens, and

Procedure for helicopter over-flights to minimize acoustic disturbance during the big horn sheep lambing period.



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Specific to the construction of the transmission line, procedures developed for bird protection may include:

Evaluation and selection of the most appropriate bird markers

Incorporation of trees and shrubs into the route design where feasible, to provide natural obstacles for birds to navigate, directing their flight over lines

Identification of high collision risk areas

Confirmation that conductor/line spacing is large enough to greatly minimize or eliminate electrocution risk, and

Evaluation and selection of perch deterrents (e.g., “bird spikes”) for the poles.

Cultural and Heritage Protection

The Cultural and Heritage Protection Plan (see l. below) for the Project will apply during the construction phase. The Plan will describe methods for the protection of heritage and archaeological sites through avoidance where possible, procedures for mitigation and recovery where avoidance is not feasible and in compliance with the Impact Management Plan approved FLRNO, and procedures for any newly discovered archaeological sites to ensure work is halted and sites are appropriately managed.

Occupational Health and Safety Plan

Occupational Health and Safety Plans will be provided to Taseko for approval by contractors responsible for construction, as required by Worksafe BC.

Transmission Line Right-of-Way

In order to address First Nations, landowner and public concerns regarding increased access, archaeological and cultural resources, and potential water and wildlife impacts, policies and procedures will be developed that are specific to the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of the transmission line.

Following Project approval, a Management Plan for an application for License of Occupation would be developed, requiring a final alignment of the transmission line within the 500 m wide transmission line corridor. In preparation for this, Taseko engaged consultants in 2010 to initiate detailed vegetation and wildlife surveys of the corridor as well archaeology of high potential areas, and ground-truth existing road access.

The primary method of mitigation employed in identifying the transmission line alignment was avoidance of important wildlife habitat features and minimizing the impacts to old non-pine forest. Additional mitigation measures identified for sections of the transmission line that are unable to avoid passing through high value habitat include: narrowing the right of way; advancing the development of cavity trees using fungal inoculation to replace trees lost during clearing; and erecting nest/den boxes. Other recommendations include the use of timing windows when construction/clearing is occurring near important wildlife habitat and vegetation management to decrease sight lines along the transmission line. Archaeological information will be utilized to place poles in order to avoid known archaeological sites wherever feasible.



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In 2010, while opportunities were sought to ensure local First Nations individuals participated as crew members and technicians in the studies, First Nations leadership did not support participation in the studies; thus, no additional traditional use information or cultural sites were included for consideration in the surveys other than what information was already available through past studies in the 1990s.

Access

During permitting and consultation of the transmission line, Taseko will work with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, First Nations, industrial users and landowners to promote the development of a public access plan that protects wildlife and heritage values. Based on the road ground-truthing conducted in 2010, it is anticipated that no new roads will be required to access the transmission line right-of-way for construction, and potentially some roads, through planning, can be decommissioned to address concerns with regard to increasing public access and impacts on wildlife numbers, sensitive cultural sites and grizzly bear. In addition, Taseko will work with the grazing tenure holders to develop schedules and policies that protect the natural grasslands and minimize disturbance to grazing systems during construction.

Sensitive Areas Preservation

Certain areas on-site and along the transmission right-of-way may be environmentally sensitive. These areas include but are not limited to areas as:

Erodible

Ecologically sensitive or important, or

Historical, cultural or archaeologically important.

As initiated in 2010, finalizing the alignment of the transmission right-of-way will take into consideration all available information so as to avoid sensitive areas where possible. During construction, contracting crews will take all necessary actions to avoid adverse impacts to these sensitive areas and their adjacent buffer zones. These actions may include:

Suspension of work or change of operations during sensitive periods

Water Crossings and Water Quality

Contractor construction activities will be performed by methods that will prevent entrance or accidental spillage of contaminants, debris, and other pollutants into streams, dry watercourses, lakes, and ponds. The clearing contractor will erect and use best management practices such as silt fences on steep slopes and next to any stream, wetland, or other water body. Additional best management practices may be required for areas of disturbance created by construction activities. Appropriate permits from FLNRO for works in and about streams will be obtained as required. In addition, there will be compliance with all the criteria and guidance contained in applicable DFO Operational statements and the Ministry of Environment’s “A Users Guide to Working In and Around Water”. Each crossing will be planned and the appropriate approval or notification under the Water Act will be submitted before work begins. Every



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attempt will be made to schedule stream-crossing changes during the least risk window. Any proposed Habitat Alteration Disturbance or Destruction (HADD) will be submitted to DFO for authorization.

Vegetation Management

The management of the transmission line for vegetation control will closely follow the BC Hydro guidelines. The first activity on right-of-way will be to clear the standing timber. Prior to clearing the right-of-way will be flagged to mitigate against over clearing. The vegetation management objective will be to eliminate all tall-growing tree species from the right-of-way, and to remove any hazard or problem trees that are outside the right-of-way before construction gets underway. Tree removal will be undertaken to a maximum width of 80 m. Merchantable wood will be separated and piled in sorting areas to be transported. The remaining brush from the timber will be either windrowed and crushed at the sides of the right-of-way or burned at the appropriate time and under fire regulation permit. Where appropriate, brush piles may be utilized to limit future ATV access. To further limit access, low-growing species will be left intact.

Wildlife Management

Wildlife impacts from the transmission right-of-way can be mitigated through controlling vegetation. Because the right-of-way has to be cleared of tall and fast growing vegetation, it is in a continual state of succession. In consultation with First Nations, and FLNRO, Taseko will develop best management practices for the maintenance of the vegetation that will provide appropriate wildlife habitat while minimizing public access, and maintaining a safe and reliable transmission facility. Aspects of the Grizzly Bear Mortality Risk Reduction Framework will apply to the transmission line, particularly the linear feature density, and education and awareness.

Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Resources Sites

Once the alignment for the transmission right-of-way is confirmed within the corridor, archaeological investigations on areas proposed for disturbance will be conducted. Archaeological investigations under permit were initiated in 2010 on the priority areas (major water crossings) under the guidance of a professional archaeologists.

b. ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Access Management Plan for the New Prosperity Mine will be developed to safety meet the needs of mine employees and contractors, local residents, and the general public. The plan will describe procedures to address all transportation and access issues within Taseko’s control on and around the New Prosperity mine site, including:

Access to and from the New Prosperity mine site

Access within the mine site boundaries, and

Adjacent Crown lands accessed from the property.

Procedures will also be included for road maintenance requirements and monitoring. Within the mine site, roads will be developed in accordance with the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British



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Columbia (2008) and become an integral component of the Mine Plan and the Health and Safety Plan for the New Prosperity Mine.

Access To and From Site

The mine site will be accessed by a gravel road from Highway 20 west of Williams Lake. The road will provide year round access for the delivery of supplies, products and personnel, and the transportation of concentrate from the mine site.

On Highway 20, the allowable axel load of all delivery trucks is restricted to 70% from mid-March to mid-May due to the spring thaw and high volume of precipitation. During this period the service schedule of the delivery and concentrate trucks will be changed to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the plant.

The existing road between Highway 20 and the plant site is approximately 91 km long and is designated as the Taseko Lake Road, the 4500 Forest Service Road (formerly Riverside Road) and the New Prosperity Plant Access Road. The Taseko Lake Road, approximately 68.4 km long, crosses two rivers and both bridges are full axle load rated. The following 19.4 km along the 4500 Road will be upgraded to a single lane with pull outs spaced at 2 km intervals. The last section, the approximately 2.8 km long New Prosperity Plant Access Road will be new road construction, single lane with pull outs.

Trucks hauling concentrate from the New Prosperity mine site will use Provincial Highway 97 from Williams Lake, traveling 54 km along the existing two lane, paved highway to the Gibraltar Mine Concentrate Load-out Facility near Macalister.

Transportation procedures to the mine site will apply to personnel, materials, and supplies. . The procedures that will be developed apply to private roads associated with the project and include the expectation that employees, contractors and suppliers will comply with the rules on public transportation corridors and roadways. Each segment of the access corridor (Highways 97 and 20, the Taseko Lake and 4500 Road) may each require specific procedures that will be addressed in the plan.

In order to minimize traffic, workers will be bussed to and from the mine site from strategic locations such as Williams Lake. Workers will be staying at an on-site camp facility during the days they are working.

All mine vehicles, including concentrate trucks and busses, will be restricted to traveling at posted speed limits or as appropriate for road conditions. Following designated speed limits will prevent the generation of excessive amounts of dust.

Mine Site Access Restrictions

With the exception of access being allowed through to Fish lake, access to the mine site will be restricted to employees, contractors, regulators and guests. Access control protocols will be developed and implemented to ensure employee and contractor safety and environmental protection. Employees and contractors will be informed of these access control protocols at the time of hire.

Extensive security fencing is not considered necessary for around the entire mine site. The areas which will require fencing are:

Plant site entrance gatehouse on the New Prosperity site access road,

Start of the road to the explosive magazine area extending 50 m on either side of the road, and

Wildlife fencing around lined process water pond and the substation.



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The entrance gatehouse will be manned by security personnel 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Mine Site Traffic

Major haul roads for large equipment will be required from the open pit to the crusher, stockpiles, overburden stockpiles, waste dumps and the tailings management facility during construction and operations. A number of smaller ancillary roads will be required to access miscellaneous infrastructure facilities, the overland conveyor, on-site fish compensation facilities, and explosives magazines.

The Access Management Plan will outline the procedures for assigning transportation routes, speed limits and access limits. The reduction in nonessential use of the project roadways will minimize the disturbance to the environment by reducing noise, dust, animal–vehicle interactions, and spill probability. Procedures may include the following:

Restricted access of private vehicles to the project site

Restricted onsite transportation to authorized drivers with vehicles equipped for onsite use, and

Vehicle speed limits posted throughout the project area.

Access from Mine Site to Adjacent Crown Lands

Employees staying onsite during their rotation will restrict their off hour activities to the New Prosperity mine site, access roads and pre-defined recreational areas that will be determined before construction begins.

Transmission Line

The transmission line corridor passes through Crown forest land administered by the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resources which have other users or permit holders, including grazing tenures. The Ministry will set the criteria for occupancy and the procedures for maintenance. In addition, the corridor passes through private lots and agricultural land reserves in the vicinity of the Fraser River.

There have been issues raised around the potential for the transmission line to further increase public access by linking open logged areas causing further disturbance of traditional use sites, vegetation communities from invasive weeds, wildlife (particularly grizzly bear) and wildlife habitat. After project approval, Taseko will work with FLNRO, First Nations, industrial users, landowners and other stakeholders to promote the development of a public access plan to help address concerns of increasing presence of vehicles and ATVs throughout the plateau that has arisen in recent years due to pine beetle logging. .

Road Maintenance

For the private roads that Taseko is responsible for, road maintenance procedures will be developed. Regular maintenance is expected to include but not be limited to:

Gravelling, grading and sub-grade repairs

Dust treatment as required from time to time (water sprays)



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Removal of fallen trees, rocks and debris

Maintenance of safety berms

Winter snow removal and application of traction aggregate

Maintenance of signage, and

Ensuring ditches, culverts and settling ponds operate effectively.

The least amount of clearing or brushing of vegetation required to safely permit the road sight lines to be maintained will be done. Despite this objective, lines of sight along the access road will need to be maintained to ensure adequate forward vision for the posted speed limit.

Protection of Wildlife

The protection of wildlife will be an important consideration during road development and use. Proper road use procedures will be developed as part of Taseko’s safety and environmental orientation programs with the objective of minimizing impacts on wildlife. Practices that will be considered include:

No Taseko employee or contractor will be permitted to have firearms on site.

No Taseko employee or contractor will be permitted to hunt or sport fish while on their rotation at the mine site.

Project-related wildlife vehicle collisions or near misses will be recorded and reviewed regularly to identify problem areas. If necessary, appropriate measures will be implemented (e.g., warning signs) to avoid future problems.

Dust, Emissions and Noise Management

Dust will be of most concern on unpaved roads between the mine and Hanceville. If dust related to equipment, truck and bus traffic compromises private and/or public road safety, mitigative measures to control dust will include but not be limited to:

The enforcement of speed limits

Road watering, or using a dust suppressant, and

Upgrading the road-surfacing materials by adding a gravel base.

Taseko will cooperate with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with respect to controlling dust and safety issues for the portion of the road that is a public highway.

Air emissions from vehicles will be mitigated by, but not limited to:

Regular maintenance of all mobile equipment

Not allowing vehicles to idle, except when necessary, and

Imposing speed limits.



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To manage noise, vehicles and equipment will be equipped with silencers and noise suppression systems where possible.

Implementation and Monitoring

To implement the Access Management Plan, safety and security personnel will be appointed by Taseko before construction. The safety and security personnel will ensure contractors and employees are given proper orientation on the various access procedures.

Taseko will liaise with logging companies in the area on their activities and methods to prevent accidents. These may include monitoring of radio frequencies, travel restrictions, and turn-off checks.

All vehicles entering and leaving the site will be monitored by security staff posted at the security gate at the entrance to the mine site. Security will make sure that vehicles entering the mine site are equipped with required safety devices such as buggy whips. Security will also maintain current copies of transporter licenses, insurance, permits whenever possible.

The Access Management Plan will be developed by Taseko and its contractors and maintained over the life of the New Prosperity Project. Taseko will work closely with the FLNRO and the MOTI to develop the plan for compliance with the applicable regulations. The plan will address environmental conditions, measures, and mitigation processes defined in the Project’s EA. New items identified through the Project’s approval process and information collected during the Project’s follow-up program will be addressed as well.

Closure

At mine closure, all roads within the mine site, including haul roads, will be reclaimed using the following methods:

Road surfaces will be ripped or otherwise treated to decompact soils within the running surfaces

Culverts will be removed, with creek crossings and cross-ditches established in accordance with the post-mine water management plan

On sidehills, sidecast material will be pulled back to the extent practicable to establish grades that complement the reclaimed landscape

Prepared surfaces will be capped with salvaged soils from adjacent windrows, and

Roads will be revegetated in accordance with concepts presented in the Decommissioning and Closure Plan to meet reclamation goals of appropriate end land use objectives, erosion prevention and weed control.

If any road access is required within the mine site after closure, these roads will be left in semi-permanent deactivated condition. Semi-permanent deactivation will allow the road to remain in place and be useable, but also environmentally stable. Semi-permanent deactivation measures which will be carried out to include removal of culverts and replacement with cross-ditches; installation of ditch blocks at cross ditch locations; installation of waterbars across the road to direct road surface water off the road; removal or breaching of windrows along the road edge; outsloping/insloping of the road surface as appropriate; and revegetation of exposed soil surfaces for erosion and weed establishment control.



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C. TAILINGS IMPOUNDMENT OPERATIONS PLAN

The following section provides a conceptual tailings operating and management plan for the proposed New Prosperity Project. The plan will be refined as design details develop at the permitting stage.

Dam Design and Raising Schedule

The tailings impoundment will be formed in a shallow valley, with containment provided by three embankments, the Main Embankment, the South Embankment and the West Embankment. The Main Embankment will form the starter impoundment, while the South and West embankments will commence construction several years afterwards. All three embankments will be raised in stages through the life of the project.

All three embankments will have a central core comprised of compacted glacial till material, which has a low hydraulic conductivity. The till core of each embankment will be keyed into the native till that covers most of the impoundment area and hence forms a natural “liner” that will serve to limit the rate of seepage loss from the impoundment.

The Main Embankment will be expanded in stages across the Fish Creek Valley, while the South Embankment will contain the impoundment near the southern-most portion of the Fish Creek catchment. The West Embankment will be constructed along the western ridge which separates the Fish Creek drainage basin from the Onion Lakes drainage basin. The embankments will be developed in stages throughout the life of the project using low permeability glacial till, overburden and non-PAG overburden and waste rock materials from stripping operations at the Open Pit. All three embankments will be raised using the centreline method of construction.

Embankment Development

The Main Embankment will be the starter embankment for the initial start-up period. Once the starter embankment is complete, it will be able to contain 2 years of tailings storage, plus the Inflow Design Flood (IDF), wave run-up, the supernatant pond and additional freeboard. In approximately Year 1, the first few metres of the South Embankment will be constructed, along with an on-going raise of the Main Embankment. In approximately Year 7, the West Embankment will commence construction. All three embankments will be raised annually or bi-annually until near the end of the mine operations.

Each embankment will have a central core zone, consisting of compacted glacial till core, supported by filter and transition zones, followed by bulk rock fill. All three embankments will be raised using the centreline method of construction, which will include all zones previously mentioned.

Beach Development

The discharge of tailings from the delivery pipelines into the TSF will be from a series of large diameter valved off-takes located along the Main, West and South Embankments. Tailings discharge will begin along the Main Embankment, and will be extended along the west side of the facility to reach the South embankment. Eventually, once the West Embankment begins construction in Year 7, the tailings line will be placed on that embankment as well. The purpose of beach development is to keep the supernatant pond away from the embankments and towards the east side of the TSF.



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The coarse fraction of the tailings are expected to settle rapidly and will accumulate closer to the discharge points, forming a gentle beach with a slope of about 1%. Finer tailings particles will travel further and settle at a flatter slope adjacent to and beneath the supernatant pond. The beaches will be developed with the intent to maximize storage volume and to control the location of the supernatant pond. Selective tailings deposition will be used to maintain the supernatant pond away from the embankments, in order to reduce seepage and to ensure that reclaimed water is clear and accessible for reuse in the milling process.

Potentially Acid Generating Waste Storage Area Development

The PAG waste storage area will be developed within the impoundment along the east side of the valley and will be offset a minimum of 500 m from the Main Embankment, in order to allow development of tailings beaches. This zone of tailings beach will provide a low permeability transition zone between the coarse, permeable reactive waste rock and the tailings embankments, and will function as a seepage control measure

PAG waste will be hauled to the TSF for co-disposal with tailings and submergence by the tailings and supernatant pond. The PAG waste storage area has been designed in step with the mine production schedule. It will be developed at the same or similar rate of rise as the tailings but will be several meters higher to provide a dry, stable placement surface. The ongoing maximum elevation of the PAG waste rock and overburden may be maintained at an elevation above the natural flood level of the supernatant pond. At closure, the PAG waste rock and overburden will be submerged below tailings and pond water. Based on the present mining schedule, a minimum of three years of tailings deposition will occur after final placement of PAG materials. In the case of premature closure, a portion of the PAG waste materials will need to be excavated to an elevation below the natural flood elevation. They will therefore be maintained in a saturated state in the long term.

Seepage

Special design provisions to minimize seepage losses include the development of extensive tailings beaches (which isolate the Supernatant Pond from the embankments), toe drains to reduce seepage gradients, and contingency measures for groundwater recovery and recycle.

The principal objectives of the design for the TSF are to ensure protection of the regional groundwater and surface waters both during operations and in the long-term (post-closure), and to achieve effective reclamation at mine closure. The feasibility design of the TSF has taken into account the following requirements:

The dam designs will include a core of compacted, low hydraulic conductivity glacial till to limit seepage through the dam where appropriate.

The core zones for each dam will be tied into the native foundation till blanket; effectively cutting off seepage flows through the high hydraulic conductivity sands and gravels comprising the upper aquifer.

The tailings discharged into the impoundment will, once the impoundment is well developed beyond the first few years of operation, serve to limit the rate of seepage through the foundation soils. This will be of particular benefit in any areas where the natural glacial till blanket is discontinuous and there is direct communication between the upper and lower aquifers.



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Diversion of clean surface runoff water to the north towards Fish Lake. This will utilize a harvesting approach to collect as much clean water east and south of the TSF and direct it to the inlets of Fish Lake.

The inclusion of monitoring features for all aspects of the facility to ensure performance goals are achieved and design criteria and assumptions are met.

Limit seepage during operations, particularly in the early years prior to effective blanketing of the basin with tailings solids, from the tailings impoundment to the downstream receiving environments.

Seepage Control Measures and Monitoring

Seepage through the Main Embankment will be primarily intercepted through two seepage collection ponds, located immediately downstream of the embankment and located at topographic lows. Water from these seepage collection ponds will be pumped back to the TSF during operations, and towards the open pit in closure. When water quality is suitable, the seepage collection ponds will release to the inlets of Fish Lake. Groundwater monitoring may be installed downstream of the Main Embankment as part of the monitoring program and may be converted to recovery wells to also evaluate seepage rates in the foundation and to recover any foundation seepage.

The Open Pit will function as an ideal sub-surface collection point by intercepting any seepage that may otherwise migrate down gradient to lower Fish Creek. A surface collection pond adjacent to the open pit will receive water from pit dewatering activities, as well as any surface runoff from upstream stockpiles.

The South and West Embankments will be constructed with toe drains to collect seepage through the embankments. In addition, seepage collection ditches will be constructed along the toe of the West and South Embankments.

The Seepage Collection Ponds will be constructed with a compacted glacial till (low permeability) liner. All ponds will be designed to provide for two days of storage from seepage and surface runoff for the 1 in 10 year, 24-hour storm event (including a 1 m freeboard allowance). The pumpback system will be designed for year round operation and will comprise a submersible pump with one standby.

HDPE pipelines laid along the downstream face and across the crest of the embankments will convey water from the SCPs into the TSF.

Groundwater will be monitored in wells situated downstream of all three embankments and between the West Embankment and the Taseko River. If deemed necessary, as part of the mitigation measures to be listed in the EA document, groundwater recovery wells may be installed in the same locations, with water being pumped to the TSF.

On-going water quality monitoring will be used to assess the effectiveness of the seepage collection system. In the unlikely event that the seepage collection system is found to not effectively recover seepage, it will be necessary to install additional seepage control provisions. The efficiency of the primary seepage recovery system may be improved with additional interception ditching and pump back systems. Although current information and seepage analyses do not suggest that a secondary system will be required, its inclusion will be assessed further as the project progresses.



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Seepage Water Quality

Pore water within tailings retains some dissolved and suspended solids. These products are mobilized by seepage passing through the tailings toward the embankments. As a result of this mobilization, the seepage water will tend to have slightly different chemistry than the water in the tailings pond.

The quality of this water has been predicted based on experience at other mines and from humidity cells. During operation, a percentage of this seepage is collected at seepage collection ponds and returned to the tailings pond. Some of the seepage may escape seepage collection reporting to the underlying aquifer. This volume is generally very low. As the open pit is developed deeper the ground water draw down cone will force ground water to drain to the pit.

Water Management and Sediment Control

The main components of the water management plan during the early stage of development include the following:

A cofferdam will be constructed immediately upstream of the Main Embankment so as to assist keeping the foundation area dry.

Two small earthfill dams will be constructed at the outlet of the lake, to prevent surface flows from leaving the lake area. Excess water will be pumped to the Fish Lake inlets and the TSF.

A collection ditch will be constructed along the east slope of the Fish Creek Valley along the 4500 road during the pre-production period to collect and divert clean runoff toward the inlets to Fish Lake.

Surface sediment control ponds will be located at strategic spots downstream of each component (i.e. haul road, ore stockpile, etc.). At the open pit area, the pit water will require sediment control prior to discharge until the open pit dewatering system is established.

Once construction of the initial stage of the Main Embankment is complete, the TSF will be used to impound surface water flowing from the undiverted portion of the upper Fish Creek Valley. During operations the location of the supernatant pond will be situated away from the embankments and controlled by the development of the tailings beaches and the PAG waste storage area. The supernatant pond location will be controlled in order to reduce seepage losses at the embankments and to provide a clean, accessible source of water for the milling process.

Site Water Balance

As the supernatant pond is the main source of process water, water balances were completed in order to estimate the annual water surplus or deficit at the TSF. The TSF Water Balance is a model which describes the movement of water within the operational system throughout the life of mine. External influences on this model include precipitation and evaporation. These are the principle input parameters from which all other parameters are calculated.

Process water and fresh water that is required for the operation of the mill is primarily derived from the pit dewatering wells and the TSF supernatant pond.

An annual site water balance was based on average precipitation conditions for the year prior to start-up, and 19 years of operation, based on complete years of production.



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In order to evaluate the design of the TSF and availability of sufficient water for continuous operations, annual site water balances were calculated for extreme precipitation conditions. The design of the TSF embankments is dependent on the probable maximum pond volumes for each year of operations, and continuous operations of the mine are influenced by the probable minimum pond volumes.

Under extreme dry conditions, the results of the analysis indicate that there may be a requirement to divert a portion of flows from the eastern portion of the catchment in order to maintain the necessary pond volume to facilitate continuous, uninterrupted operations. Additionally, a large proportion of the fresh make-up water derived from the deep aquifer remains largely unused during each year of operations, and could be potentially utilised to supplement deficits in the TSF under these extreme conditions.

Tailings Discharge System

Tailings from the mill process will be delivered by gravity from the mill to the TSF for as long as possible. Thereafter, the required head for gravity discharge may be provided by pumping to a head tank above the east abutment of the Main Embankment, or by pumping directly to discharge. The initial requirement for pumping is deferred to Year 5 of operations, at which time tailings discharge from the West Embankment begins. At that stage, pumping will only be required when tailings are being discharged from the West Embankment. Discharge from the Main Embankment will be by gravity until Year 7 of operations.

Tailings Delivery to the Tailings Storage Facility

Two gravity pipelines will be laid from the mill to the east abutment at start-up. One pipeline will extend to the centre of the Main Embankment, and the second to the West abutment. Each pipeline will be sized to carry up to 50% of the design tailings production from the mill. Discharge into the TSF will be from valved off-takes along the two pipelines on the Main Embankment crest. A full diameter off-take in each line will allow for “emergency” discharge at the east abutment.

During the first year of operations, a third line will be laid from the mill to the east abutment. In Year 4, the third discharge pipeline will be extended across the Main Embankment. A tailings pump station will be required to service this pipeline. Both of the gravity pipelines on the Main Embankment will remain in service. Discharge from the pipelines will not be continuous, but will be rotated between lines as appropriate for tailings distribution within the TSF and to ensure adequate beach development.

During later years of operations the tailings may be pumped to the point of discharge. Valving will allow for discharge to be directed to the appropriate discharge pipeline. The tailings discharge system will be flexible enough to take advantage of tailings discharge by gravity for as long as possible, thereby reducing the annual pumping costs associated with the system.

It will not be necessary to provide any emergency tailings line dump pond or tailings recovery system at the mill to handle pipeline drainage during emergency or planned shutdowns, as long as the Mill Tailings Head Box elevation remains sufficiently above the embankment crest elevation. This requirement must be re-evaluated during ongoing operations.

Discharge into the Tailings Storage Facility

Tailings will be discharged from the delivery pipelines into the TSF from large diameter valved off-takes located along the pipelines on the Main and West Embankments and the ridge along the west side of the



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facility. The off-takes will consist of rubber lined steel tees or elbows, with appropriate valving and HDPE discharge piping. In-line valves installed at intervals along the delivery pipelines will allow the tailings discharge locations to be relocated as appropriate for beach development.

Reclaim Water System

Water will be reclaimed from the tailings pond by a barge mounted pump station. The water will consist of supernatant from the settled tailings and runoff from precipitation and snowmelt within the catchment area. A dedicated pipeline will convey the reclaimed water to the process water pond, located adjacent to and up gradient from the mill.

Reclaim Barge

The floating reclaim pump station in the TSF will initially be confined in a deep narrow channel at a location remote from the point of tailings discharge. This will maximize the potential for the recovery of water of acceptable clarity. Relocation of the barge will be required to accommodate development of the PAG waste rock area and increases in the elevation of the tailings pond. The barge will be relocated during Years 2 and 6 and moved to its final location during Year 16.

The barge pumps will be controlled from the mill control room, based on the water level in the process water pond. The barge will be fitted with vertical turbine pumps, including standby pumping capacity and all necessary control, check, drainage and isolation valves. One pump will normally be operated at all times during winter to reduce the potential for freezing of the water in the reclaim pipeline.

Reclaim Pipelines

Reclaimed water will be pumped from the reclaim barge to the process water pond at the mill. The operational storage capacity of this pond will be approximately 110,000 m3. The reclaim pipelines will be graded to minimize high or low sections and to allow for gravity drainage back into the TSF, or the process water pond.

The reclaim pipeline from the TSF will consist of sections of large diameter HDPE and steel pipe. Steel pipe would be used only for the initial high pressure sections of the pipeline, while HDPE pipe will be used for the remainder of the pipeline.

Instrumentation and Monitoring

Geotechnical instrumentation will be installed in the tailings embankment and foundation during construction and over the life of the project. The instrumentation will be monitored during the construction and operation of the TSF to assess embankment performance and to identify any conditions different to those assumed during design and analysis. Amendments to the on-going designs and/or remediation work can be implemented to respond to the changed conditions, should the need arise.

Geotechnical instrumentation, comprising piezometers and movement monuments will be installed at selected planes along the Main and West Embankments. Groundwater wells will be installed at suitable locations downstream of each embankment.



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Instrumentation

Vibrating wire type piezometers will be installed in the embankment foundation, fill and tailings materials to measure pore water pressures during initial placement and operations. The piezometers will be distributed throughout the various foundation and fill zones to provide a spectrum of monitoring data. The piezometer leads will be appropriately routed from the fill to read-out panels for ease of monitoring.

Movement monuments will be installed on the embankment crest following the completion of selective embankment raises to monitor deflections along the slope and crest of the embankment. Periodic surveying of the monument locations will provide early warning of movements and possible acceleration of movement which often occurs prior to failure.

Groundwater monitoring/recovery wells will be installed at appropriate locations along the downstream toe. The wells will be used to recover samples for water quality monitoring.

Monitoring Program

The instrumentation monitoring should be done routinely both during construction and operations. Following initial installation of the geotechnical instrumentation, measurements should be taken and analyzed on a daily basis to monitor the response of the earthfill and foundation from earthfill loading.

The frequency of monitoring for the piezometers and inclinometers may be decreased to bi-monthly readings once the effects of initial construction have dissipated. Surface movement monuments should be surveyed twice per year during operations. Water quality monitoring of the seepage through the embankment and foundation shall be monitored monthly during operations.

Decommissioning and Closure

Upon mine closure, surface facilities will be removed in stages and full reclamation of the TSF will be initiated. General aspects of the closure plan include:

Selective discharge of tailings around the facility during the final years of operations to establish a final tailings beach that will facilitate surface water management and reclamation.

Dismantling and removal of the tailings and reclaim delivery systems and all pipelines, structures and equipment not required beyond mine closure.

Construction of an outlet channel/spillway at the east abutment of the Main Embankment to enable discharge of surface water from the TSF to the open pit and ultimately to Lower Fish Creek. This full closure scenario will also work well in the event of premature closure of the mine.

Removal of the seepage collection system at such time that suitable water quality for direct release is achieved.

Removal and re-grading of all access roads, ponds, ditches and borrow areas not required beyond mine closure.

Long-term stabilization of all exposed erodible materials.



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On-going Monitoring Requirements

The seepage collection ponds and recycle pumps will be retained until monitoring results indicate that any seepage from the TSF is of suitable quality for direct release to downstream waters. The groundwater monitoring wells and all other geotechnical instrumentation will be retained for use as long term monitoring devices.

Post-closure requirements will also include an annual inspection of the TSF and an on-going evaluation of water quality, flow rates and instrumentation records to confirm design assumptions for closure.

D. MATERIALS HANDLING (NON-MINED MATERIALS) AND WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Materials Handling and Waste Management (MHWM) Plan will identify opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, prior to resorting to disposal. This will be done through the identification and management of the various waste streams. The plan will also ensure that all aspects of domestic and industrial waste management (collection, transportation, storage and disposal) are conducted in a responsible manner protective of the environment. This plan will be supported by various procedures related to the handling of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, management of the various waste storage facilities, and the Spill Prevention and Response Plan.

Materials Inventory

An inventory of types and quantities of all chemicals used on site will be developed and updated regularly. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) will be obtained and made available at point of use. The MHWM Plan will describe specific handling, storage and disposal requirements so that the potential risks to employees’ health and to the environment are controlled.

Typical hazardous materials that will be transported to and from and stored on site at New Prosperity, include the following.

Transported to and stored at the site : o Petroleum products (diesel fuel, gasoline, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, oil and solvents) o Propane (during construction only) o Explosives (e.g., ammonium nitrate (AN)) o Batteries o Mill reagents (flotation collectors such as xanthate, thionocarbamate, and thiophosphate, frothing

agents such as methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) and pine oil, flocculants, and quicklime), and o Antifreeze.

Transported from and stored at the site: o Copper/gold concentrates o Waste batteries o Waste oil o Waste solvents, and o Empty petroleum and reagent drums, carboys, and pails.

There will be other materials stored on site in relatively small quantities. These include but are not limited to supplies such as:



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Fluorescent mercury and sodium lights

Laboratory reagents

Scraps of treated lumber

Bottled gases (acetylene and oxygen), and

Solvents for shop supplies.

Specifications for materials storage and handling will be developed to protect workers and the environment. The MHWM Plan will outline the design requirements for a hazardous waste storage facility including secondary containment, elevated deck to detect leaks, appropriate signage and fencing. In general, hazardous liquids, such as solvents, mill reagents and lab chemicals, will be stored within secondary containment to comply with relevant legal requirements. Flammable substances will be securely stored in dedicated locations. Regulatory signs will be attached to the storage facilities or containment structures. Firefighting and other emergency response equipment will be available near all storage areas.

Explosives

Explosives will be used for blasting the rock in the open pit. The MHWM Plan will provide information on how explosives will be transported, stored, and used in a safe and environmentally sound way at New Prosperity. A contractor will be engaged to supply explosives, primarily ammonium nitrate-fuel oil mix (ANFO). All explosives manufacturing, storage and product delivery systems will be subject to existing federal and British Columbia regulations. The contractor will own and operate the explosives manufacturing plant and will deliver the explosives to the pit. The explosives supplier/on-site contractor will be licensed and permitted to operate in British Columbia.

Explosives will be used at safe distances from facilities or personnel. There will be two separately mounted container magazines with lightning protection for accessories such as detonators and container magazines with lightning protection for explosives. Each container pair will have its own perimeter fence and perimeter security lights. The distance between each container pair will be at least 60 m.

The ANFO plant will be at least 100 m from the container magazines. It will consist of an ammonium nitrate shed with all the necessary equipment including bulk handling and a diesel tank. The permanent explosives storage area pad will be constructed of sized fill and include a barrier surrounding the explosives storage area. The plant will also be surrounded by its own perimeter security fence with lights. All buildings will be surrounded by a second fence. Access to the magazines will be restricted to authorized personnel only. Blast notification procedures and other safety procedures and policies will be developed prior to construction.

Hydrocarbon Management

All hydrocarbons, including waste oils, will be provided secondary containment facilities that meet current industry standards. These installations will be regularly reviewed. The MHWM Plan will describe hydrocarbon handling, transport, reception, transfer, use and disposal procedures. The objective of these procedures is to manage the pollution risk and minimize spill potential. The MHWM Plan will also describe



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or refer to spill response procedures including containment, reporting, clean-up, and corrective action; these procedures will be described in the emergency preparedness and response documentation.

Waste Management

The MHWM Plan will identify ways of reducing waste, mainly through minimizing packaging and where applicable, returning packaging for reuse. The Plan will emphasize reuse, and will also highlight the recycling program which will see segregation at the source of the most typical recyclables including aluminum cans, paper and cardboard. Non-hazardous and hazardous waste will be segregated at source to reduce the potential for environmental effects. Disposal mechanisms for both non-hazardous and contaminated wastes will be developed for the MHWM Plan.

Waste Management Facilities

The various waste management facilities, which will include a hazardous waste storage area, landfarm, and a laydown area for used tires, scrap metal and wood, will be a part of the Plan.

Non-hazardous and Domestic Waste

The domestic waste management plan will consist of a series of guidelines that will minimize the potential impact on the environment. Domestic waste, including paper, plastics, glass, tins, scrap metal, food and other biodegradable materials will be collected in labelled, secure refuse bins. Domestic waste that cannot be recycled or re-used will deposited in the landfill and the MHWM Plan will include the design, construction and operation details according to relevant regulatory requirements. Landfill operating procedures will ensure that this waste stream is handled to not create a wildlife attractant.

The MHWM Plan will incorporate the treatment of domestic waste water / sewage, both during construction and operations. The majority of the information pertaining to the operation and optimal performance of the sewage treatment system will be provided in an operation and maintenance plan, a supporting document, supplied by the manufacturer. An important component of the management of sewage will be the training of operators who can be certified under the Environmental Operators Certification Program to operate the sewage treatment plant.

Sewage from the mill site and camp will be collected by a gravity sewer system. One sewage treatment plant (STP) will be used to service the mine during the construction phase and continue for operation. The STP will be located at the west end, low side, of the mill site, well away from the camp and other occupied areas.

During construction, the treated effluent discharge will be pumped to a tile field or lagoon. Prior to any construction, tile field design and location will have to be verified by field percolation tests. Once the mine is operational, the treated STP effluent will be discharged to the TSF. A buried pipeline will discharge the effluent into the gravity section of the tailings pipeline near the concentrator building. At that time, the chlorine contact chamber will be activated because the effluent will become part of the reclaim water from the TSF.

Sewage from the washroom facilities that are remote from the mill site gravity sewer system, will be directed to nearby sewage holding tanks. These tanks will be emptied at regular intervals and their



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contents treated at the mill site STP. Sludge from the STP will be removed to an off-site municipal facility approximately every two months.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous wastes will include, but not be limited to, used waste oil, glycol, grease, hydraulic oil, used oil filters, oily rags and absorbent materials, solvents, batteries, mill reagents and lab chemicals. The majority of hazardous waste will be disposed of off-site, the exception being the reuse of some waste oil in the blasting process (ANFO). Throughout the operational period, many chemicals and reagents will be used for the daily mining and milling activities of the mine. During the final months of operations, the supply and demand of these chemicals and reagents will be monitored carefully, so that the smallest volume will remain when operations cease. Any residual products will be packaged appropriately and shipped back to the supplier. The transportation of hazardous wastes will follow the federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulation requirements.

Hydrocarbon Management

Used oil and oil filters will be collected and recycled off site as part of the operational phase. Records of waste oil removal and recycling will be kept. During the closure phase, trucks and other equipment will be required for reclamation, and this procedure of collecting and recycling will continue until all closure activities have been completed. Should soil become inadvertently contaminated during the operational and closure phases, it will be treated on-site with appropriate additives as necessary.

Contingency Plans

The MHWM Plan will identify situations for which contingency plans may be required.

Spill Prevention and Response

The objective of the Spill Prevention and Response Plan will be to promote the prevention of the accidental release of harmful substances into the receiving environment and, in the event of a spill, to provide adequate information to guide the response crew to safely, efficiently and effectively respond to and clean-up a spill.

The Spill Prevention and Response Plan will be designed to prevent spills through the development of procedures in the transfer, handling and storage of fuel and other hazardous products and wastes, plus awareness training in these procedures. Prevention will be further supported by regular environmental site inspections and written assessments.

In the event of a spill, the Spill Prevention and Response Plan will incorporate a spill response action plan that will detail how to manage a spill, depending on the product that was spilled, the quantity spilled and the location of the spill. The Plan will maintain a list of products that are used at, and transported to and from, the mine site. For each product a Material Safety Data Sheet will be available in the Plan that documents the physical and chemical properties of the product, safety measures related to that product such as personal protective equipment, and methods for containing and removing the product if spilled, plus the storage, transfer and disposal of the spilled product.

The Spill Prevention and Response Plan will also provide details related to the structure of the spill response team, and the duties and responsibilities of each individual on that team, including the



September 2012

responsibilities of the person who discovered the spill. Contact lists for persons/agencies to notify in the event of a spill, from corporate, to government, to clean up contractors and suppliers, to neighbouring dwellings/communities, will also be a component of the Plan.

Other components of the Plan will include an inventory of the location of spill response kits and their contents, the policy on reporting spills, and a spill response form that will form the written documentation and recording of spills.

Lastly, the Plan will dictate that emergency response personnel receive spill response and cleanup training from a qualified instructor.

Responsibility

The Environmental Coordinator will be appointed the Spill Contingency Coordinator. If the Environmental Coordinator is unavailable, the Manager of Mining will be the designated and in his/her absence the Manager of Milling. The Environmental Coordinator must be notified of any reportable spills as soon as possible and must ensure that all of the proper authorities have been notified. The Environmental Coordinator will also act as the liaison between New Prosperity Mine and any outside agencies. A complete New Prosperity Mine contact list will be created and kept current.

Every employee at the New Prosperity Mine will be responsible for using environmentally safe operating practices to minimize environmental damage in the event of a spill

Training

All supervisors and employees will be trained in:

The prevention of spills, the safe handling of all materials and an awareness of hazards associated with materials they work with.

Emergency Response Team notification and emergency response procedures.

The use of the WHMIS and a MSDS.

In addition to the above, all supervisors will be trained in:

The use of the Spill Prevention and Response Plan. This includes a working knowledge of reference information (contact lists, MSDS) in the event of a spill.

The 5-step spill handling procedure—assessment, containment, cleanup, reporting and disposal.

Accidents and Malfunctions

As identified and discussed previously, procedures specific for potential accidents and malfunctions will be developed and incorporated into the Spill Prevention and Response Plan. At a minimum, spill response procedures will be developed for:

Fuel spills on land

Fuel spills in water



September 2012

Major leakage from tailings or pipelines, and

Concentrate haul spill.

E. EMERGENCY RESPONSE

This section provides a conceptual framework for emergency response at the New Prosperity Mine. The plan outlined within this document provides a policy level overview that will be further expanded and refined as the application and permitting process progresses. Specific components will be developed prior to construction and incorporated into the Construction Management Plan. It will be continually updated into a full Emergency Response Plan (ERP) as mine development progresses.

In support of a policy for Emergency Response at New Prosperity, the following guidelines are identified:

1. Personnel safety is the primary concern.

2. Notification of an event to key New Prosperity Mine personnel and/or relevant third parties is mandatory.

3. Containment of the event is critical to limit injury and damages.

4. Reactive responsibilities will be assigned prior to the event occurring, wherever possible.

5. External communications will be channelled through the Mine General Manager of the New Prosperity Mine or his designate.

6. It is the responsibility of all employees to report any errors or omissions in the Plan to the Emergency Response Co-coordinator. Effective response is dependent upon all aspects of the Emergency Response Plan being current.

7. All employees are to be aware of the Emergency Response Plan and understand their responsibilities.

Purpose

The purpose of the ERP is to ensure that New Prosperity Mine personnel can react quickly and appropriately to emergencies which may affect employees or the operation of the New Prosperity Mine. This ERP will be designed to provide a set of procedures for emergency response to various incidents or occurrences. It will further provide a series of activities to allow for the restoration of critical business functions within an identified timeframe should the incident be of a serious nature or magnitude.

The ERP will address all levels of emergencies:

Level 1—Individual Emergency

Level 2—Crew Emergency

Level 3—Departmental Emergency, and

Level 4—Property wide Emergency.



September 2012

Components

The ERP will have two main components which identify activities and responsibilities in response to an incident: Emergency Response Team, and Recover Team Responses. The Emergency Response Team is intended to be a first response only and will provide activities to ensure the safety of employees, contact of required emergency services, and a return to normal operations following the incident. If the incident is of a serious nature and requires further escalation, then the second component, the Recover Team Responders, will be activated. This section identifies responsibilities, activities and references required to restore operational capabilities within the four main areas of the Company.

Considerations

The comprehensive Emergency Response Plan will identify a base set of activities to follow in response to general types of emergency. The considerations identified below will assist in the responses to our requirements:

1. Requirements for first aid are set out in the Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation Issued by WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC).

2. A first aid station will be maintained and equipped with a rapid contact system for physicians in Williams Lake. An effective means of summoning the first aid attendant will be developed. There will be trained Industrial First Aid personnel on site, and a helipad that can be used for medical evacuations. A specific procedure will be developed for summoning either a road ambulance or Provincial Air Ambulance.

3. All operating shifts shall have and maintain an Emergency Response Team trained in Mine Rescue techniques as per the Mines Code (part 3.7) and be comprised of various employees representing all departments. A mine Emergency Response Plan will be developed and filed with the Chief Inspector for Mines. The Manager will ensure that there is a fully trained mine rescue team, with an appropriate number of people trained in mine rescue procedures. This team will form the core of the emergency response team, responsible for rescue and firefighting duties in the event of an emergency.

4. An onsite telephone Emergency number will be posted and highly visible throughout the site.

5. “Muster Locations” outside of each building where all employees can meet during an emergency will be identified and posted.

6. All employees shall be trained in how to activate the Emergency Response Team should an emergency occur.

Emergency Responses

The New Prosperity Project ERP will detail a series of responses and provide a list of activities to react to accidental incidents listed under the following headings:



September 2012

Structural Failure of a TSF Dam - A Tailings Facility Dam Breach Emergency Preparedness Plan will be developed based on the plan used at Taseko’s Gibraltar Mine operation that specifies roles/responsibilities and actions such as:

Local Crisis Management Team overseeing and coordinating activities during a TSF emergency (in situations where there is potential property damage or human life is endangered the Corporate Crisis Management Team will be called to assist)

The Local Crisis Management Team setting up a Crisis Control Center

Geotechnical/ hydrology specialists being established to monitor and assess the emergency and implement any mitigation works.

Fire Emergency Response - The comprehensive Fire Emergency Response component will based on, but not limited to, the plan used at its Gibraltar Mine operation. Upon discovering a fire, every person working at the New Prosperity Project will be aware of, and capable of, carrying out initial containment measures. These would include an attempt to control the fire with the nearest extinguisher, raising the alarm, and seeking assistance. The emergency response team will be well trained in firefighting techniques, and will be available to respond to fire alarms. If there is a forest fire near the mine site, management will initiate close monitoring of the fire and seek advice from the Ministry of Forests and Range. Sources of water for forest fire fighting will be identified in the ERP.

Accident, Serious Injury or Death Emergency Response - When injuries require patient transfer to the Provincial Ambulance Service or air evacuation shall be arranged. The First Aid Attendant will instruct the Direct Supervisor to call for it. All treatment and transportation decisions are entirely the responsibility of the First Aid Attendant. Accident site security and investigation must be carried out as if there is a fatality; all operations in the area will be suspended, mine officials must be notified immediately, and the Mines Inspector and Occupational Health and Safety Committee must be notified within 16 hours.

Acts of God Emergency Response - The ERP will address responses to any incident which results in the release of contained water or, flooding from internal or external sources, any type of weather related situation such as snow storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, major electrical storms, etc. which affects the company's ability to conduct business, and any incident (i.e., berm or dump failure/seismic activity) which endangers people or damages property.

Essential Services Emergency Response - This response will be aimed at providing a list of activities to react to incidents caused by loss of primary services such as electrical power, and water.

Telephone Threat Emergency Response - A procedure is in place at the Gibraltar Mine for dealing with threats of violence, sabotage (bomb threat) that have been transmitted by telephone and will be incorporated into the New Prosperity ERP.



September 2012

Spill Emergency Response - Procedures for responding to any incident which results in an environmental spill on or off the property are identified in the Spill Response section of the Materials Handling and Waste Management Plan above.

Accidents and Malfunctions - In addition, ERP procedures and policies will be developed for the potential construction-related accidents and malfunctions. Emergency response procedures will be developed for, at a minimum:

Fuel spills on land

Fuel spills in water

Major leakage from tailings or pipelines

Concentrate haul spills

Blocked road culverts

Loss of power to TSF seepage recovery

Excessive water in the TSF, and

Storm event exceeds the design criteria for the Fish Lake Flood Control Dams.

F. GEOTECHNICAL STABILITY MONTORING

A Geotechnical Stability Monitoring Plan for the New Prosperity Project will be developed during the detailed design phase that will provide monitoring procedures for the open pit, the waste rock disposal facilities and the tailings storage facility. The site conditions and monitoring objectives each of these facilities are different, and as a result the methods used for each geotechnical monitoring will be site specific. It is to be expected that these monitoring procedures may be modified during mine operations as operational experience is gained and site conditions change. This section provides an overview of the typical components that will be found in a geotechnical stability monitoring plan for each of the three components.

The Open Pit

The open pit will be excavated into the host soil and rock. The typical objective of an open pit geotechnical monitoring program is:

To maintain a safe working environment

The identification and monitoring of pit wall deformation

The early identification of slope stability issues or concerns

The monitoring of water level in the open pit walls, and

The monitoring of the effectiveness of pit wall controls (i.e., pit wall dewatering, blasting procedures, and wall push back).



September 2012

A pro-active approach to geotechnical monitoring for all pit design sectors during all stages of the pit development will be implemented. The monitoring and reporting will follow the Operations Monitoring and Surveillance (OMS) plan. This OMS plan will detail the operational procedures, the geotechnical monitoring program and actions to take in the event of an atypical occurrence. It will be implemented as a staged approach and will include geotechnical and tension crack mapping, surface displacement monitoring, the installation of subsurface displacement monitoring (i.e., Multiple Point Borehole Extensometers, slope movement prisms, and/or slope indicators) and the installation of piezometers to monitor pit depressurization and the water level in the pit walls. In addition the mine will ensure that suitable staffing resources are allocated to collect, process and interpret the geotechnical monitoring data, typically on a weekly basis but more frequently as required. The timely identification of accelerated movements from surface displacement monitoring and tension cracks is critical.

Waste Rock Disposal Facilities

The non-PAG/overburden waste rock stockpile for the New Prosperity Project is located north and east of the open pit and the tailings storage facility, as well as within the basin of the tailings storage facility. The waste rock disposal facilities will consist of large volumes of generally random rockfill material from the open pit and rock will be placed with minimal compaction.

The waste rock disposal facilities will be developed based on the OMS plan. For the placement of waste rock the geotechnical monitoring program will include the following components: visual observation to evaluate performance, records of placement rates, face advance rates, wireline extensometer to monitor disposal facility deformation, foundation piezometers to monitor pore water pressure and a regular waste rock disposal facility survey.

The mine will ensure that sufficient and competent personnel are available and responsible for ensuring that the waste rock disposal facilities monitoring is carried out regularly. Because of the large volumes of material being moved and the rapidly changing conditions under which the mine waste rock disposal facilities operate, the routine monitoring will likely occur as a daily activity with the pit supervisor preparing a shift report based on visual observation for routine operations. Additional documented walkovers of the waste rock disposal facilities will be required following extreme or unusual events. A weekly and quarterly report on waste rock disposal facilities operations and monitoring would typically be prepared for mine planning.

Tailings Storage Facility

The TSF will be equipped with a variety of geotechnical instrumentation installed in the tailings embankment and foundation during construction and over the life of the Project, as laid out in the OMS. The geotechnical instrumentation will be monitored during the construction and operation of the TSF to assess embankment performance and to identify any conditions different to those assumed during design and analysis. Amendments to the on-going designs and/or remediation work can be implemented to respond to the changed conditions, should the need arise.

The geotechnical instrumentation may include visual observation, vibrating wire piezometers, slope inclinometers and surface movement monuments. Additionally, standpipes, seepage monitoring ponds, seepage flow weirs and load cells may be used. The geotechnical instrumentation will generally be installed in planes along the tailings embankments and groundwater monitoring wells will be installed at suitable locations downstream of each embankment. The frequency of monitoring for the piezometers



September 2012

and inclinometers during construction and following first filling will be higher than for the typical operating condition. Monitoring frequency is typically reduced to bi-monthly readings once the effects of initial construction have dissipated. Surface movement monuments should be surveyed twice per year during operations. Water quality monitoring of the seepage through the embankment and foundation shall be conducted routinely during operations.

The OMS plan will detail the operational procedures, the geotechnical monitoring program and actions to take in the event of an atypical occurrence, with a flow chart of pre-prepared plans to execute in the event of an emergency situation. A review of the geotechnical instrumentation records would typically be undertaken at least annually by the design engineer and a periodic Dam Safety Review by a qualified and experienced independent engineer would be undertaken as set by the Canadian Dam Association Guidelines.

G. SOIL HANDLING PLAN

The soil salvage plan is based upon the data collected by Talisman in 1996 and 1997 (Talisman Land Resource Consultants Inc., 1997), and soil sampling and mapping completed by JWA in 2006 (see March 2009 EIS/Application Volume 5, Section 4.5 Scope of Assessment for Soils). Details of the reclamation suitability criteria for soil used to generate salvage volumes are outlined in Section 2.7.2.6, Terrain and Soils.

The primary limitation to soil suitability for reclamation in the Project area is coarse fragment content. Coarse fragment content greater than 50% by volume is common, with greater than 70% coarse fragment content occurring in colluvial and glaciofluvial soils. Most morainal soils have coarse fragment contents between 40 and 75%. Morainal soil texture is frequently sandy loam to loam with some soils possessing finer textured (silt loam to clay loam) lower soil horizons. Most morainal soils are rated “fair” for use in reclamation due to high coarse fragment content or fine texture. The colluvial and glaciofluvial soils have coarse sandy loam to loamy sand texture (see Figure 2.8.1-1), as well as high coarse fragment contents, making them poorly suited or unsuitable for use in reclamation.

Reclamation suitability ratings for the undisturbed mineral soil of the root zone (mineral soil above the C horizon) on the mine site were determined using the methods outlined in Soil Quality Criteria Relative to Disturbance and Reclamation (AAFRD, 1987) (see Table 2.8.1-2 and Table 2.8.1-3).



September 2012

Table 2.8.1-2 Criteria for Evaluating the Suitability of Root Zone Material in the MDA

Rating/Property Good (G) Fair (F) Poor (P) Unsuitable (U)

Reaction (pH)1 5–6.5 4–5; 6.5–7.5 3.5–4; 7.5–9 <3.5 and >9

Salinity (EC)2 (dS/m) <2 2–4 4–8 >8

Sodicity (SAR)2 <4 4–8 8–12 >123

Saturation (%)2 30–60 20–30; 60–80 15–20; 80–100 <15 and >100

Coarse Fragments4 (% Vol) <305; <156 30–505; 15–306 50–705; 30–506 >705; >506

Texture L, SiCL, SCL, SL, FSL,

CL, SiL, VFSL, SC, SiC LS, S, Si, C, HC Consolidated

bedrock

Rating/Property Good (G) Fair (F) Poor (P) Unsuitable (U)

Moist Consistency very friable, friable Loose, firm very firm extremely firm

CaC03 (%) <2 2–20 20–70 >70

NOTES: 1 pH values presented are most appropriate for trees, primarily conifers. Where reclamation objective is for other end land uses, such as erosion control, and where other plant species may be more important, refer to Table 6 in Soil Quality Criteria Relative to Disturbance and Reclamation (AAFRD, 1987). 2 Limits may vary depending on plant species to be used. 3 Materials characterized by an SAR of 12 to 20 may be rated poor if texture is sandy loam or coarser and saturation percent is less than 100. 4 0.2 to 25 cm diameter fragments in the soil material. 5 Matrix texture (modal) finer than sandy loam. 6 Matrix texture (modal) sandy loam and coarser.

Table 2.8.1-3 Reclamation Suitability Ratings

Rating Description

Good None to slight limitations that can affect plant growth

Fair Moderate to severe limitations; can be overcome by proper planning and good management

Fair to Poor Contains soils with fair and poor ratings

Poor Severe soil limitations that make use questionable; careful planning and very good management are required

Unsuitable Chemical or physical soil properties are so severe that use in reclamation is not possible or economically feasible

Not Rated Organic soils are not rated in this system



September 2012

The overburden materials in the pit area were assessed for suitability for reclamation and were rated generally poor to unsuitable (Talisman Land Resource Consultants Inc., 1997). The primary limitation for the overburden material was high pH values (8.1 to 8.8), with additional limitations of fine textures (silt loam to heavy clay) in the glaciolacustrine material and coarse fragment content (up to 86%) in the glaciofluvial materials. At depths ranging from 25 to 39 m, the material also becomes sodic, and unsuitable for use in reclamation. Chemical analyses indicate that isolated overburden samples had arsenic, chromium, and nickel concentrations higher than the agricultural criteria recommended by the Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment (CCME, 1999), and copper concentrations in overburden were frequently greater than the 63 mg/kg agricultural criterion (CCME, 1999). Thus, it is not proposed that significant volumes of overburden be used as a surface reclamation material. Refer to the Terrain and Soils assessment for mitigation to prevent detrimental admixing of soils.

Three types of soil salvage will occur during the project and the type selected is dependent on the infrastructure being developed:

Windrowed soils: for linear features such as channels, roads, and retention ponds, soil will be excavated and placed in linear piles or berms along the features. The depths of soil replaced for reclamation will be dependent on the amount of soil that was available to salvage from the sites. All linear features will have soil windrowed unless they are at risk of dust deposition which may impact soil quality. For example, the conveyor line is a linear feature which will have soil removed from that location to avoid metal deposition on topsoil rather than leaving it in place in windrows. In addition, roads that run parallel to the conveyor belt will need soil stripped and stored in stockpiles that will be away from those operations. The Plant Site is another area that may have metal deposition; therefore the soils stripped from this location will also be stored in a stockpile. The soil material from these metal deposition areas will be stored in the Plant Site stockpile

Two-lift operation of soils: In areas of buried services, a two-lift soil salvage operation will be used. For this salvage method the first lift would be for the soil and the second lift for the subsoil or overburden. When soil is placed back in a trench it is done in the reverse order thereby preventing admixing of lower quality material with soil that is used as a plant growth medium. No long-term soil storage is required as soils will be replaced once the infrastructure is in place.

Soil stripping and storage in stockpiles: this is the removal of soil after vegetation has been cleared and transporting the soil by haul trucks to designated long-term storage sites. Sites proposed for this type of soil salvage include areas that will be covered by mine features such as the plant site, tailings pond and beaches, tailings storage facility embankments, and waste dumps. The storage locations take into consideration the volumes required for reclamation of project development areas such as the tailings storage facility beaches and embankments, plant site and conveyor line, ore stockpile, and the non-PAG waste rock dumps. Salvage of sufficient soils for a replacement depth of 50 cm was selected to provide a sufficient rooting medium for plant growth. The soil cap will be replaced in one lift.

Due to the limited availability of soils with low coarse fragment content suitable for reclamation in the project area, both mineral and organic soils will be salvaged and stored together in the stockpiles. Based on the volumes calculated for salvage and storing in stockpiles, the mixed soil material will consist of approximately 26% organic soils and 74% mineral soils by volume.

A soil handling plan was developed which takes into account the volumes of soil required for final reclamation of mine disturbance sites. The soil volumes were determined for the various salvage areas



September 2012

(refer to Figure 2.8.1-2). Table 2.8.1-4 lists the Project mine disturbance areas and sites which will be reclaimed progressively during mine life and at closure. Approximately 1,380 ha will require a soil cover prior to revegetation.

Table 2.8.1-5 details the volumes of soil required for final reclamation based on the area of each disturbance site and the proposed soil replacement depths. For soil volume estimation, waste rock storage and TSF embankment slope areas were increased by a liberal 30% in order to account for larger surface areas once these sites are resloped to 2H:1V grades. Approximately 6,322,000 m3 of soil material will be required for capping. Figure 2.8.1-2 shows the areas of soil salvage to meet the required volumes for reclamation; the figure also shows the locations of proposed soil stockpile sites within the MDA.

Based on the soil material volumes required for reclamation (Table 2.8.1-5), soil salvage volumes to be stockpiled were calculated. Soils classified as unsuitable due to poor quality or being located in steep, unstable terrain were not included in the soil salvage volume calculations. The remaining mineral soils rated as Fair and Fair to Poor and Organic soils were included in the salvage volume calculations. Table 2.8.1-6 provides a listing of estimated soil volumes which will be salvaged before and during mine development; the table also lists the stockpile locations where the salvaged soil materials will be stored. It is estimated that approximately 6,502,429 m3 will be salvaged consisting of both mineral and organic soils; the majority (74 %) will be mineral soils. The estimated salvage volume will have a surplus of approximately 180,199 m3 over what will be required for reclamation (refer to Table 2.8.1-6). In addition, the salvage volume estimate does not include potential soil material volumes present beneath the remaining unsalvaged portions of the TSF Beach, TSF Embankments and TSF Pond areas (Figure 2.8.1-2). These remaining unsalvaged portions will be contingency soil salvage areas to obtain additional material if more is required as the project advances. The decision on whether or not to salvage additional soils from these areas will be made well before the area is covered with tailings or ponded water.

4520

0045

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468000

4680

0056

9200

0

5696000

56960005700000

5704000

5704

000

NEW PROSPERITY GOLD-COPPER PROJECT

27th July 2012

FIGURE 2.8.1-1 REV0

LEGEND:Stockpile Soil Sites

Soil Suitability RatingsFair (mineral soil)

Fair to Poor (mineral soil)

Organic

Unsuitable

Road - Paved

Road - Gravel

Road - Rough

Trail

River

Lake0 1 2 30.5

Kilometers

TASEKO MINES LIMITED

Datum: NAD 83 Zone 10 Drawn By: Liam Quan Verified By: Lionel Borges Data Sources: Taseko Mines Limited, Stantec, Province of British ColumbiaPath: U:\123210163\gis\figures\Soil_Handling\MXD\123210163_066_Rec_Soil_Salvage_Suitability.mxd

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SOIL SUITABILITY FOR RECLAMATION

Feature1 Access Trail2 Conveyor3 Ditch - Contact4 Ditch Non-Contact5 Explosives Storage6 Fish Lake Dam7 Fish Lake Pumphouse8 Haul Road9 Pipelines10 Pit11 Plant12 Pond - Contact13 Pond - Non-Contact14 Pond - Tailings15 Site Road16 Stockpile - Non-PAG17 Stockpile - Ore18 Stockpile - Soil19 TSF Beach20 TSF Embankment21 TSF Pond

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27th July 2012

FIGURE 2.8.1-2 REVXXX

LEGEND:Contingency Salvage Area

Soil Stockpile

Salvage CategoryStockpiled Soil Sites

Windrowed Soil Sites

Road - Paved

Road - Gravel

Road - Rough

Trail

River

Lake0 1 2 30.5

Kilometers


Datum: NAD 83 Zone 10 Drawn By: Liam Quan Verified By: Lionel Borges Data Sources: Taseko Mines Limited, Stantec, Province of British ColumbiaPath: U:\123210163\gis\figures\Soil_Handling\MXD\123210163_069_Salvage_Areas.mxd

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Soil Salvage Areas

Feature1 Access Trail2 Conveyor3 Ditch - Contact4 Ditch Non-Contact5 Explosives Storage6 Fish Lake Dam7 Fish Lake Pumphouse8 Haul Road9 Pipelines10 Pit11 Plant12 Pond - Contact13 Pond - Non-Contact14 Pond - Tailings15 Site Road16 Stockpile - Non-PAG17 Stockpile - Ore18 Stockpile - Soil19 TSF Beach20 TSF Embankment21 TSF Pond

5

6

79

9

14

15

15

20

15Plant Site Stockpile

East Stockpile 1East Stockpile 2

South Stockpile 1

South Stockpile 2

12



September 2012

A total of five stockpiles have been selected for soil storage (Table 2.8.1-7). Selecting the stockpile locations has taken into account: the volume of soil that must be stored within its dimensions, topography (gentle to flat slopes), avoidance of natural drainages, and travel required for stockpiling. In addition, the need to be at a sufficient distance from mine project activities to avoid dust contamination was also considered.

Upon completion of construction, a final mine site map will be prepared showing the exact locations and dimensions of stockpiles.

A detailed yearly soil handling plan will be developed with more specific information regarding soil salvage areas and yearly volumes at permitting.

Table 2.8.1-4 Areas Covered by Proposed Mine Features

Feature Area (ha)

Access Trail 1.3 Conveyor 2.3 Ditch – Contact 8.3 Ditch Non-Contact 5.9 Explosives Storage 1.2 Fish Lake Dam 0.7 Fish Lake Pumphouse 0.3 Haul Road 26.9 Pipelines 12.3 Pit (pit walls and pit pond- permanent disturbances/features; no final reclamation)* 177.2 Plant 35.9 Pond – Contact 11.4 Pond - Non-Contact 5.2 Pond – Tailings 0.1 Site Road 45.3 Stockpile - Non-PAG 132.0 Stockpile – Ore 77.5 Stockpile – Soil 129.5 TSF Beach 763.9 TSF Embankment 123.0 TSF Pond (pond- permanent feature; no final reclamation)* 405.6 Total Disturbance Area 1,965.6 Minus Permanent Disturbed Areas/Water Areas* 582.8 Remaining Area for Reclamation 1,382.8



September 2012

Table 2.8.1-5 Soil Volumes Required for Reclamation

Disturbance Site Area (ha)

Soil Capping

Depth (cm)

Soil Volume

Required (m3)

Soil Source/Stockpile

Windrowed Soil Sites1 :

Access Trail 1.3 76 9,896 Access trail windrows

Ditch – Contact 7.9 57 45,074 Ditch windrows

Ditch Non-Contact 5.7 54 31,248 Ditch windrows

Explosives Storage 1.2 87 10,328 Explosives storage windrow

Fish Lake Dam 0.5 108 5,113 Fish Lake Dam windrow

Fish Lake Pumphouse 0.1 45 268 Fish Lake Pumphouse windrow

Pipelines 12.3 52 63,688 Pipeline windrows

Pond – Contact 12.7 74 101, 046 Pond windrows

Pond - Non-Contact 5.2 48 25,113 Pond windrows

Pond – Tailings 0.1 45 563 Pond windrows

Site Road 43.9 55 240,229 Site road windrows

Windrow Sub-totals: 90.9 532,566

Stockpiled Soil Sites:

Conveyor 2.3 50 11,316 Plant Site Stockpile

Haul Road 26.9 50 134,363 Plant Site Stockpile

Pit2 177.2 0 0

Plant 35.9 50 179,655 Plant Site Stockpile

Stockpile - Non-PAG 132.0 50 660,000 Plant Site Stockpile

Stockpile – Ore 77.5 50 387,741 Plant Site Stockpile

Stockpile – Soil3 129.5 0 0

TSF Beach 763.9 50 3,819,276 East Stockpile 1, East Stockpile 2

TSF Embankment 123.0 50 615,000 North Stockpile 1, North Stockpile 2 TSF Pond4 405.6 0 0 Stockpile Sub-totals: 1,873.7 5,807,351 Totals: 1,964.6 6,339.98 NOTES: For Windrowed Soil Sites- volumes of soil salvaged are the volumes that are replaced at time of reclamation; therefore, replacement soil depths will depend on the areas to cover at time of reclamation. Depths in Table 2.8.3-4 are based on the site areas and the calculated soil salvage volumes of the sites in Table 2.8.3-5. Pit walls and pond will remain as permanent disturbance features; no soil replacement. Soils under soil stockpile sites will be left intact; therefore, no soil replacement required. TSF Pond will remain as permanent disturbance feature; no soil replacement.



September 2012

Table 2.8.1-6 Estimated Soil Salvage Volumes and Stockpile Locations

Salvage Sites

Map ID #

Salvage Area (ha)

Salvage Volumes (m3) Total

s Stockpile Site Organic

(Stockpile) Mineral

(Stockpile)

Mixed/ Windrowed

Windrowed Soil Sites:

Access Trail 1 1.3 9,896 9,896 Access trail windrows

Ditch – Contact 3 7.9 45,074 45,074 Ditch windrows

Ditch Non-Contact 4 5.7 31,248 31,248 Ditch windrows

Explosives Storage 5 1.2 10,328 10,32

8 Explosives storage windrow

Fish Lake Dam 6 0.5 5,113 5,113 Fish Lake Dam windrow

Fish Lake Pumphouse 7 0.1 268 268 Fish Lake

Pumphouse windrow

Pipelines 9 12.3 63,688 63,688 Pipeline windrows

Pond – Contact 12 11.3 83,359 83,359 Pond windrows

Pond - Non-Contact 13 5.2 25,113 25,11

3 Pond windrows

Pond – Tailings 14 0.1 563 563 Pond windrows

Site Road 15 43.9 240,229

240,229 Site road windrows

Windrowed Soils Sub-totals: 89.4

514,879

514,879

Stockpiled Soil Salvage Sites:

Conveyor 2 2.3 1,976 9,698 0 11,674 Plant Site Stockpile

Haul Road 8 26.8 13,029 118,540 0 131,569 Plant Site Stockpile

Pit 10 128.7 196,127 535,675 0 731,8

02 Plant Site Stockpile

Plant 11 35.9 87,316 138,087 0 225,403 Plant Site Stockpile

Stockpile - Non-PAG 16 113.

7 81,126 444,769 0 525,895 Plant Site Stockpile



September 2012

Salvage Sites

Map ID #

Salvage Area (ha)

Salvage Volumes (m3) Total

s Stockpile Site Organic

(Stockpile) Mineral

(Stockpile)

Mixed/ Windrowed

Stockpile – Ore 17 77.3 83,798 286,865 0 370,663 Plant Site Stockpile

Stockpile - Soil1 18 0.0 0 0

TSF Beach2 19 532.9 927,815 2,134,407

0 3,062,222

East Stockpile 1, East Stockpile 2

TSF Embankment 20 93.2 140,302 374,256 0 514,5

58 North Stockpile 1, North Stockpile 2

TSF Pond3 21 84.4 29,517 384,247 0 413,7

64 East Stockpile 1, East Stockpile 2

Stockpiled Soil Sub-totals: 1,09

5.3 1,561,006 4,426,544 0 5,987,550

Totals: 1,184.6 5,987,550 514,87

9 6,502,429

Volumes Required for Final Reclamation: 5,807,351 514,87

9 6,322,229

NOTES: Soil materials under soil stockpile locations will not be salvaged. Total salvage area= 754 ha; only 532.9 ha required to meet soil volume requirements. Remaining area to remain as contingency if additional soil material required. Total area= 406 ha; only 84.4 ha required to meet soil volume requirements. Remaining area to remain as contingency if additional soil material required until it becomes flooded.



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Table 2.8.1-7 Soil Stockpile Characteristics and Volumes

Name

Area (ha

)

Approximate Dimensions Stockpile

Volume

Capacity

(m3)

Estimated Soil Salvage Volumes in Stockpiles (m3)

Length (m)

Width (m)

Height (m)

Organics Mineral Total

Plant Site Stockpile 34 904 370 6 2,040,

000 463,372 1,533,634 1,997,006

North Stockpile 1 6 452 133 2 120,00

0 28,060 74,851 102,912

North Stockpile 2 15 1028 145 3 450,00

0 112,241 299,405 411,646

East Stockpile 1 59 1028 575 5 2,950,

000 785,012 2,065,297 2,850,309

East Stockpile 2 16 945 170 4 640,00

0 172,320 453,358 625,678

Totals: 130 6,200,

000 1,561,006 4,426,544 5,987,550

For the soil salvaging and stockpiling operations, Taseko will undertake a variety of best management practices to ensure that soils are handled and stored properly during all phases of the mine development project. Best management practices proposed to be carried out include:

Best Management Practices for Soil Stripping and Salvage

Wet conditions will be avoided when possible during soil salvage operations.

Excessive traffic will be avoided during the salvage process to minimize admixing, compaction and rutting.

Traffic will be confined to established routes to avoid unnecessary compaction of soil in undisturbed areas.

Erosion control measures provided in the Erosion Control and Sediment Retention Plan will be implemented.



September 2012

Best Management Practices for Soil Stockpiles

Soil will be stockpiled in suitable locations where it will not be moved or subject to further disturbance to minimize admixing and physical deterioration.

Stockpiles will be located a sufficient distance away from operations to protect soils from contamination from risk of spills or metal deposition (i.e., dust from the mine).

Protective ditches will be constructed around stockpiles to prevent any spill reaching stockpiles and prevent any erosion from stockpiles from escaping off site.

Erosion will be managed by limiting the height and slope of stockpiles. Where possible, slopes will be less than 3:1 and heights will not exceed 10 m.

Whenever possible, stockpiles will be oriented to reduce wind erosion and stockpiles will not be stored at heights of land to reduce wind exposure.

Where required, erosion control measures will be implemented.

Any woody vegetation slash that is not cleared from the site will be mulched or otherwise incorporated into soil stockpiles.

Soil stockpile locations will be identified by signage to prevent removal of material from the site or contamination with other materials.

Vegetation will be promptly established on stockpiles to reduce exposure of bare soil to wind and water and establishment of invasive plants.

Invasive plant prevention will be followed as outlined in the Taseko Invasive Plant Management Strategy ( Appendix 2.7.2.7-A)

Soil Replacement

Reclamation sites will be capped with soil materials stored in windrows or from designated stockpiles.

The soil replacement depths for the windrow sites are determined from the volume of material estimated to be salvaged from the sites and their areas. An average soil replacement depth of 50 cm will be placed on areas that will receive soils from stockpiles. This depth is based on average pre-development rooting depths.

The access trails, water management facilities/structures, pipelines, roads and explosives facilities will be reclaimed through replacement of windrowed soil.

The non-PAG waste rock dump (non PAG stockpile), ore stockpile, plant site, conveyor line, haul road and tailings embankments will be reclaimed through placement of 50 cm of salvaged and stockpiled soil in one lift. The replaced soil cap will consist of up to 26% organic soils by volume mixed with mineral soils based on the amount of organic soils that are expected to be salvaged and mixed into stockpiles. Where required, soil may be scarified prior to seeding if the surface becomes compacted due to truck or equipment traffic.

Portions of the tailings beach requiring capping to enhance vegetation growth and reduce effects from wind erosion will be capped with stockpiled soil material to a depth of 50 cm, with the exception of a



September 2012

proposed 100 m wide zone on the beach area measured from the high water mark. Soil replacement is not planned for this zone to prevent erosion of the soil capping material along the shoreline. Establishment of riparian and shoreline vegetation is expected to be successful without soil capping.

Best Management Practices for Replacement

During the closure phase of the project, soil will be placed on the beach surface as soon as tailings deposition ends at mine closure to prevent dust formation.

Soil will be transported from the stockpiles to the reclamation sites as soon as they become available.

Soil replacement operations will not be carried out if the soil material is saturated to the point that it is in a near-liquid state which makes it difficult to handle by heavy equipment; or the ground conditions at the replacement sites are saturated to the point that heavy equipment cannot travel on it.

Traffic will be managed during the replacement operation to minimize admixing, compaction and rutting.

Low ground pressure equipment will be preferred for soil reapplication / spreading.

Traffic on reclamation sites will be minimized, especially after soil replacement.

Erosion will be monitored and controlled.

H. EROSION CONTROL AND SEDIMENT RETENTION PLAN

Taseko is committed to developing and implementing an erosion and sediment control plan (ESCP) consistent with industry best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate environmental effects attributed to sediment. Whereas detailed ESCPs are developed prior to construction to address construction specific mitigation techniques, a conceptual ESCP is a planning level tool addressing general Project erosion and sediment control requirements.

This conceptual plan deals with management of sediments arising from erosion of overburden fines in areas disturbed during construction and operation and includes design considerations for erosion and sediment control structures. The goal of this conceptual ESCP is to develop measures that will prevent or minimize erosion and intercept potential sediments as close to the source as possible. Measures presented in the following conceptual ESCP will act as a guideline for the detailed and site-specific ESCP that will be implemented at the time of construction to comply with regulatory requirements.

This ESCP covers six main management areas of the project where construction disturbance will be concentrated. These areas include:

Access corridor

Transmission line

Borrow areas

Mine open pit/plant site/mill site/waste rock dump areas

Mine TSF, and

Ancillary facilities.



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Access Corridor

Access for construction and operations will be provided by the following roads:

Provincial Highway No. 20 (90 km of an existing double lane paved road) from Williams Lake to the Taseko Lake Road

Taseko Lake Road (a.k.a. Whitewater Road) (68.4 km of existing gravel road)

4500 Road (a.k.a. Riverside Haul Road) (19.4 km of existing single lane gravel road) which will be upgraded with pullouts at 2 km intervals

New Prosperity Mine Access Road (2.8 km of new single lane gravel road, which will be constructed 5 m wide and with pullouts), and

Provincial Highway Route No. 97 (54 km of existing double lane paved road) from Williams Lake to the Gibraltar Concentrate Load-out Facility near Macalister.

The new Project site access road will be gravel, 2.8 km long, 5 m wide, one lane, with pullouts. Upgrades to the existing 4500 Road will also be completed. The existing 5 m wide road will be expanded to 8 m and the bed and surface will be upgraded with 450 mm of suitable material. A total of 10 pullouts, spaced 2 km apart will be constructed.

No road crossings over Taseko River or Fish Creek are anticipated. Site specific erosion and sediment control measures for watercourse crossings will be addressed in the detailed ESCP that will be completed once further details of Project development become available.

New roads will be constructed according to the Forest Practices Code, Forest Road Engineering Guideline. Road construction within the project site will provide adequate drainage to minimize damage due to erosion. Small settling ponds with rock overflow weirs may be created if treatment is required to settle road runoff prior to discharge into watercourses. Gravel roads will be maintained by grading and adding gravel when necessary. Gravel road surfaces will be graded so that they are crowned at the center to promote drainage. A network of drainage ditches and culverts will be installed to convey storm water efficiently. Exposed soils such as road edges and ditches will be seeded with a grass mix that meets the requirement for Canada No. 1 Seed (minimum purity of 97%, and a minimum germination of 75%). Native species will be used wherever feasible. Paved roads will be kept free of mud and debris from mine traffic to the greatest extent possible.

Transmission Line

A 230 kV power transmission line 125 km long, with switching stations at Dog Creek and the mine site, will be constructed to supply power from the BC Hydro Grid. The transmission line right-of-way will be designed to avoid lakes and wetlands wherever possible. Clearing for the 50-80m wide transmission line right-of-way within the planned 500m corridor route will follow erosion and sediment control measures outlined in the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Operational Statement for Overhead Line Construction (DFO, 2007). The total cleared forest area required for installation of the transmission line is estimated as 585 ha. Transmission poles will be excavated in earth and overburden 2.1 to 3.6 m deep (90% of the poles) or in rock and slash (10% of the poles). Holes will be backfilled with gravel and native soil. Silt fencing will be used around sensitive watercourses and/or wetlands within the 50-80 metre wide transmission line right-of-way.



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Borrow Areas

In order to manage erosion and sediment from borrow areas, the following measured will be implemented:

Clearing in borrow areas will be limited to the greatest extent possible

Banks will be sloped to provide positive drainage

Runoff from borrow areas will be directed to ditches or other sediment treatment areas

Large borrow sites will be contoured to direct runoff to a sediment trap at the downstream end

Bare surfaces will be stabilized with temporary erosion control blankets in areas of high erosion risk (evidence of rill erosion) with permanent vegetation being established as soon as final grades are established

Further techniques to manage runoff from all borrow sites will be addressed in the site-specific ESCP.

Mine Open Pit/Plant Site/Mill Site/Waste Rock Dump Areas

All mine site runoff from the disturbed project areas including the open pit, mill site, waste rock storage areas and tailings storage facility will be directed to a number of site sediment control ponds located throughout the site. Drainage ditches will be constructed to collect water from all the disturbed areas including the primary crusher, the overland conveyor, the mill site and the camp to direct surface runoff from these areas to the ponds during operations. During the construction phase, the ponds may not yet be available for site runoff collection, so temporary measures will be used, which will include silt fencing, and sediment basins and traps to limit sediment discharge from any disturbed areas to the environment.

Mine Tailings Storage Facility

Surface and seepage water will be controlled during construction of the Main Embankment. Initial sediment control ponds will be constructed to management sediment during the construction phase of the TSF. Two small earthfilled dams will be constructed at the outlet of Fish Lake prevent draining into the open pit.

Ancillary Facilities

The main construction camp will be located adjacent to and south of the proposed mill site. The general areas of the camp will be graded for positive drainage. All roads and parking areas within the camp will be raised with an average 150 mm thick layer of gravel to mitigate muddy conditions. Drainage ditches and culverts will be constructed and installed as required. Runoff collected from the construction camp area will be channelled towards the sediment control pond, to the west of the camp. This drainage can be achieved readily, as the general area of the construction camp has a natural slope of approximately 1% towards the west. Temporary measures such as silt fencing, sediment basins and sediment traps may also be used to limit discharge from disturbed areas to the environment while the sediment control pond is under construction.

Taseko will continue to identify areas of high risk for erosion and sedimentation throughout the life of the project (planning and design, construction, operation, decommissioning and reclamation). General mitigation for each stage of the project is described below. Detailed mitigation plans will be developed for



September 2012

these identified areas during the project permitting, and will be updated during construction and operations.

General Mitigation

Measures will be implemented to minimize downstream sediment concentrations. BMPs for surface erosion protection and sediment control include, but are not limited to:

Maximize the diversion of clean water around areas of potential disturbance

Establish buffer zones around disturbed areas for natural filtering of surface runoff

Intercept sources of potential sediment-laden water as close to source of erosion as possible and re-direct runoff to stable areas

Minimize disturbance and/or removal of vegetation

Utilize bioengineering practices by establishing self-sustaining vegetation in erosion-prone areas once use of disturbed areas is no longer required

Place vegetation matting on slopes susceptible to surface erosion

Use appropriate sediment traps and barriers such as silt fences and rock check dams to minimize erosion and sheet flow in areas prone to erosion

Use silt fencing extensively during the construction phase around the perimeter of the mine site, on access roads, on the transmission line right-of-way (in sensitive areas) and near sediment sources to prevent the transport of sediment-laden water to natural watercourses

Use rock check dams or riprap to reduce water velocity and scour potential and to provide temporary sediment retention

Use sediment catch basins

Use water bars to divert sediment laden water out of ditches and into adjacent stable, vegetated areas

Use ditch armouring depending on factors such as steepness, soil type and presence of immediate downstream watercourses

Undertake operations in sensitive areas during periods of dry weather where possible

Minimize traffic through sensitive areas and select equipment that will generate the least disturbance

Minimize slopes and/or use mid-slope benching where possible

Cover exposed slopes with side slopes greater than 1H:1V with polyethylene sheeting

Install silt fencing in ditch line and at outlets of cross drain culverts

Use non-woven geotextile to control erosion in ditches and around the perimeter of sediment ponds

Line ditches with loose/fine substrates using clean gravel, and

Install French drains to redirect subsurface flows where possible.



September 2012

Pre-Construction and Construction Phase Mitigation

The pre-construction and construction phase will include disruption of existing habitat and terrain. Construction disturbance typically results in the release of fine sediments into any surface runoff flowing through the work area. As a result, all erosion and sediment control measures, including sediment ponds, must be implemented at the outset of construction. Erosion and sediment control measures will be inspected and maintained regularly.

Surface drainage patterns will be managed to minimize erosion and associated sedimentation. For ditches (at all project areas), measures such as armouring, geotextile, silt fencing, and sediment ponds will be utilized. Exposed soil in roadside slopes will be revegetated with an appropriate seed mix as soon as possible. Sediment ponds that are no longer required after construction will be reclaimed and revegetated.

Pre-construction and construction activities will be monitored routinely by a qualified Environmental Monitor for the duration of this phase of the Project. Qualifications and reporting requirements for the Environmental Monitor are addressed in Monitoring and Inspection.

Operations Phase

During operation of the mine, erosion and sediment control measures will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

Routine erosion and sediment management (precipitation/snowmelt) along the access road, the transmission line right-of-way, and within the mine site

Management of operations during major precipitation events

Procedures will be established for the collection and analysis of water quality samples.. Protocols will also be established for the monitoring and maintenance of erosion control measures. The Environmental Coordinator for the site will have the ability to shut work down if non-compliance issues are observed, or where it is anticipated that unforeseen circumstances are likely to cause environmental damage.

Mine Closure

At the time of mine closure, the basic components that will require erosion and sediment control include:

Breaching of collection channel located to the east of the TSF along the 4500 road.

Flooding of the tailings and waste rock storage facility

Construction of the permanent spillway for the tailings dam

Reclamation of overburden stockpiles

Removal and regrading of all access roads, ponds, ditches and borrow areas not required beyond mine closure, and

Long-term stabilization of all exposed erodible materials.

All areas above the waterline with forest capability will be reclaimed to promote productive land use that is of value for wildlife. Reclamation techniques are detailed in the Conceptual Reclamation Plan.



September 2012

Any roads within the project area required for access after closure will be semi-permanently deactivated. Semi-permanent deactivation measures include:

Removal of culverts and replacement with cross ditches

Installation of ditch blocks at cross ditch locations

Installation of waterbars across roads to direct water away from the road

Sloping the road surface, as appropriate, and

Revegetation of exposed soils surfaces.

Installed closure components must be sustainable in the long term and should involve a minimal amount of subsequent inspection and maintenance once constructed. Further information on reclamation and closure works is provided in the Decommissioning and Closure Plan.

Techniques and Best Management Practices

Erosion Control

Erosion refers to the dislodgement, removal and loss of topsoil, sand, silt or clay from its original location by water, wind, ice or gravity. During construction of a mine and ancillary facilities, soil erosion is caused by vegetation removal and the exposure of soils to water, and to a lesser extent, wind.

Conditions that influence surface runoff, including slope steepness, slope morphology, and material type and texture, are used to assess surface erosion potential. Types of water erosion on soils include raindrop splash, sheet erosion, rill and gully erosion, and stream and channel erosion.

Erosion control involves minimizing the extent and duration of land disturbance that exposes bare soil. Erosion control measures are typically more effective than sediment control, and will therefore take precedence. The following provides some additional detail on erosion control measures that may be appropriate.

Runoff Interception and Control

Diversion of surface water will minimize the volume of water running onto disturbed areas, thereby reducing the potential of erosion from these areas, and the level of sediment control and treatment that might otherwise be required.

A collection channel located along the 4500 road will harvest non-contact water and direct it to the inlet streams of Fish Lake.

Further interception or diversion channels will be constructed at various locations in order to capture and control stormwater runoff, and to direct it off site. Ditches prevent stormwater from entraining sediment from exposed areas and may partially filter out potential pollutants. Diversion ditches typically discharge directly to the downstream environment or to locations where no potential for adversely affecting the environment would occur.

Diversion ditches may be designed in accordance with the following criteria, subject to detailed construction plans and site constraints:



September 2012

Sized to accommodate 110% of peak or storm flows (a 25 year event based on the Rainfall Frequency Atlas of Canada). Sizing of ditches should allow vegetation planting for further erosion control.

Corners and outfalls will be armoured with rip rap or boulders.

Ditches should have sufficient grade and capacity to carry the expected runoff, and should be designed and spaced to drain the entire site effectively.

Appropriate channel lining will be specified depending on channel gradients and velocities. Some initial flushing, erosion and self-armouring are expected following construction. A number of permanent interception/diversion ditches will be constructed as part of the overall operations phase.

Diversion berms may be constructed on exposed slopes to intercept sheet flow, re-routing the water to more stable areas. If required, berms will be placed to ensure that water will not drain back onto the disturbed areas.

Sediment traps may be used where drainage ditches are required. Sediment traps are any structure constructed for the purpose of effectively removing suspended sediment from runoff. The construction of sediment traps typically involves the construction of a containment area or pools within a ditch to retain runoff for a long enough period of time that suspended materials can settle. Sediment traps and silt fences will be cleaned regularly to maintain maximum efficiency.

All ditches will be graded to direct runoff to the drainage ditches, or directly to the sediment ponds. Silt fences and gravel berms will be installed at intervals along the length of the ditches as required, in order to promote the settling out of sediment. All runoff will be directed to the sediment ponds for final settling prior to being discharged to a drainage ditch. During large storm events, if appropriate, surface storm water runoff can be directed into vegetated/undisturbed areas where water will flow away from the site. The Environmental Monitor should be onsite to confirm whether the discharging of storm water runoff to vegetated areas is suitable for the site and will not cause further erosion. If water is discharged to vegetated areas, the hose outlet will be modified (e.g., with a capped PVC pipe) to diffuse water and energy at the outfall. The environmental monitor on site should verify that runoff from large storm events is managed sufficiently so that scouring of vegetated surfaces does not occur. Diverting water onto vegetated undisturbed areas still may result in significant erosion depending on the nature of the land surface (i.e., gradient, and focusing of water and gully formation and flows may require further diffusion at the outfall.

Dewatering may be required on occasion throughout the life of the Project in order to maintain work areas. Dewatering may also proceed in areas where concrete work is being completed to ensure that the concrete work is completed under dry conditions. As per the contract documents, pumps used to maintain dewatered areas may discharge water towards or into Fish Creek provided that the water is clean and free of all deleterious substances.

Bed protection and stabilization, as well as energy dissipation measures, may be required where the diversion ditches discharge into Fish Creek.

To dissipate energy, water may be discharged over large rocks to reduce velocities. If pumps are used, a capped perforated PVC pipe may be attached to the pump outlet to diffuse water energy and prevent erosion at the outfall.



September 2012

No water will be extracted from fish bearing waters unless the pump intake is equipped with a fish exclusion screen. The fish exclusion screen must prevent entrainment (drawing fish into the intake) and impingement (holding fish against the screen so it is unable to free itself) and comply with the Freshwater Intake End-of-Pipe Fish Screen Guidelines (DFO, 1995).

Grubbing and Stripping

Grubbing and stripping pertains primarily to activities along the new section of the main access road (2.8 km), the transmission line right-of-way, and the access roads to the transmission line right-of-way. Grubbing and stripping limits will be marked in the field using fencing, flagging or spray paint prior to the commencement of work to ensure that vegetation in adjoining areas is not disturbed.

The grubbing and stripping of soils is to be limited to areas absolutely necessary to satisfy the construction requirements of the Project. Where construction can be completed without grubbing and stripping, none shall occur. Grubbing will not proceed more than five days in advance of any subsequent activity without the installation of appropriate surface drainage control. Grubbing will be suspended during and immediately after intense rainstorms that have resulted in excessive runoff. Any stripped topsoil shall be stockpiled for future use in restoration.

Stockpiling

Temporary stockpiles of excavated material or backfill may be kept on-site. Any piles of earth or erodible construction materials stockpiled on-site will be placed so that erosion into ditches or other open water cannot occur and in a location that stockpiles will not impede drainage. A silt fence will be required around the toe of stockpiles to prevent sediment movement from the stockpile. All silt fencing will be dug in a minimum 200 mm into the ground. Runoff that originates from stockpiled materials will be collected and directed to the sediment pond or trap.

Slope Protection

Erosion protection measures will be used to reduce and eliminate the detachment or migration of slope soils at all times, especially during rain events, and will be used in conjunction with the runoff control measures described above. Erosion control blankets may also be used on sensitive slopes. Where blankets are used they will be secured at the top of the slope by trenching the blanket into a shallow trench and by securing the blanket to the ground. The sides of each roll of blanketing will be overlapped by 5 to 15 cm, and the ends of each roll will be shingled with a 10 to 20 cm overlap.

Check Dams

Check dams can be used to both control water runoff velocities and allow for suspended sediment to settle out. Check dams can also filter coarse suspended solids from the water column. Effective check-dams are typically 600 mm in height, constructed of clean crushed rock (gravel), have silt fencing installed on top, and are installed every 50 to 75 m along the channel. Locations of check dams will be determined in the field by the Environmental Monitor and the contractor, but at a minimum should be



September 2012

installed in all surface runoff collection ditches. A combination of silt fences and check dams may be used to reduce water velocity in ditches leading to existing natural drainages.

Erosion Control Blanket

An erosion control blanket (rolled erosion control product) is a biodegradable soil covering used to protect exposed soils from erosion which may be installed during any phase of the project. The installation of an erosion control blanket is designed to protect disturbed and exposed soils and slopes 1V:1H and steeper, where the potential for erosion is high (silts and sand), and on slopes where vegetation may be slow to develop. The location of erosion control blankets will be determined in the field by the Environmental Monitor and the contractor.

French Drain

French drains may be used to redirect surface and ground water away from areas. Composed of a ditch filled with gravel, a French drain is primarily utilized to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations. If necessary, the onsite environmental monitor may recommend the field fit installation of a French drain to distribute water away from areas that may be sensitive to soil saturation or water pooling.

Contingency Planning & Work in Rain

Rainfall events can result in significant erosion due to the impact of the water on exposed soils and the runoff generated. In the event of heavy runoff, diversion berms and check dams will be used to slow flows and prevent erosion. Check dams may be constructed of clear crushed gravel, sand bags, or silt fences. Materials required to handle excess runoff following a storm event will be stored on site at all times. If a severe storm results in runoff exceeding the capacity of the sediment control provisions, additional measures will be undertaken to contain the runoff or work will be halted.

Sediment Control

Where water diversion and erosion control are not enough to prevent the erosion of disturbed soils, retention of sediment-laden water through the use of sediment ponds and other forms of sediment traps will be undertaken (sediment control). The following provides some additional detail on erosion control measures that may be appropriate.

Sediment Control Ponds

The following environmental practices will be implemented if sediment ponds are required:

Sediment ponds will be located in the lowest practical point of the catchment area

The location, number and size (volume capacity) of ponds will depend on the area (topography) and extent of construction activities

The inlet and outlet of sediment ponds should distribute flows evenly across the width of the pond and baffles should be installed to reduce the potential for remobilization of settled sediment within the pond, and



September 2012

The pond outlet invert will consider input flow rates and pond capacity and will be established at an elevation (relative to the pond inlet) that allows for adequate retention time for the settling of suspended sediments, prior to final discharge.

Design parameters for sediment ponds are summarized from the Land Development Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Habitat (Chilibeck et al., 1992) and provided in Table 2.8.1-8.

Table 2.8.1-8 Design Parameters for Sediment Control Ponds

Parameter Comment

Design Particle Size 0.02 mm

Design Pond Area Design to the 5-year storm event (1:5) or a minimum of 1% of the total erodible area

Design Horizontal Velocity Horizontal velocity will not cause suspension or erosion of deposited material

Design Hydraulic Retention Time Minimum 40 minutes

Design Drawdown Time 48 hours with no incoming flows or loss of accumulated solids

Overflow Spill Capacity Developed site 1:10 year storm event

Emergency Spillway Capacity Developed site 1:100 year storm event

During the construction phase, appropriately sized sediment ponds will be constructed at strategic locations, to allow sufficient retention time for fine suspended particles to settle out of the water prior to being discharged to the downstream environment. If necessary (i.e., for problematic sediments such as glaciolacustrine clays), flocculants (settling aids) will be considered. Any flocculant used will be non-toxic to the receiving environment.

All sediment-laden water captured by runoff control interception ditching should be directed to a sediment pond. During operation of the mine, the tailings and waste rock storage facility will receive the majority of site runoff not collected by perimeter drainage. The tailings impoundment will therefore act as a sediment pond. Surface runoff directed into diversion ditches will be of similar quality to freshwater upstream of the project site, and will not need to be directed towards the sediment ponds.

The sediment pond will undergo annual maintenance and if sediment levels reach 75% of pond capacity, removal of excess sediment will proceed during dry weather or in isolation of flows. Sediment removed during maintenance activities can be drained and if possible will be used for developing reclaimed features.

All sediment control facilities will be closely monitored to ensure sediment discharge levels are maintained below both construction and operations phase permit levels. The maximum allowable discharge level for total suspended solids from the tailings storage facility during operations is set by the Canada Metal Mine Effluent Regulations at 15 mg/L (monthly average); however, no discharge from the tailings facility is planned until the post-closure phase.



September 2012

Silt Fencing

Silt fences and related support structures provide an effective barrier for sediment-laden runoff from erodible slopes and surfaces, trapping the sediment close to the erosion source and preventing mobilization into runoff. While they are very effective on short relatively steep slopes, these devices must be properly installed and maintained to be effective.

Silt fences will be properly installed on the lower perimeter of slopes where the potential for erosion is high and/or it is desirable to contain waterborne movement of soils. Other areas where silt fences may be used include the bottom of cut or fill slopes, the base of material stockpiles and disturbed natural areas. Each silt fence will be embedded a minimum of 200 mm into the ground and reinforced with wire, stakes or gravel. Maintenance of silt fences will be required and installation of new fences will occur where needed.

Monitoring and Inspection

To effectively mitigate project-related erosion and sediment impacts, the ESCP must be properly implemented in the field. Quick and appropriate decisions in the field regarding critical issues such as placement of erosion controls, dewatering, spoil containment, and other construction related items are essential.

To ensure that the ESCP is properly implemented, at least one Environmental Monitor (EM) will be designated by Taseko during active construction. The EM should report directly to the Resident Engineer who has overall authority. The EM will have the authority to stop activities that violate the environmental conditions of permits and authorizations and to order corrective action.

Qualifications of the Environmental Monitor

Taseko will employ a qualified EM who is familiar with the field implementation of erosion and sediment control measures to monitor water quality as well as general instream and riparian construction activities. The EM may be required to monitor pH and turbidity at any discharge points or at runoff areas and will ensure that instream and riparian habitat protection measures are followed.

Environmental Monitor Responsibilities

At minimum, the EM will be responsible for:

Providing guidance to ensure compliance with the ESCP

Inspecting erosion and sediment control measures for proper installation and maintenance

Identifying, documenting and recommending corrective measures to return activities to a state of compliance with the ESCP

Advising the Resident Engineer of recommended corrective measures and of when conditions such as wet weather make it advisable to restrict construction activities that have the potential to generate sediment laden water

Verifying the timing and spatial extent of clearing and construction



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Verifying the locations of buffer zones around sensitive areas such as watercourses and wetlands, and

Prepare compliance monitoring reports to confirm works abide with the ESCP and relevant guidelines or conditions of regulatory approvals.

Reporting Requirements

After each site visit, the EM will document the following:

Silt fencing is in an appropriate location and functioning as intended

Road surfaces affected by construction activities are clean and free of excessive fine sediment that may enter a watercourse

All attempts are made to reduce the transport of fine materials from the worksite to natural watercourses, and

Runoff from the active worksite is in compliance with the DFO Land Development Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Habitat (Chilibeck et al., 1992) at the time of sampling (i.e., suspended sediments less than 25 mg/L above background levels or less than 75 mg/L above background levels during rainfall conditions).

In addition, recommendations to improve sediment and erosion control measures will be provided to the Resident Engineer.

I. AIR AND NOISE MANAGEMENT PLAN

The main objective of the Air and Noise Management Plan is to ensure that the levels of fugitive dust, emissions, noise and artificial light generated by the New Prosperity Project activities are managed to ensure the protection of humans, vegetation, fish, wildlife and other biota. Project policies for management of air quality and noise will be made known to all employees, contractors and subcontractors. The comprehensive Air and Noise Management Plan will be developed to meet regulatory specifications.

Air Quality—Dust

Measures that may be used through construction and operations to reduce fugitive dust levels may include but not limited to the following:

Revegetation or covering of exposed areas subject to wind erosion

Use of large haul trucks for ore and waste transport to minimize the number of trips required between the source and destination

Installation of dust extraction and ventilation filtration systems within the plant complex

Installation of dust collection systems at the primary and secondary crushers

Regular application of surface-binding chemicals or water on roads and exposed surfaces



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Vehicle speed regulations to minimize dust, and

In order to evaluate the effect of dust suppression measures and systems the company will implement monitoring programs including dust monitoring stations in sensitive ecological or work environments.

Construction Phase

During construction, fugitive dust will be generated from vehicles traveling on unpaved roads, construction of the access corridor (including blasting in quarry pits) and other construction activities, including clearing, earthworks, topsoil removal and stockpiling. Fugitive dust can be exacerbated by dry climatic conditions and winds. Dust control is an important aspect of the project environmental management system. The comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan will be developed to meet or exceed regulatory specifications during construction. Fugitive dust will be managed by:

Applying water or surface-binding chemicals as a dust suppressant to unpaved roads and active earthworks areas during dry weather

Imposing speed limits to limit the amount of fugitive dust generated by vehicles, and

Investigating alternatives to wood waste burning during site and power line clearing.

Operations Phase

The comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan will be developed to reduce fugitive dust levels and to meet or exceed regulatory specifications during the New Prosperity Mine operations.

Fugitive dust can be created by vehicle traffic on unpaved roads, ore transfer, truck loading and unloading, and blasting. To mitigate fugitive dust around the open pits, water will be sprayed on the haul roads, vehicle speeds will be enforced, and blasting practices optimized to reduce noise and dust.

Fugitive dust caused by wind erosion on the tailings will be limited by maintaining a water cover over the deposited materials. Fugitive dust caused by wind erosion on the waste rock piles will be mitigated by progressive reclamation.

The source of dust from the ore processing area will be the ore stockpile, primary and secondary crushers, conveyors and ore transfer points. Most of the dust created in these areas will be captured by dust collectors. Where buildings are open on two sides, the two open ends will be oriented at 90º to the prevailing wind direction to reduce fugitive dust. The other indoor ore processes are wet and hence dust will be negligible.

More-active measures of dust suppression will be implemented at the outdoor facilities associated with the plant. A dust suppression system will be used at the primary crusher, and water will be sprayed around the crusher, the ore stockpile pad and the process plant itself to minimize fugitive dust from ore handling and local traffic on unpaved roads.

Traffic on the unpaved access corridor may contribute to the generation of fugitive dust. Mitigative measures include the enforcement of speed limits, no-idling policies, road watering/calcium sealing and upgrading the road-surfacing materials with coarse local aggregate.



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The concentrate load-out facilities will be the Gibraltar facility on the CN Rail line 9 km north of McLeese Lake. Dust control measures for this facility are identified in its Concentrate Load-out Management Plan.

Other mitigative measures may be incorporated for the management of fugitive dust at the project (i.e., establish a vegetation cover on stripped surface areas as required).

Closure Phase

Activity will be significantly reduced during this phase. However, all precautions exercised in the construction and operations phases regarding equipment operations and hours of operation will still be closely observed in the closure phase as well.

Air Quality—Emissions

In all aspects and phases of the New Prosperity Project the Air Quality Management Plan will be developed to meet or exceed the regulatory requirements of the Canada and British Columbia Ambient Air Quality Objectives for air emissions. Taseko will incorporate the Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BATEA) measures to reduce Criteria Air Contaminant (CAC) emissions.

Construction Phase

The main sources of air pollutants during the construction and commissioning phase will be diesel exhaust and waste incineration. During this phase, land clearing burning briefly produces the majority of CAC emissions (mainly particulate). Taseko personnel will restrict disturbances and manage all land clearing as much as possible to minimize burning.

During the construction phase, diesel emissions will be produced primarily by light and heavy duty vehicles, stationary construction equipment and haul trucks carrying loads to and from the camp.

Diesel emissions will include carbon monoxide/dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM) and residual unburned fuel vapours. Air emissions from vehicles will be mitigated and managed by:

Minimizing diesel emissions through regular maintenance of all generators and mobile equipment

Not allowing vehicles to idle, except when necessary

Imposing speed limits

Avoiding spills during the refuelling of vehicles and stationary power equipment to minimize the release of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere

Air emissions will also be produced by the incineration of inorganic and organic wastes. Emissions from waste incineration will be mitigated by:

o Implementing waste segregation and recycling programs to reduce the quantity of inorganic wastes incinerated, thereby decreasing CO2 emissions, and

o Investigating alternatives to wood waste burning during site and power line clearing.



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Operations Phase

The comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan will be developed to meet or exceed regulatory specifications during the New Prosperity mine operations phase. Air emissions will be controlled and monitored throughout the life of the project. The main pollutants will include greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide), sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Activities that will produce gaseous air emissions during operations include mining (blasting, earthworks, excavation), ore processing, tailings and waste rock disposal/storage, and the transportation of personnel and materials to and from the mine site by means of the access road.

Mining activities that result in air emissions include blasting and the operation of diesel-powered mining equipment and haul trucks for transporting waste and ore. Emissions include SOx, NOx, CO and PM.

To reduce diesel emissions, equipment engines will not be left to idle except when necessary, speed limits will be imposed, the consumption of fuel, diesel or used oil will be monitored, and equipment and vehicles will be regularly maintained. Optimizing vehicle movements to minimize emission of GHG will be a priority at the New Prosperity site. Taseko will explore the availability and potential use of biodiesel fuel in mine equipment.

Equipment use in the ore processing area will be limited to propane powered equipment utilizing state of the art scrubbing systems to allow for utilization within enclosed buildings. Such pieces of equipment will be propane powered Bobcats, fork lifts and mobile man lifts.

Traffic on the unpaved access corridor will contribute to air emissions through diesel exhaust. Mitigative measures include the enforcement of speed limits and no-idling policies.

To reduce diesel emissions, equipment engines will not be left to idle except when necessary, speed limits will be imposed, the consumption of fuel, diesel or used oil will be monitored, and equipment and vehicles will be regularly maintained.

Other mitigative measures that will be incorporated for the management of air emissions: the waste incinerator will have a built-in emission control system, and the fuel storage tanks will be equipped with pressure valves to control fuel vapour air emissions.

Closure Phase

Activity will be significantly reduced during this phase. However, all precautions exercised in the construction and operations phases regarding equipment operations and hours of operation will still be closely observed in the closure phase.

Workplace Air Quality Control

The workplace is generally defined as an indoor setting where air quality control is required to provide an environment that protects the health and safety of workers. Indoor air quality control measures will be established during both the construction and operations phases of the project.

Workers in outdoor settings may also be exposed to air contaminants, but the effects of dilution and dispersal into the volume of the air mass reduce the need for protective measures. The main air contaminants that can affect the health and safety of workers are PM, CO and diesel exhaust.



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The major project locations where workplace air quality will be of concern are the process plant and open pit mining areas.

The comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan will be developed to meet or exceed regulatory specifications for workplace air quality control during the New Prosperity Mine operations.

The workplace air quality guidelines for the New Prosperity Project will include provisions for:

Conducting periodic monitoring of workplace air quality for air contaminants relevant to employee tasks and equipment operations

Providing good ventilation systems

Providing air pollution control equipment such as scrubbers

Maintaining protective respiratory equipment and air quality monitoring equipment in good working order, and

Ensuring that employees use protective respiratory equipment when the exposure levels for various contaminants, including welding fumes, solvents and other materials present in the workplace, exceed local or internationally accepted standards.

Noise

The comprehensive Noise Management Plan will be developed to meet or exceed regulatory specifications for noise levels during the New Prosperity Mine operations. Noise levels will be controlled to protect employees and to minimize disturbance to wildlife. Noise monitoring options and strategies will be developed and assessed in accordance with BC Reg. 382/2004 and CSA Standard Z107.56-94 Procedures for the Measurement of Occupational Noise Exposure. Noise dosimeters (which measure high level sounds) and sound-level meters (which monitor ambient noise) will be used for measuring noise exposure in the identified risk areas.

High noise zones, such as the crusher and the mill, will be identified and mapped. Zones of high noise levels will be clearly marked, and employees operating in high-noise zones will be required to wear hearing protection. Vehicles and equipment will be equipped with silencers and noise suppression systems that, where possible, meets occupational industrial acoustic standards (i.e., 85 dBA at 1 m).

Most of the noise generating equipment (e.g., crushers, air compressors, blowers, etc.) will be housed inside buildings with adequate insulation and metal cladding for noise suppression. Conveyors will be enclosed. The primary crushing unit will be housed inside the crusher building. Typically, blasting activities will be restricted to daytime hours (i.e., 07:00 to 22:00).

To minimize the noise effects from construction, the following mitigation measures will be implemented:

Where practical, construction activity will be restricted to day time hours (i.e., 07:00 to 22:00 adjusted for seasonal variations of daylight)

Noise mitigation measures that are installed on power generator and construction equipment (e.g., mufflers) will be kept in good working condition, and

Construction equipment not in use will be turned off when practical.



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During Project construction, operations and closure, the following mitigation measures will be implemented to minimize noise effects from Project-related road traffic:

Vehicles will be routinely maintained and serviced to ensure optimal operation and that mufflers are in good working condition

Vehicle speed limits will be followed, and

Project roads will be maintained to minimize vehicle noise associated with vibration.

Taseko is committed to managing noise and to promptly responding to any noise complaint. In the event of a noise complaint, a local noise survey will be conducted to determine the cause, and mitigative measures will be identified and where feasible, implemented. Wildlife reactions to blasting will be evaluated and, if significant effects are observed, mitigation measures will be explored and evaluated.

During the closure phase of the Project, mitigation measures are similar to those during construction, including:

Schedule all decommissioning and reclamation related activities during daytime hours (07:00–22:00), wherever possible, and

Perform regular inspection and maintenance of vehicles and equipment to ensure that they have high quality mufflers installed and worn parts replaced, and

Where practical turn off equipment when not in use.

Artificial Light

The potential for artificial light management issues will be discussed through permitting and consultation. Mitigative measures can be identified for any artificial light issues and incorporated into the Air and Noise Management Plan once the detailed design of the mine site is complete and the mill is constructed and operating.

J. MINE MATERIALS HANDLING AND ARD/ML MANAGEMENT

Mined waste materials at New Prosperity consist of overburden, waste rock and tailings. The disposal of these materials will carried out in accordance to their PAG and non-PAG properties. PAG materials will be disposed of within the TSF to be submerged below water and non-PAG materials will be used for construction of the tailings embankments or placed on the waste rock storage facility downstream of the main tailings dam. Characterization and segregation of PAG/non-PAG is described in the 2009 EIS/Application. A summary of the materials mined and tonnages are illustrated in Table 2.8.1-9.



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Table 2.8.1-9 Mined Materials and Tonnages

Material Classification Kilotonnes Kilotonnes

Cumulative low grade 87,000

Cumulative PAG waste and overburden 237,000

Cumulative non-PAG overburden 60,000

Cumulative non-PAG waste 102,000

Direct pit to mill feed 400,000

Construction borrow material overburden and rock 6,600

Total 6,600 886,000

Analytical methods include routine procedures for on-site testing for waste management, off-site confirmatory analyses and non-routine procedures. The following procedures will form part of the routine analyses:

Rinse pH (Price, 1997)

Sulphur as sulphide determined by Leco furnace on a rock initially leached with hydrochloric acid to remove sulphate (MEND, 1991)

Modified neutralization potential (MEND, 1991)

Net acid generation (NAG) test (MEND, 1991)

Potential for ARD would generally be determined by the measurement of (NP-10)/AP. Paste and rinse pH are used to classify the immediate potential of rock and overburden to release metals. For rock samples, a paste pH criterion of 6 is used. If the paste pH is above this level, it is very likely that the rock contains no acidity at the time of testing and that immediate metal leaching will not be significant.

For oxidized overburden materials, rinse pH is used. For these materials, a classification criterion of seven has been used to separate materials based on copper leaching potential. Any oxidized overburden with rinse pH<7 or with (NP-10)/AP<3 will be disposed in the PAG waste rock storage facility.

Delineation and segregation of PAG and non-PAG waste rock types will be a central requirement for waste management at the New Prosperity Project. The potential for ARD would generally be determined by the measurement of (NP-10)/AP. Actual permit conditions will specify the operational criterion. This criterion will apply to the bulk of the waste rock and will be used to segregate rock for subaqueous disposal in the PAG waste rock storage facility and sub aerial disposal in the non-PAG waste rock storage facility.

The methods used to segregate waste types will essentially be the same as those used at open pits throughout the world for segregation of ore and waste. The New Prosperity Project will use state of the art vehicle information technology that has been proven for more than 20 years at different mine sites worldwide. This technology uses a combination of radio control systems, high precision GPS (Global Position Systems) with both linked to a central computer in the Mine Engineering office. Accurate and timely information transfer will permit mine operators to make confident decisions by monitoring, controlling and managing mining equipment in real-time.



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While ore dilution is an accepted practice with open pit mining, mixing of PAG with non-PAG waste will be minimized. In blasts with both PAG and non-PAG material, conservative dig limits will be established to ensure that PAG material is not migrating into the non-PAG material. Monitoring at disposal locations will be used to ensure that wastes are appropriately dumped.

Table 2.8.1-2 provides an overall summary of four main disposal or management facilities and the types of material destined for each facility. All materials in this table are below ore grade.

In addition to the facilities indicated in Table 2.8.1-10, a temporary low grade ore storage facility will be developed during the initial pit development using material with lower gold and copper grades. The ore will be used as supplemental feed during operations with the balance processed at the end of pit development. In the event of a premature closure, a strategy for managing or processing the stockpile will be developed depending on the volume of ore present, economics at the time, and environmental risk.

Table 2.8.1-10 Summary of Waste Management Facilities, Source Materials and Criteria Used for Classification

Facility Material Criteria

Tailings storage facility PAG waste rock (NP-10)/AP <2

Overburden (NP-10)/AP<3 or rinse pH<7

Tertiary basalt Sulphide sulphur >0.1%

Tailings All

Main tailings embankment and non-PAG waste rock storage facility

Non-PAG waste rock (NP-10)/AP >2

Overburden (as required for embankment construction)

(NP-10)/AP>3 and rinse pH>7

West embankment Overburden (NP-10)/AP>3 or rinse pH>7

Tertiary basalt Sulphide sulphur <0.1%

Overburden stockpile Overburden (NP-10)/AP>3 and rinse pH>7

Overburden consists of transported unconsolidated surficial materials such as glacio-fluvial deposits and glacial till. Tertiary basalt is also included in this category due to its stratigraphic position and its geochemically unique characteristic in comparison to the deposit host rocks. Overburden may be used for construction purposes or stockpiled for future reclamation. A portion of the overburden (Unit FANL—limonitic conglomerate) is expected to be acid generating and will be managed as per PAG rock management procedures. Placement of acidic overburden in the TSF may affect the water quality of the impoundment during operations. This effect may be reduced by adding lime directly to the impoundment as part of the mill process or by adding lime to the overburden before disposal. If lime is to be added directly to overburden material, the required lime dosage will be determined by shake flask extractions or other testing to measure acidity.

Mined waste rock will be the major geological waste product. The waste rock will be segregated during mining based primarily on potential to produce ARD. Waste rock defined as PAG will be placed in the



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tailing impoundment to achieve permanent underwater disposal. Waste rock classified as non-PAG will be placed in the non-PAG storage facility or used in construction of the tailings embankments. The potential for ARD would generally be determined by the measurement of NP/AP. Waste rock with a NP/AP ratio greater than two will be placed on the main tailing embankment or on the non-PAG waste rock storage facility. Those materials with a NP/AP less than two will be placed within the TSF and eventually flooded to mitigate ARD.

A single tailings product will be discharged to the TSF and will form a shallow tailings beach containing relatively coarse tailings and a pond area containing process water and relatively finer grained tailings. Any seepage water that exits the TSF through the Main and West embankments during operations will be collected in the WCP. Additional outflow from the TSF will be via surface discharge through a spillway in the Main Embankment starting during the closure period.

Existing data show that tailings will be non-PAG, based on testing from tailings produced from ore samples collected across the deposit. Seepage chemistry is expected to be dominated by calcium and sulphate, with an increase in copper, manganese, and fluoride concentrations and low concentrations of other trace elements. Performance of tailings disposal will be assessed through monitoring of tailings solids, of seepage water down gradient of both the Main Embankment and the West Embankment, and of tailings pond supernatant. A periodic composite of the quarterly tailing sand samples will be submitted for mineralogical analysis using optical and XRD methods.

K. VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Vegetation communities will be affected within the proposed project footprint and transmission line right-of-way. The Vegetation and Wildlife Management Plan will outline strategies and procedures for avoiding vegetation loss, minimizing disturbance, mitigating against invasive species and site rehabilitation through the life of the project and upon closure.

Activity specific measures will be developed for contractors and employees to minimize damage to vegetation at each of the Project components, but several general measures include:

Minimize vegetation loss (including rare plants, country foods, and ecosystems of conservation concern such as wetlands, riparian areas, grasslands and old growth forest) through environmentally sensitive Project design

Implement best management practices including the creation of buffer zones around wetland habitats, maintaining connectivity among wetlands within wetland complexes, and ensuring obstacles are utilized where possible to limit public access to wetlands beyond the Projects maximum disturbance area

Where possible, minimize the extent of grubbing, stripping and the removal of shrubs and herbaceous species, and retain the humus layer and vegetation root mat

Wherever possible, schedule any construction in sensitive wetland, riparian and grassland areas to occur when potential impacts are minimized

Remove any green felled or wind thrown spruce from the site as required in consultation with FLNRO, to avoid buildup of spruce bark beetle populations; and not remove any mountain pine beetle “green attack” trees from the site



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Encourage slope stability and minimize soil quality degradation through grass seeding and slope revegetation; ensure water flow around work sites is not interrupted, and

Re-establish vegetation on disturbed areas as soon as reasonably possible; progressive reclamation activities will be used, when feasible, to revegetate disturbed areas within the mine site to include natural species and country foods.

Specific to the transmission line, measures to be included in the Vegetation and Wildlife Management Plan will include minimizing disturbance by timing construction to occur when soils are frozen or dry, delivery of transmission poles to wetland and grassland areas by helicopter, and minimizing the area of disturbance during pole installation. Within the grassland ecosystems above the Fraser River, measures for minimizing disturbance and protecting existing plant communities will be rigorous.

Specific to the access road, dust deposition on plant communities arising from traffic will be minimized by measures such as using dust suppressants when conditions warrant, and ensuring that loaded concentrate trucks are covered to prevent dust escaping during transit.

Invasive Plant Management

The Invasive Plant Management Plan (Appendix 2.7.2.7-A) outlines procedures to be followed during all phases of mining, some of which are specific to contractors that will be arriving with equipment.

Principles set out in the invasive plant management program consist of a coordinated approach to:

Prevention

Proper identification and knowledge of species

Inventories, mapping and monitoring

Educated control decisions based on knowledge of potential damage, cost of control method and environmental impact of the weed and control decision

Integrating weed management methods, and

Ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the strategies used.

This approach will be applied throughout all stages of construction, operation, and reclamation. Wetland, riparian and grassland ecosystems, in particular, will be monitored for new infestations during construction of the mine access road and transmission line right-of-way. Areas within the mine site will be monitored for weed infestations during operations, and for an extended period following closure until revegetation reaches a self-sustaining state.

Wildlife Management

Direct and indirect effects on wildlife can be expected as part of project development and operations. Wildlife impact mitigation strategies and procedures will be fully developed in Taseko’s comprehensive Vegetation and Wildlife Management Plan. This plan will be made available to all project employees and contractors.



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Wildlife control measures and environmental protection procedures will be put in place to minimize risks to wildlife and humans during the construction, operations and closure phases. Controls and procedures to be developed prior to the initiation of work on the site may include:

Minimizing site clearing and prior to activities, inspect the area for any wildlife habitat features; avoid site clearing of moderate or higher quality denning habitat in mid-winter to reduce the risk of destroying or disturbing active dens

Education for drivers to minimize the risk of collisions with wildlife, enforcing speed limits, and recording all Project-related wildlife-vehicle collisions or near misses

Establish work windows when planning proposed activities in order to protect listed populations and/or individuals and their habitat

Development of a problem wildlife prevention and response plan, and initiate Bear Aware and safety training

Evaluate wildlife reactions to blasting and, if significant effects are observed, explore and evaluate mitigation measures, and

Put in place procedures for helicopter over-flights to minimize acoustic disturbance during the big horn sheep lambing period.

As described in Section 2.7.2.8, the Grizzly Bear Mortality Risk Reduction framework is intended to be the foundation for engaging in discussion with regulatory agencies, other industrial operators, First Nations and local stakeholders to provide the precedent to a detailed Grizzly Bear Mortality Risk Reduction Plan to be finalized and implemented within 6 months of project approval. There are three main components: linear feature density, road mortality and education and awareness.

Examples of the types of mitigation efforts in this plan in attempt to minimize the risk of grizzly bear mortality include:

Access Planning: o No net increase in linear feature density in the grizzly bear RSA by refining transmission line

routes by avoiding undisturbed land as well as avoiding connectivity between roads. o Identifying possibilities of restoring, reclaiming and de activating features intersecting the

transmission line right of way through access management planning in partnership with regulatory agencies, First Nations, landowners and other stakeholders

o Work with other parties to explore ways to minimize the impacts of roads (for example seasonal road closures) as well as modify priority areas for example reducing line of sight, decommissioning of roads, roll-back to impede ATV access

o Taseko will be supporting the Province’s grizzly bear monitoring program for the GBPU to include the project area and obtain better population data from which the province can base management decisions and the company can assess effectiveness of policies and procedures. The access plan and other mitigation measures will be open to revision when new information becomes available through research on grizzly bear use of right-of-ways in the South Chilcotin Ranges GBPU as well as grizzly bear sightings in the area and observations of potential concerns.



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Education and Awareness: o Working with others to develop an education and awareness program geared towards the

general public, ranchers and land owners in the region that the tourism, forest and mining industries can participate in and support.

o Educating the public and increasing bear awareness and safety preventing negative bear encounters, promoting BC’s observe and report program, and offering conference presentations on the topic

Road Mortality: o Zero tolerance for grizzly bears road mortalities through road restrictions such a speeds and

communication, and working with other parties to improve wildlife awareness and safe road use in the area

Specific to the construction of the transmission line, site clearing will be limited to the minimum width required and new access roads will be minimized wherever feasible. Procedures developed for bird protection may include:

Evaluation and selection of the most appropriate bird markers

Incorporation of trees and shrubs into the route design where feasible, to provide natural obstacles for birds to navigate, directing their flight over lines

Identification of high collision risk areas

Confirmation that conductor/line spacing is large enough to greatly minimize or eliminate electrocution risk, and

Evaluation and selection of perch deterrents (e.g., “bird spikes”) for the poles.

Throughout the Project area, and particularly on the transmission line opportunities for deactivating roads will be sought through access management planning with other parties in such a manner so as to deter vehicle and ATV travel. Where fencing is required for cattle, wildlife-friendly fencing will be used in accordance with specifications recommended by MFLNRO.

Mitigation measures to be implemented during construction and operational phases will include the creation of policies to limit human activities in and around the project operations and camp areas as well as no-hunting and no-recreation policies for employees while on their work rotation.

To decrease the attractions for bears and other scavengers, the Vegetation and Wildlife Management Plan will be integrated with the waste management and recycling program. Littering, feeding and harassing wildlife will be prohibited at all times on any Project site. By limiting and controlling garbage generation, fewer human–wildlife interactions will occur.

L. CULTURAL AND HERITAGE PROTECTION

An extensive Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) has been completed for the mine site. To ensure avoidance, minimize disturbance and protect sites, an archaeological and heritage resources protection procedure will been developed for the New Prosperity Project including, but not limited to, the following:



September 2012

Prior to work on site, site orientation will be provided to geologists, contractors, engineering field crew, and equipment operators in order that they are aware of all known archaeological and heritage resources.

An Environmental Monitor will be designated to ensure work does not cause excessive or unneeded disturbance.

All known sites near planned activities and will be flagged with a 30 meter boundary. The three sites in the buffer of the pit area near the outflow of Fish lake will be clearly marked to ensure avoidance during all phases of mining.

Daily checks when construction is occurring in the area will be performed to ensure that work is not encroaching on the buffer zoned areas.

Once activities have been completed in the areas of archaeological and heritage resource sites, flagging will be removed so as not to draw attention to the sites.

Final details of this and any other such measure will form part of an Impact Management Plan approved by the Archaeology Branch and attached to all subsequent permits and authorizations.

The proponent will invite interested aboriginal groups to participate in developing further procedures and policies, such as a traditional use monitoring plan, to support long term viability of the area for traditional use practices.

M. SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

Water is a key component in the mine processing and in the Fish Compensation Plan. Water must be managed to ensure: compliance with operating permits, smooth and uninterrupted operation of the mine, control of effects to water quality and quantity in the Fish Creek watershed.

As such, Taseko is committed to developing a comprehensive water management plan that applies to all mining activities undertaken during all phases of the New Prosperity Project. This EMP will be developed prior to pre-construction and construction activities. The main objectives of the Water Management Plan will be to:

Regulate the movement of water around the mine site to ensure long term environmental protection

Define the environmental control structures to be put in place to manage volumes required for the Fish Compensation Plan and mine processing

Implement proper procedures for the protection of water quality to ensure that any discharges meet and/or exceed the permitted water quality levels and guidelines

The following provides an overview of the components that will be included in the Water Management Plan under the categories of Water Volume Control, Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control, and Water Quality. Material contained in this section is closely related to material appearing elsewhere in the report.



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Water Volume Control

Changes to Flow Pathways and Drainage Areas at Mine Site

The following section provides a brief summary on the changes to flow pathways and drainage areas within the project area.

Permanent changes will occur to Fish Creek from the construction of a tailings and waste rock impoundment. The total potential undiverted catchment area of the proposed tailings and waste rock impoundment and the open pit area is estimated to be 125 km2; thus, it is imperative to implement water management in this area.

Diversions are necessary to minimize the amount of water entering the tailings and waste rock impoundment and the open pits. These diversions will consist of diversion structures and diversion channels that will reduce the total catchment area to 39.3 km2 for operation Years 2 to 4 and to 35.7 km2 for Years 5 to 20. Additional diversions will be built for the tailings dam construction period to further reduce the catchment reporting to the dam area.

The water management activities will include the following:

Diverting a portion of the undisturbed runoff from the Fish Creek catchment area through a headwater channel and into the Wasp Lake fisheries compensation works

Collecting and recycling seepage from the TSF, waste storage areas, ore stockpiles, and the open pit

Controlling, collecting, and utilizing undiverted surface water runoff upstream from the open pit

Eliminating uncontrolled release of water from the Project area

Optimizing the volume of water stored in the tailings supernatant pond to meet operations and closure requirements

Managing the system to facilitate decommissioning of the open pit dewatering and depressurization facilities immediately following completion of mining activities

At closure of the mine all the freshwater diversions will be breached allowing water to flow into the tailings and waste rock impoundment. Excess water in the tailings and waste rock impoundment will exit into the pit below the dam through a spillway on the right abutment.

Construction

The pre-construction and construction phases of mine development commence approximately 24 months prior to operations. These phases are characterized by extensive clearing, grubbing and stripping, development of access roads and haul roads, construction of the east side collection ditch, Fish Lake Flood Control Dams, Mine Facilities, and commencement of the TSF Starter Embankment. The east side collection ditch harvests water from the eastern-most catchment of the Fish Creek Valley and sends it to the inlets of Fish Creek.

Sediment control ponds will be developed downstream of each construction activity, in the TSF area, at the mine site, downstream of the non-PAG and overburden stockpile, etc. A fresh water collection pond will be established between the lake and the pit, and will act as a repository for the pit-dewatering, and for the project area catchment runoff as construction continues. This runoff will include the Open Pit



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Catchment, Embankment Seepage, non-PAG Waste Storage Area catchment runoff, and Plant Site runoff. Commencement of the TSF Main Embankment will result in surface water runoff from the undisturbed catchment (below the headwater diversion channel) being impounded behind the Main Embankment.

Operations

At the start of operations (Year 1), the TSF Pond will contain 6.9 Mm3 of water collected from runoff, as well as 4.3 Mm3 from the outflow of Fish Lake, for a total of about 11 Mm3. The eastern collection channel will continue to divert undisturbed runoff from the eastern catchment of the TSF. Runoff from the undisturbed TSF catchment will continue to be collected in the TSF throughout operations. Seepage and surface runoff from all embankments (Main, West and South), directed through toe drains and collection ditches, will be pumped back into the TSF. Groundwater and surface runoff into the Open Pit, including water from the vertical depressurization wells, will be diverted to the surface Water Pond. Runoff from the non-PAG Waste Storage Area, Ore Stockpiles, and Plant Site will also be collected in the surface Water Collection Pond. All water from the Water Collection Pond will be recycled to the Plant Site process water pond, or pumped directly into the TSF Supernatant Pond. The TSF, Open Pit dewatering, runoff collection systems, and stockpile diversions will provide adequate Plant Process water from Year 2 until the end of Year 16.

Make-Up Water

There is a water balance for the mine site and no requirement for make-up water.

Potable Water

Potable water for the project will be obtained from multiple wells. As such, should one well fail the others would act as back up until necessary repairs are completed. If an event were to occur where potable water is transported to site a management plan will be developed for this.

During construction, production from wells will be confirmed against forecasted required volumes and contingency plans will be developed as required to address shortfalls.

Process and Reclaim Water

The process water requirements come from three sources: Pit dewatering, tailings supernatant pond reclaim and the water collection pond. The water system is a closed system and contained to the footprint of the mine site. A management plan will be developed to mitigate onsite spillage should a failure of the system occur.



September 2012

Closure

Following year 16, the Open Pit dewatering system will be deactivated and the Pit will commence filling (Years 17–44). The Supernatant Pond, Seepage Collection, and Stockpile Runoff provide sufficient Plant process water for ongoing operations, without any requirement for external supplementary water.

The TSF Lake will continue to fill naturally for approximately one year after operations. Upon the commencement of the closure phase I (Year 21), a channel will be constructed to discharge water from the South Embankment seepage collection pond. Throughout closure, Fish Lake will continue to receive diverted water from the eastern and southern channels. The TSF Lake will discharge into the Pit Lake until such time as water quality is suitable for release to the inlets to Fish Lake.

At the commencement of post-closure (Year 45), the Embankment slopes and the TSF beach will be sufficiently re-vegetated for long-term stabilization of any exposed, potentially erodible materials. The following measures have been incorporated into the Project design to ensure that the TSF is stable and self-sustaining: engineered zoned embankments designed as per the Canadian Dam Association Guidelines; long beaches to keep the supernatant pond away from the embankment crests, thereby improving stability of the structures; a constructed spillway sufficient to prevent overtopping and eroding of the embankments, as well as maintaining the supernatant pond at the desired elevation; and the inclusion of vibrating wire piezometers within each embankment to allow for on-going monitoring of the structure’s stability.

At post-closure, the Pit Lake will commence discharging into Lower Fish Creek. The eastern-catchment of the TSF will be decommissioned and the catchment will again flow along its baseline path.

Direct precipitation and runoff from the surrounding catchment that is not diverted by the diversion structures will be routed to the tailings impoundment.

Water Balance for Mine Site

A thorough understanding of water movement, including flow patterns, flow volumes and occurrence, throughout the project site is essential to water management planning.

As the supernatant pond is the main source of process water, water balances were completed in order to estimate the annual water surplus or deficit at the TSF. Annual site water balances were based on average precipitation conditions, for the year prior to start-up, the 20 years of operation, and post-closure.

Immediately prior to start-up, the Main Embankment of the TSF will store approximately 11 Mm3 of water, derived from the storage of a freshet. Due to density of tailings during the initial years of operations, the available water in the supernatant pond gradually decreases as water received into the TSF is trapped in the pore spaces of the tailings, reaching a low of 4 Mm3 during Year 6. Following Year 6, the dry density of the tailings reaches the assumed maximum, and the Pond begins to accumulate water, reaching a maximum volume during operations of approximately 22.6 Mm3 during Year 16. Subsequent annual water deficits starting in Year 17 result from the cessation of inflow from the open pit dewatering facilities, as the open pit is permitted to commence filling. The pond volume at closure is approximately 18.7 Mm3 and the annual post closure surplus in the TSF is estimated at approximately 6.6 Mm3.

Under extreme dry conditions, the results of the analysis indicate that there may be a requirement to divert a portion of flows from the catchment east of the headwater channel in order to maintain the necessary pond volume to facilitate continuous, uninterrupted operations. Additionally, a large proportion



September 2012

of the fresh make-up water derived from the deep aquifer remains largely unused during each year of operations, and could be potentially utilized to supplement deficits in the TSF under these extreme conditions. The probabilistic water balance is highly conservative, and still indicates that there will be no requirement for a permanent make-up water supply, with any shortfalls being appropriately addressed with careful management of water throughout operations.

Access Corridor Water Management

The mine site will be accessed from the Forest Service 4500 road and is referred to as the New Prosperity Plant Access Road. Construction and maintenance of this road will follow the Forest Practices Code of BC and standard industry practices. Upgrades will be required to the 4500 road and will also be constructed and maintained as per the Forest Practices Code.

The Taseko Lake Road, Highway 20 and 97 are maintained by the Ministry of Highways and upgrades, if necessary, will follow the Ministry of Transportation guidelines.

Transmission Line Water Management

The 125 km long transmission line corridor begins at the proposed switching station near Dog Creek and terminates at the mine site. The construction and maintenance of the right-of-way will be consistent with the Forest Practice Code and standard industry practices to protect fish and fish habitat.

Contractor construction activities will be performed by methods that will prevent entrance or accidental spillage of contaminants, debris, and other pollutants into streams, dry watercourses, lakes, and ponds. The clearing contractor will erect and use best management practices such as silt fences on steep slopes and next to any stream, wetland, or other water body. Additional best management practices may be required for areas of disturbance created by construction activities. Appropriate permits from FLNRO to work in and about streams will be obtained as required. In addition, there will be compliance with all the criteria and guidance contained in applicable DFO Operational statements and the Ministry of Environment’s “A Users Guide to Working In and Around Water”. Each crossing will be planned and the appropriate approval or notification under the Water Act will be submitted before work begins. Every attempt will be made to schedule stream-crossing changes during the least risk window. Any proposed HADD will be submitted to DFO for authorization.

Diversion Structures

Diversions are necessary to manage the amount of water entering the tailings impoundment and minimize the water entering into the open pit. All of the water management structures are designed to reflect both regulatory requirements and engineering standards.

An eastern-side Channel will be constructed along the east slope of the Fish Creek Valley during the pre-production period to collect and divert clean runoff. The channel will minimise the volume of runoff reporting to the Tailings Storage Facility from the undisturbed portion of the catchment area.



September 2012

Monitoring and Surveillance

To ensure the channels are constructed to design specifications, monitoring will be scheduled at regular intervals throughout construction of the various channel components. The construction monitoring schedule will generally follow recommendations described in Standards and Best Practices for Instream Works (MWLAP, 2004).

To determine the accuracy of environmental effects predictions and effectiveness of the proposed channels, a monitoring program will be developed and implemented. The program will adhere to methods established in the Guidelines for Instream and Off-Channel Routine Effectiveness Evaluations (FIA, 2003) and focus on the biological effectiveness (e.g., seasonal use for rainbow trout spawning in the HCRP outlet/New Prosperity Lake inlet) and physical integrity of constructed channel components.

The follow-up program will include assessments of water quality (e.g., temperature, pH) and quantity, habitat structure and attribute integrity and functionality (e.g., substrates), riparian revegetation survival, and fish use by species- and life-stage (limited to the New Prosperity Lake inlet channel). The following schedule has been nominally identified:

Seasonal assessments of water quality, biological (where relevant) and physical attributes of the constructed channels during the first year of operation (four assessments), and

Annual assessment of the New Prosperity Lake inlet channel during the rainbow trout spawning and egg incubation period.

Remedial or adaptive measures will be applied immediately following any evaluation that determines a reduction in functionality or integrity of the compensation element based on a quantified trigger value.

Water Quality Control

The EMP will identify sources of wastewater and effluent, and specify the collection and storage of wastewater and effluent before treatment and disposal or release. The EMP will also specify what methods of treatment will be used to achieve acceptable discharge water quality standards; treated water will not be permitted to exit the site unless specified water quality criteria have been met. Means to contain effluent where release is not feasible will be described. Wells will be monitored regularly to determine possible effects of the project on groundwater quality. Results will be compared to specified water quality criteria.

Mitigations designed to protect water quality will also protect sediment quality and aquatic communities, including fish. The Plan will comply with the following documents and guidance:

Fish-Stream Crossing Guidebook (MOF, 2002)

Riparian Management Area Guidebook (MOF, 1995)

Pacific Region Operational Statement Overhead Line Construction Version 2 (DFO, 2006)

Model Class Screening Report - Embedded Culverts Project in Fish-bearing Streams on Forestry Roads In British Columbia (DFO, 2005), and

Land Development Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Habitat (DFO and MOELP, 1992).



September 2012

The New Prosperity Project incorporates many design features that limit potential effects on the environment. Its compact design provides containment of all mine waters on site until approximately 27 years post-closure Project design aspects and mitigation measures to reduce potential effects of discharge from the Pit Lake include:

Diversion of clean water to lower Fish Creek and Wasp Lake until post-closure

Operation of a compact closed system, that contains all mine waters on site until approximately 27 years post-closure, and directs any surface drainage, effluent

Treatment plant, sediment or metal-laden water to the TSF during operations

The planned configuration of the mine, with the pit being the most downstream element, which provides for a very reliable system of water management in that no surface water can leave the Project without passing through the open pit and is a very robust measure of controlling discharge to Lower Fish Creek

Proper storage of PAG waste rock and tailings in deep portions of the TSF, overlain by non-PAG tailings; submerging PAG materials has been shown to be effective in TSF design elements, including: materials used to build and line the embankment, development of extensive tailings beaches to keep the supernatant water an appropriate distance from the embankment crest, seepage collection ditches and ponds, materials used to construct the West Embankment, use of the pit as a groundwater and surface water catchment for the Project area, and locating of all Project elements within a single watershed

Controlling metal leaching (ARD/ML)

Reclamation planning for the 25 to 30 year closure phase that avoids revegetation of features projected to be flooded as part of the pit, to prevent buildup of organic matter and concerns about methylation of mercury once the location is flooded

The ability to control flows from the TSF into the pit post-closure to reduce loadings during the early spring low flow period on the Taseko River if monitoring indicates that increased levels of metals, hardness and sulphate at that time of year are predicted to pose a risk to aquatic life, and

Use of the TSF and pit as depositional areas to reduce sediment and metals loadings to surface waters, with up to 27 years prior to discharge to lower Fish Creek.

Taseko recognizes there is uncertainty inherent in the mass balance model used to predict pit water quality, but is confident that both the opportunity and the technology are available to address any exceedances of water quality guidelines adequately. Natural attenuation processes in the pit (precipitation of metals to the sediment) that cannot be accounted for in the mass balance model, and are not easily modelled, will reduce metals levels below those predicted as reasonable worst case estimates. In addition, there are treatment options available that are feasible using current technology. The need for treatment will be assessed through monitoring programs during operations and closure to assess the actual geochemical performance of the Project (to calibrate the water quality prediction to site data) and during the 27 years required for the pit to fill. Data from these monitoring programs will remove a large amount of uncertainty contained in the current prediction about metal loads generated by the different waste sources.



September 2012

Should monitoring indicate the need for water treatment, there are current technologies capable of achieving the necessary load reductions to meet existing provincial and federal guidelines and objectives.

Taseko will deal with uncertainty about predicted versus actual pit discharge concentrations by committing to meet generic or site-specific WQG that may be developed for the Project during the permitting stage. Additional mitigations, such as treatment of groundwater than contains porewater seeping through the western embankment and moving toward Big Onion Lake, would need to be assessed based on monitoring programs and implemented if actual groundwater quality is not as good as the conservative predictions made.

N. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

The comprehensive New Prosperity Occupational Health and Safety Plan will be developed to uphold Taseko’s commitment to a safe environment for employees, contractors and visitors. All aspects of the Taseko’s New Prosperity Project will conform to the health and safety requirements detailed in the Mines Act and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (2003). Day to day workplace rules will be in accordance with the Parts 2 and 3 of the Code. The New Prosperity Project Safety Manager will take the lead in establishing an Occupational Health and Safety Committee. This plan also addresses requirements that are not legislated under the Mines Act and subject to the BC Workers Compensation Act [RSBC 1996].

The Occupational Health and Safety Plan will set out the framework under which health and safety on the mine site, to and from the mine site and at the concentrate load out facility will be managed. The roles and responsibilities of the company, manager, superintendents, supervisors, and workers are set out under this plan. The plan also covers contractors that are New Prosperity site, including the power line right-of-way. Contractors not on-site are excluded from this plan and are expected to adhere to the appropriate legislation of their jurisdiction.

The programs that will be outlined under the plan include provisions for the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of physical, chemical, radiological, biological, ergonomic and psycho-social factors that may exist at the project site and in other project related activities.

Vision Statement

Taseko is committed to establishing a healthy and safe working environment for all individuals at its New Prosperity Project. To achieve this, Taseko will develop and maintain an occupational health and safety plan designed to prevent injuries and disease for all personnel. All employees and contractors will be required to know and follow our stringent safety guidelines for safe work procedures.

Strategic Objectives

The following strategic objectives have been designed to reflect the commitments set out in the in Taseko’s Health and Safety Policy:

Identify workplace hazards

Minimize the potential for occupational injuries, disease or loss of life



September 2012

Meet workers’ expectations to be informed as to the potential environmental and psycho-social factors that may affect the health and well-being of workers and apply this knowledge in the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases

Meet stakeholders’ expectations to ensure the health and safety of all persons on-site, including meeting training needs

Identify and make provisions to address the needs of all individuals with respect to health and safety; in such away their ability to do work is not compromised

Share information related to the health and safety of workers so they can share and contribute to the achievement of goals

Ensure that contractors activities legislated by the Workers Compensation Act are addressed with similar commitments to health and safety and legal obligations are met

Meet the legal requirements of the BC Mines Act (1996), Regulation and the appropriate sections of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code, and

Limit financial losses resulting in injuries and disease.

Strategies and Program Planning

To meet the strategic objectives outlined above, Taseko will incorporate the following in their Occupational Health and Safety Plan for New Prosperity:

Safety policies that at least cover on-site work, camp accommodation, off-site work, transportation of personnel, and contractors

A safety management program that focuses on the prevention and management of workplace accidents and injuries, including musculoskeletal disease (MSD); as required under the BC Mines Act (1996)

An occupational health management program that focuses on the anticipation, evaluation and control of worker exposure to environmental factors and stressors that may be physical (other than accident and ergonomic hazards), chemical, radiological or biological, in order to prevent short- and long-term occupational diseases; this program will integrate a workplace monitoring program as required under the BC Health, Safety and Reclamation Code

A worker well-being program that focuses on optimizing social conditions at work to minimize stress and enhance well-being in workers

A program for on-site medical attention and care

A return-to-work program to help returning injured workers to work as soon and as safely as possible

A risk communication program that focuses on (a) the need to raise awareness of risks to human health and the roles and responsibility of managers, supervisors, workers, health and safety committees that are related to the identification, prevention and control of these risks; and (b) the need to integrate feedback from workers, and

A training program in order to have competent workers, supervisors, managers and committees, with respect to worker health and safety.



September 2012

Implementation

Taseko’s Health and Safety Policy states: It is the policy of Taseko to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, and to establish operating practices which safeguard employees and physical assets.

To achieve this goal Taseko dedicates itself to:

Meeting or exceeding all industry standards and legislative requirements

Developing and enforcing safe work rules and procedures

Providing employees with the information and training necessary for them to work safely and effectively

Acquiring and maintaining materials, equipment and facilities so as to promote good health and safety

Encouraging employees at all levels to take a leadership role in accident prevention by reporting and/or correcting unsafe situations

Providing a safe and healthy workplace for all of our employees, contractors and visitors

Train and motivating all of our people to work in a safe and responsible manner

Making health and safety a part of all business decisions

Integrating the highest safety standards through exploration, design, construction, operations and closure

Applying “best practice” to our health and safety activities

Exceeding community expectations for health and safety

Striving for continuous improvement in our health and safety program, and

Holding all of our people accountable for health and safety.

As per the Mines Act, the Mine Health and Safety Program will use the following to establish a safe and positive working environment for employees:

Clear and demonstrated commitment from management

Competent personnel in coordinator roles

Health and safety policy

General safety rules

Codes of practice

Safe work procedures

A management system to identify the requirements of the program

A list of hazardous materials and work situations

Safe handling procedures

Provision of antidotes for chemicals used



September 2012

Monthly crew safety meetings

Procedures for accident and serious incident investigation

Procedures for safety tour inspections, and

A written preventative training program regarding musculoskeletal disorders.

Codes of practice will focus on project design. Safe work procedures will focus on employee roles and responsibilities. They will be written in a way that can be clearly understood and performed in a consistent manner. The scope will be reduced and expanded by the manager and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, as is their duty under the BC Mines Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. This program will integrate a workplace monitoring program.

Codes of practice and safe work procedures will be developed and/or reviewed before each project phase (construction, operations and closure). These will be implemented and updated for the duration of the project, using a continual improvement process. To assure mine safety, Taseko will focus on general safety rules, safe work procedures and internal operational policies and training. Policies will be addressed and managed by department, as required by the BC Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. Specific roles and responsibilities, scope, objectives, tasks, timescales and budgets will be established for each phase, and adjusted accordingly. Objectives and performance standards will be established and reviewed annually. Where improvements are required, action plans will be developed to achieve stated goals.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Safety and Security Department will implement the programs outlined within the Occupational Health and Safety Plan. The Health and Safety Coordinator will have a thorough understanding of the company’s operations and associated occupational health hazards. The coordinator will be familiar with appropriate methods to identify, evaluate, and control health and safety hazards. The Occupational Health and Safety Plan will outline the roles and responsibilities for the following:

Commitments and responsibilities at the corporate level

Mine Manager’s responsibilities

Superintendents’ responsibilities

Supervisors’ responsibilities

Workers’ responsibilities, and

Contractors’ responsibilities.

Occupational Health and Safety Committee

At the beginning of development, an Occupational Health and Safety Committee will be formed and composed of two or more persons representative of management and an equal or greater number of worker representatives. Outcomes from health and safety management meetings will be communicated to employees, and contractors.



September 2012

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee will have specific responsibilities with respect to this plan and include:

Reviewing Mine Health and Safety Program and all other programs under the Occupational Health and Safety Plan for completeness and effectiveness on an ongoing basis and submit its findings to the Mine Manager

Implementing monthly inspections of workplaces and comply with meeting and reporting requirements as set out in the BC Mines Act, and

Participating in the investigation of reportable incidents.

Hazardous Materials

A formal system will be implemented to monitor and guide the purchase, handling, use, storage and transport of hazardous materials. The Safety and Security and Environment Department will assess all new substances when they are purchased by Taseko or used on site by contractors. A list of hazardous materials will be kept for each department. Hazardous materials to be used on site include:

Petroleum products (e.g., diesel fuel, gasoline, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, oil and solvents)

Explosives (e.g., ammonium nitrate [AN])

Batteries, and

Mill reagents (e.g., flotation collectors such as potassium amyl xanthate, frothing agents such as methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), flocculants, and quicklime).

Other Procedures and Policies

Other procedures and policies include:

Monthly crew safety meetings

Procedures for accident and serious incident investigation

Procedures for safety tour inspections

Safe handling procedures (see Hazardous Materials Management Plan)

Storage and provision of appropriate antidotes on-site

Storage and maintenance of personal protective equipment, and

Provision of information regarding services and support available to workers.



September 2012

2.8.2 Decommissioning and Closure Plans

This section contains the conceptual reclamation and decommissioning plan for the New Prosperity Gold-Copper Project. The plan has been updated from the previously reviewed Prosperity Project to incorporate requirements of the New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines (CEAA, 2012), but remains consistent with the requirements of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in BC.

The following section outlines Taseko’s plan for specific actions and activities that will be implemented to minimize the potential or long-term environmental degradation, and clearly defines Taseko’s ongoing environmental monitoring for documenting reclamation success. The reclamation plan also supports the on-site component of the Habitat Compensation Reference Document (Appendix 2.7.2.8-B).

The reclamation and decommissioning plan focuses on the mine site as no changes to the access road and transmission line have occurred from the previously reviewed Prosperity Project. The main changes from Prosperity to New Prosperity that require revisions to the reclamation and decommissioning plan, including soils salvage and replacement planning, include:

Revised size and location of TSF and embankments

Revised location and number of soil stockpiles

Revised location of non-PAG waste rock storage

Elimination of the Prosperity Lake, headwater retention pond, and related water works, and

Revised water management features at operations and closure.

The EIS Guidelines requests the following information for the components of the Project that have changed:

Proposed end land use objectives for the various mine site components – Section 2.8.2.1

Productivity or capability objectives and the general means by which these objectives will be achieved – Section 2.8.2.2

Plans for removal of structures and equipment and remediation of contaminated soils – Section 2.8.2.3

Plans for reclaiming roads and other linear disturbances – Section 2.8.2.4

Waste rock stockpile reclamation plans, including final configurations, proposed re-sloping, soil replacement, and re-vegetation methods – Section 2.8.2.5

Tailings impoundment reclamation plans, including final impoundment configuration and water levels, re-sloping, soil replacement and re-vegetation methods – Section 2.8.2.6

Open pit filling times and final configuration – Section 2.8.2.7 (see also Section 2.8.1- Water Management Plan)

Site water management plans for all facilities and including re-establishment of post-mine watercourses – Section 2.8.2.8 (see also Section 2.8.1 – Water Management Plan)



September 2012

Concepts for monitoring and research programs that will assess reclamation success and for meeting overall closure objectives – Section 2.8.2.9

Conceptual monitoring programs for permanent structures to ensure long-term geotechnical stability – Section 2.8.2.10 (see also Section 2.8.1 – Geotechnical Stability Monitoring Plan)

Site water management plans including conceptual long-term monitoring programs for surface and groundwater quality – Section 2.8.2.11 (see also Section 2.8.1 – Water Management Plan and Section 2.7.2.4 Water Quantity and Quality), and

Management plans for final closure as well as temporary closure and/or early permanent closure – Section 2.8.2.12.



September 2012

2.8.2.1 End Land Use Objectives

Consistent with the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in BC, the Conceptual Reclamation and Decommissioning Plan for New Prosperity has three main objectives:

1. Provide for stable landforms

2. Prevent erosion and sedimentation to protect aquatic resources, and

3. Re-establish a productive land use that is of value for wildlife, while providing opportunities for First Nations use for traditional purposes and other resource users for trapping, grazing and recreation, mitigating the residual effects of the mine.

Similar to pre-development conditions, where primarily forested ecosystems provided a range of values, the post-closure landscape will be capable of supporting a range of simultaneous end land uses. Use of land and resources of the area by the First Nation people is a critical component of the end land use objectives. Reclamation to provide habitat for furbearers will help to promote the re-establishment of trapping opportunities on the portions of the mine area disrupted during operations. Grazing of horses and cattle is a contemporary use of the landscape, but has economic value to First Nations and other resources users; therefore, re-establishment of grazing opportunities is another secondary objective.

To achieve the wildlife and secondary end land use objectives, reclamation at the mine site will focus on the establishment of:

Forest and shrub lands for wildlife, that may also be suitable for plant gathering

Fisheries habitat, that may also be suitable for fishing

Wetland and riparian habitat for waterfowl and mammals, that may also be suitable for hunting and trapping, and

Open forage areas for wildlife that may also be suitable for plant gathering and/or grazing.



September 2012

2.8.2.2 Capability Objectives and General Means by which Objectives will be Achieved

The general concept applied to reclamation has not changed from the Prosperity Project; reclamation will be conducted with the goal of establishing post-mine capability on an average site-wide basis equivalent to the average capability of the land prior to mining, consistent with the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in BC.

The reclamation approach is intended to foster a return to appropriate and functional ecosystems, supported by soil replacement strategies that will facilitate the establishment of self-sustaining vegetation communities, and coarse woody debris (CWD) and sediment transplantation stratagies to support aquatic and shoreline ecosystem establishment along the TSF

Post closure capability is predicted using ecosystem mapping. Post-closure ecosystem mapping integrates post-closure soil characteristics (moisture and nutrient regimes) and forecasted landform topography (elevation, slope and aspect). The post closure ecosystems are only predicted for the mine site due to the changes in the landscape.

In general, the projected post-closure site series are similar to pre-development ecosystems as replaced soil materials and depths are very similar to pre-development conditions. The post-closure site topography encompasses a wider range of elevation, slope angles and aspects than the pre-development site. Pre-development slopes were typically flat to gentle, with moderate south-west facing aspects bounding the site to the north and east. Post-closure sites will consist of longer, steeper slopes with predominantly northwest, southwest and northeast aspects. The typical edaphic conditions are expected to be the same on the non-PAG waste rock stockpile, ore stockpile and plant site due to the replacement of the soil rooting zone and an organic-enriched horizon; however, the edaphic conditions on the TSF beach and embankments are expected to be drier due to the increase in elevation and depth to groundwater. Where clearing has been the only disturbance associated with development (e.g., on areas adjacent to roads or ditches), post-closure site series will be identical to those found in the same area prior to development.

There will be an overall increase of 176.4 ha of higher elevation area within the disturbance footprint due to the creation of the tailings storage facility and non-PAG waste stockpile features. The higher elevations of these features are predicted to result in an increase in the amount of area in the post-closure reclaimed landscape that will be located in the drier, colder Montane Spruce biogeoclimatic zone, with a corresponding decrease in the area in the Sub-Boreal Pine Spruce zone.

Pre-disturbance and post-closure ecosystem units are compared in Table 2.8.2.2-1 and shown on Figures 2.8.2-1 and 2.8.2-2.



September 2012

Table 2.8.2.2-1 Pre- and Post-Closure Ecosystem Units for the New Prosperity Copper-Gold Project Mine Footprint

BE

C U

nit

Eco

syst

em

Map

Co

de

Ecosystem Name

Baseline Area Post-closure

Are

a (h

a)

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f L

SA

(%

)

Are

a (h

a)

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f L

SA

(%

)

Mine Footprint: Vegetated Units

MSxv

BF Water Sedge-Beaked Sedge 117.1 6.1 25.8 1.3

DT Dandelion-Timber oatgrass 1.2 0.1 52.8 2.7

GK PL-Grouseberry-Kinnikinnick 20.1 1.0 0.0 0.0

JK Juniper-Kinnikinnick 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

LF Pl-Fescue-Stereocolon 0.0 0.0 492.9 25.6

LG PL-Grouseberry-Feathermoss 1105.2 57.1 610.1 31.7

LK Pl-Kinnikinnick-Cladonia 23.5 1.2 57.3 3.0

LT Pl-Trapper's tea-Crowberry 1.8 0.1 0.0 0.0

SC Sxw-Crowberry-Knight plume 94.5 4.9 30.5 1.6

SG Sxw-Crowberry-Glow moss 47.9 2.5 27.5 1.4

SH Sxw-Horsetail-Crowberry 51.7 2.7 0.6 0.0

ST Sxw-Labrador tea-Willow 2.9 0.1 0.0 0.0

WM Grey-leaved Willow-Glow moss shrub carr 9.6 0.5 0.0 0.0

WS Willow-Scrub birch- Sedge fen 62.0 3.2 0.01 0.0

YL Yellow-Pond Lily 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

Subtotal 1537.8 79.5 1297.5 67.5

SBPSxc

BF Water Sedge-Beaked Sedge 10.5 0.5 0.0 0.0

DS Drummond's willow-Sedge swamp 2.4 0.1 0.0 0.0

JK Juniper-Kinnikinnick 2.7 0.1 0.0 0.0

LC Pl-Kinnikinnick-Caldonia 5.6 0.3 9.4 0.5

LK Pl-kinnikinnick-Feather moss 249.5 12.9 3.7 0.2

SB Sxw-Scrub birch-Fen moss 5.3 0.3 0.0 0.0

SF Sxw-Scrub birch-Feather moss 29.1 1.5 0.0 0.0

SH Sxw-Horsetail-Glow moss 11.9 0.6 0.0 0.0

WM Grey-leaved willow-Glow moss shrub carr 23.9 1.2 0.0 0.0

WW Willow-Scrub birch-Sedge Fen 24.7 1.3 0.0 0.0

Subtotal 365.6 18.9 13.10 0.7

Mine Footprint: Non-vegetated Units

MSxv LA Lake 6.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 OW Open water 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Subtotal 6.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 SBPSxc ES Exposed Soil 2.4 0.1 0.0 0.0



September 2012

BE

C U

nit

Eco

syst

em

Map

Co

de

Ecosystem Name

Baseline Area Post-closure

Are

a (h

a)

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f L

SA

(%

)

Are

a (h

a)

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f L

SA

(%

)

OW Open water 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 RO Rock Outcrop 0.0 0.0 33.6 1.7 TA Talus 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.0

Subtotal 3.8 0.2 33.6 1.7

Mine Footprint: Anthropogenic Units

MSxv

DD Ditch 0.0 0.0 3.5 0.2 DP Pipelines 0.0 0.0 2.8 0.1 PD Pond -contact 0.0 0.0 5.6 0.3 RE Reservoir 0.0 0.0 379.8 19.8 RZ Road Surface 0.2 0.0 25.0 1.3

Subtotal 0.2 0.0 416.7 21.7

SBPSxc

DD Ditch 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.1 DP Pipelines 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 PD Pond -contact 0.0 0.0 1.4 0.1 PH Pump House 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 RE Reservoir 0.0 0.0 143.6 7.5 RZ Road Surface 2.4 0.1 7.9 0.4

Subtotal 2.4 0.1 155.3 8.1

Tailings Storage Facility Eastern Shoreline

MSxv

BF Water sedge-Beaked sedge 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 GK Pl-Grouseberry-Kinnikinnck 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 LG Pl-Grouseberry-Feather moss 4.9 0.3 0.0 0.0 SC Sxw-Crowberry-Knight's plume 0.2 0.0 4.7 0.2 SG Sxw-Crowberry-Glow moss 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 SH Sxw-Horsetail-Crowberry 0.2 0.0 1.3 0.1 WM Grey-leaved willow-Glow moss shrub carr 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Subtotal 6.0 0.3 6.0 0.3

Total 1922.2 - 1922.2 - NOTE: 47.5 ha of the baseline footprint has already been disturbed by trails and road access, but has not been classified as disturbed in the TEM.

Fish Lake

WaspLake

854LA

9119LK41SH6

84LA

1023LG7

7824LG6

3GKh63BF2

45LG5

8769LG61BF2

1528LG51LG61BF2

846LK7

1555LG54BF21GK5

88LG5

8846LK64LK4

1032LG7

875LG7

755LK6

403LG6

306LG6

528LC3

506LG63LG51GK5

8977LG 73SC 7

8949LG61LG5

10365LG75LG5

5298LG51BF21SG5

870LG6

302LG6

5607LG72BF21GK7

203LG7

5887LK73LK5

1025LG65LG5

1938LG42BF2

10897LG42LG61SG6

766LK6

5208LG62LG6

1365LG64LG51LK5

7749LG71BF2

7649LG41BF2

4768LG62GK6

681LK6

10608LG41SH41LG7

379LK5

9426SC 72LG 72LG5

256BF2

1908LK 72LK 4

4728LK62SF6

138LG6

619LG6

5946LK53LK61LC5

890LG4

6749LK71LK5

9489LG41SC4

798YL2

8168LG72BF2

754LK4

8238LK72LC7

7978LK41LC41WM3

4708LG51GK51BF2

5629LG61SG6

9268LG51SC51SH3

334LK5

905LKk7

5924LG6

3GKh63WS3

2579LG51SC5

7517LK52LK41LC5

8287LKk73LKk7

9738LG71SC71BF2

83LG4

4955LK44LK51LC4

886LK 7

6997LK 73LKs7

7507LG7

2GKh71WS3

4768LG62GK6

1418LK42LK5

2936LG53LG51GKr5

9206GK63LG41BF2

14LG3

537LGs62LK51WJ2

6926WW34BF2

665LG55LG6

733LG4

1448LG51GK41BF2

327LGs42LK41WJ2

8158LKk52LKk7

10118LG42LG6

697LG5

9067LG62GK61BF2

6827LK 73LKs7

7187LK62LC61BF2

4676LK54LC5

10378LG41BF21GK4

3246LC64LK5

230LK4

4819LG61BF2

6947LKs73LK 7

10259LG51SH6

724LG3

489LK7

8277LC62LC41JK3

4127LK62LK51SB6

7357LK62LC61BF2

432LK5

487LG53LG6

473LK6

3099LK41SH4

466WM34BF2

6987LK 73LC 7

10556SG62LG42SH3

238LG52LK5

6046LG63LG41BF2

1406LG52LK52LG7

350LG5

6538LG32SG3

889SC 7

8838LK 72LKk7

676LG52WM32GK5

5068LG 52LGs5

2357LK62BF21LC6

7309LK61LC6

10844SH44WS32BF2

2964JK34LC32LC4

6806LK54LK6

239LCs6

8317LK43LK6

4456LK62LC62SF6

7087LG52WM31SH7

329LK5

7606WS32LG62LG4

5637LG42GK41SG4

7429LK61BF2

636LK5

877LK 5

2379LK61LC6

9079LG51BF2

7466LC74LCk7

8816LG63LG51LG7

2816LK43LC51LK5

10429LG61SG6

1297LG42GKr41SH3

114LG4

851LKk7

93BF2

1809LK 5

1WW 3

7218LK72LC7

1997LK63LK4

1588LK72SB7

4365WJ23LC42LC5

1005SC65LG6

178LK4

9356LG64SC6

242BF2

4638LK42LC4

4477LK73LC7

3126LG53LK51SC6

8566LG 72LGs72SC7

1916LK53LK61LC5

8916LG 72LG 52SC7

2545LG74SC71LG4

6098LK 72SF 7

2367LG52WS31LK5

113LG5

7046LKk54LK 5

11148LG42LG7

4266LK53LC51SB6

3858LK52SF5

4868LK62SF6

584LA

669LK5

7379LG51SC6

2318LG71SG71WS3

7968LG52SC5

9136LKk74LKk5

583LC6

4838LK72LK5

502LK5

1898LG52GK5

3646LC64LK5

7859LK61BF2

5446LG42LG62WS3

7116LK64LC6

10535LG45LG7

2626LG53LK51OW

10288LG42LG5

1977LK72SF71BF2

8225SF 75LK 7

316LK3

253BF2

1648LK52SB5

3596LK64SF6

1068LG52SC5

1956LK52LC52SH5

5969LG71BF2

8418LC72JK3

7038LK6

1WM31BF2

209LG7

2385SF53LK4

2WM3

7256WS32LG42LG6

7837LG52GK51SH5

800LG6

48LGs42LK4

9659LK41LC4

8744LK 73SB 73WW3

817LK 7

595LK4

545SC65LG6

10697LG43LG7

6868LG52LT5

2686LG72BF22WS3

8328WM32LK5

153LK3

3076LG54GK5

9758WS32SH3

1657LKs42SB51LCs4

3005BF23LG52WM3

7586LG53WS31SH5

8988SC52SH3

5088LK52SF5

7315ROk15LCk7

8889LG71SC6

7618LKk72SF 7

7286LG54LG7

5988LK72LC7

3968LK52SH5

5596SG62LG42SH3

2765LC54LC41JK3

431OW

454LK5

5465LG63LG42WS3

7LGs3

998LG52SC5

918LK 5

590LG5

10837LG73SH6

1927LCs43WJ2

6737LK53LC7

717WM32BF21GK5

88LGs42OW

582LK4

168LK5

2776LK64LG5

9027LG42GK41SH3

3238SH32LK4

8346LG 52SC 52WS3

3818LK52SB5

2338LC62LK6

806SC7

769BF2

724LG3

851LKk7

9616LK54LK4

8556LK 54LC 5

1494LC64LK52JK3

2894LK74LG72LG5

398LK5

791LG4

2477LG72LG41SC7

2956LC44LC3

5258LK52LC5

716LG5

6508LK 42LC 4

9497LG52SC51BF2

3587LK43LK5

7195LG53WS32SG6

6148LG51WS31SH5

447LGs42WJ21LK4

9005SC74LG71SH3

10455LG63LG42SG6

28OW

113LG5

10308LG42LG7

5049LGs71BF 2

4845BF2

5WW3

2518BF2

2WW3

9566LG42LG62SG6

9415SB63LK4

2WM3

299LK3

885BF2

3696LC43LK41BF2

175LKk5

298LK5

639LK4

820LA

6839LK51SB5

5996SC42SC72WS3

7719BF21SB5

802SF 7

7628WS31BF21SH3

602WM3

4907LK53SB5

9964LG43LG73SC7

7127LG72LG51WS3

3976LK53SF51SB5

9467SC62LG61SH3

7347BF2

3WW3

6488BF22WS3

4047LK52SB51LC5

3668LK52LC5547

7LKs73LCv7

7998WM31BF21SB6

4026BF2

4WW3

3436LK54LK6

3274LC34LK62LK5

9015JK3

4LCw31ES1

8218LG 52LGs5

9825LG43BF22SG6

9724LG43LG73SC7

1319BF21LG5

5236BF24LG5

4135LK55SB5

726LK5

265SC6

2748LG72GK7

28LKw32LG4

229LK 4

361BF2

7365WW34BF21OW

10336WS33LG61SG6

4445LK53SB52LK7

186LA

6518BF22SB5

507BF2

4856SB54WM3

522LK4

6708LG52LK5

4307LK52LC51SH5

7845SC63LK5

2WM3

4438WW32BF2

5876SF 7

4WW 3

1736WM34SB3

4716SB5

3WW31LK5

8256BF24LG6

676LK7

8017SC62LG41WM3

1456LG53LK51OW

55SC55LG5

6428LG61GK61BF2

3955LK53LC52SB6

9039LG41SC7

939WM3

4086LK6

2WW32SH6

4506LK72LC72SF7

333LK5

7027BF22LK61SB5

4697LK5

2WM31JK2

1718LK5

2WW3

5035SH35WW3

4004LK44LC42WJ2

6125SG 53WS 32LG5

10158LG42LG5

184LG7

6796LK5

4WW3

3926LK44LC4

629WS31BF2

2348SC72WM3

1668LK62LK5

500LK4

206LK5

6935BF2

5WW3

705SF 7

9608LG41LG61SH3

1569LK5

1WM3

317LK5

8378LK62SB6

126LK4

90LG7

647WM3

8247LK73LK5

586LG52WM32BF2

7865WW33LK62SB7

196SB 7

3827JK33LC5

2696BF22LG62SH3

246LGs43LK41WJ2

4875LK53SB5

2WW3

5017LG53SC5

499LG 7

10925LG44LG51GK4

3836LK52LC52LC7

1988LG41WS31SC4

3845LK64LK51LC6

2975LKv53JKv32LG5

1767JK3

3LCw5

7436LG54SH6

435SC65LG6

5517WW 33SF 5

713LK 5

4427LK53SB5

6956BF22YL22OW

308LK3

835JK3

4358LC42WJ2

8875LCs64LKs61LKs4

5867LK52LC41JK3

321LK4

909LK5

862SC 7

3194LK54SH52LK7

345LG5

7686WS33SH31SG7

3887WW33BF2

3546LG74SC7

5307LK5

2WM31LC5

3578BF2

2WW3

3395SB53WM32LK5

1038LG51BF21SG5

9245SB65LK6

3445LC73LK42LC4

7274LK 54SF 52BF2

7785SC44LG41SH3

805LA

7535LC64LK4

1WM3

4646BF2

4WW3

3304LC64LK52LC3

7805SC44LG41SH3

4417WW32BF21SB5

8436SC 53LG 51BF2

4756JK32LC52LK5

9195SC44LG41SH3

610BF2

909LK5

2848LG52BF2

187LG7

9446LK54LK4

7078WW32BF2

2417LK63LC6

7016LKs74LCv7

792SC4

5859LK61BF2

7707LK42LC41JK3

8916LG 72LG 52SC7

6017LK42SB41WM3

8638LG 72SC 7

9125SC44LG41SH3

3896SB62LK6

2WW3

6458LK52LC5

250JK3

850LK 5

7387LG52GK51WS3

3805WW33LG52SB5

2086SC 74LG 7

116BF2

5939LG41SC5

9744LG43LG73SC7

2598SM62WW3

371BF2

3126LG53LK51SC6

637LK6

6968LG52SH5

7569LK61BF2

4748LK72JK3

9175LKk55LKk7

468BF2

7797LKk53LKk7

7678LG42SC4

3228LK52SF5

8925WW33BF22SB5

3537LK42LC41LC6

1076LG6

8336SB 7

4WW 3

6036SH54LK5

2708LK42SM4

4788LK62SB6

8198BF22YL2

7238LK 72SH 7

7204WM33LC63BF2

9955SG63WS32LG4

7579LG51SC5

1678LG72SG5

7594BF 2

4WW 32SB5

918LG72SH7

142WW3

553SF 5

3675JK35LC6

8267LCw73JK3

606BF2

6887LC53JK3

4926LG53LG71SG5

4608WW32WM3

205BF2

882WW3

749WW3

3327LK53SF5

4117LKs43LCv4

4338LK42LC4

4296LK5

2WW32SB6

5488BF22OW

849LC 5

2408WW 32SB 7

5898BF22WM3

758LG52GK5

4488WW32SB5

154WW3

4229LK51LC5

498LG5

1004LG6

8678LK62LC6

25WJ2

752LCs4

10097BF23WS3

748LG5

4399LK51LC5

8368LKk72LKk7

337OW

7657LG42LK41SH5

1516SB52BF22LK5

387BF2

1056LG54SH5

2526LK74LC7

6777BF 23SB 7

5498BF22LK5

8579LG 51SC 5

859LG51GK5

8686LK 52SB 72LC5

3057LK53SH5

4558LK52LK7

7657LG42LK41SH5

962LK6

347LK4

9806WW32BF22WM3

6407LK7

3WM3

8095WS 33SG 52BF2

8479SF 7

1WW 3

6058LG41WS31SC4

607BF2

2668BF22SG5

10219LG61SG6

2825BF25SH3

1486LG53LK51OW

8728WW32BF2

7144JKr34LCr52WW3

929LK 5

8455SB55LC6

2458BF22SB5

6728LG52GK5840

SF 5

6918LK62LC6

232BF 2

3706SH54BF2

8108LG 52LGs5

1696LK72LK52SF7

7116LK64LC6

4796SF 7

4WW 3

7455WM33SG62LG5

2498LK52LK5

3426LC52LK52SF5

9085SC44LG41SH3

629WS31BF2

3657WM33SB5

1778BF2

2WW3

9375SB63LK4

2WM3

6497SF 5

3WW 3

4778LK52LC5

6086LCr54LK 5

9987BF23WS3

10068LG41SH31SC5

415BF2

947WS3

9608LG41LG61SH3

9714LG43LG73SC7

4406JK34LC5

8077JK3

3ROw1

5058LG52SC5

931LG7

1577LK63LC6

4468WW32SF5

8446WS 33SG 71BF2

804LG7

1796LK7

4WM3

685WW3

2028WS32SG6

1507LK5

3WM3

2077LCw62JK3

1LKk4

437OW

629WS31BF2

732WW 3

8398BF22SB5

2925LK45SM4

2765LC54LC41JK3

8667LK4

3WW3

9998LG42LG6

10208LG41SH41LG7

2834LC63SH63WM3

1309BF21LG6

407BF2

372LK5

4887WW 33BF 2

8138WS32SC6

772SF 7

188LK5

4105JK35LC6

710BF2

10535LG45LG7

9169LK4

1LCs4

3289LG51BF2

8307LG 53WS 3

9045SC44LG41SH3

4498WM32SB5

2046LK7

4WM3

3365SF5

5WW3

7897WM33BF2

943LG 5

194WW 3

10308LG42LG7

1746LK 72SF 72WW3

4388LC42WJ2

243WW3

10178LG42LG7

6668BF22LK5

7908LG42SC6

8579LG 51SC 5

8667LK4

3WW3

341BF2

4057BF2

3WW3

909LK5

372LK5

3766SB5

4WW3

6897BF 23SB 7

9216WW 32BF 22WM3

5508LG52GK5

9574LG43LG73SC7

10008LG42LG5

865LK 7

7636SF 7

4WW 3

7956WS33LG41BF2

10068LG41SH31SC5

3745BF2

3WW32SB5

1395LG73LG52SH7

8697LG 73LGs7

10145WS34SH31LG4

8788WW 32SB 5

8427JK32ES11LC3

8717LKk73LKk5

9125SC44LG41SH3

943LG 5

8539LK71SB7

87BE1

7416SC54WM3

9976SG62LG42SH3

5919LG51SH5

3687LG73SC7

4628LG52SC5

4528WW32SF5

1018LG52GK5

951LG6

898LK52SB4

943LG 5

2756WS33LG51OW

8187LG 73LG 5

8608LK 52SF 6

1706LK52SH52WM3

4245LK53SH52WM3

3996SF52LK5

2WM3

87BE1

10128LG41SH41LG7

8BF2b2WS3a

LG3

8LG41SH31SC5

7LG 7 3LGs7

8LG62GK6

LG6

8LG41LG61SH3

5LG44LG71SC7

LG6

9LG51SH5

8LG52LT5

6LG62LK62SC6

LG 5

LG6 9LG51SH5

7LGs5 3LGw7

6LG62LG52SG6

8LG62SC6

LK 5

6LG53LK51SC6

8LG72SH7

LG4

7LG 7 3LG 5

9LG51SC5

LG7

5LG73LG52SC6

8LG32SG3

8LG72SC7

8LG52SG5

LG5

6LG72LG52SC78LG 5

2SC 5

5LG55LG6

8LG72SC7

5LG73LG52SH7LA

6LG 7 2LGs7 2SC7

8LG42LG6

7LG72LG51SG7

LK5

5LK 5 3LK 3 2LK7

9LG51BF2b

8LK 7 2LKks7

6LG72BF2b2SH5

LG5

LG 5

LG4

6LKsw5 4LKw5

6LK44GK4

6LK72LK52SF7

LK6

8LK72SF7

6LG52SC72LG7

7LG73LG5

9LG41SC5

8LG72LG5

8LK52SF5

6LK54LC6

LG7

6LG72LG5

2WS3a

6LG72LG52SH7

6WW 3a2BF 2b2WM3a

8LK 7 2SF 7

6LG72LG52SC7

LKks7

4LG74LG52SC7

5SC44LG41SH3

8LG72SG5

LG5

7LG53LG7

8LG72SH7

6LK 5 2LK 4 2LK7

8LG52LG7

9LG51BF2b

6LG74SC7

8LG41SH41LG7

6LG72LG52SH7

LG5

LK5

BF2b

8LG72LG5

SC 7

8LG52SC5

8LG52GK5

9LG51SC5

7LG 7 3LG 5

7SF73LK7

4LK74LG72LG5

7LK53LK7

6LG54LG7

8LG52SC5

8LK41SB41RZ

LG7

LKk5

LK 5

9LK51SH5

7LKk5 3LKk7

4LG74LG52SH7

LG5

8LG42LG7

5LG53LG72BF2b

9LG51SH6

LK5

8LG51BF2b1SG5

LK5

6LK 4 2LK 7 2LK3

LK4

LG5

8LG52LG6

6SF 7 4LK 5

8LG72GK7

LKv5 LG7

LG5

LK 7

6LG52LG72SG5

7LKks7 3LKk5

8LG72GK7

8LGs7 2LGs4

6LG54GK5

8LG72SC7

SC4

8LK 7 2SF 7

7LK43LK6

LG7

6LG54LG7

LG5

6LG74LG5

6LG72WS3a2SG5

8LG72SH7

LG5

8LG72SG5

7LG42LK41SH5

8LG72LK7

6LG72SC72LG5

LG5

7LG42GK41SC6

6LG53WS3a1SH5

LG7

7LG72LG51SC7

LG6

5LG 5 5LG 7

6LK54LK7

7LG53LG7

5SC74LG71SH3

LK5

8LG72SC7

6LG72WS3a2SH7

LG7

6LG54LG7

6ES 1 3LK 7 1RZ

9LG 5 1SC 5

8LG72LG5

LK5

6LG54LG7

7BF2b3WS3a

7LK 7 3WM 3a

7WS 3a3SC 7

6LG42BF2b2SH3

8LG41SH41LG7

8LG52SH5

8LG52SC5

LG6

6WS3a2BF2b2SH6

5LG73SH72SG5

8WM3a2WW3a

6LG72BF2b2WS3a

8WS3a2BF2b

WW3a

LG5

6LG72LG52SH7

6LG73SG71ST5

LG5

6LG74LG5

9LKk4 1LKk3

9WS3a1BF2b

5LK 5 4LK 4 1RZ

5LG53LG72SG7

8LG72SC7

8LG41SH31SC5

6LG54LG7

7LK 7 3LK 5

7SC73LG5

LG 5

7LG52WM3a1SH7

8LK52SH5

5LG63LG52SG6

6WW3a4BF2b

8LG72SH7

LG4

5SB65LK6

6WS 3a4SH 7

7SC42LG41SH3

8BF2b2WS3a

7LG 5 3SC 7

8LK 5 2SF 6

8LG72GK7

8BF2b2WW3a

LG7

8LG52LK5

LG5

LA

LK 5

LG5

LG4

8LK52WM3a

LK 5

5LG53LG6

2WM3a

7LG53WM3a

8LG52SG5

8LK 7 2SF 7

6LG74SC7

LG5

8LK72WM3a

6LK52SH5

2WM3a

LG 5

6LG52SH72LG7

5LK53SH5

2WM3a

LK 7

9LG71LG5

7LG53WS3a

5LK 5 3LK 3 2SB5

8SH72LK7

5SC44LG41SH3

LG6

6SG54SC7

8LK52LC5

6SC64LG5

LGv5

LK 4

5SH73WM3a2LG5

6LG52WM3a2GK5

9LKk5 1LKk3

LG5

6BF2b4LG5

8LG62LG6

8LG72SC7

7LK53SB5

8LG72SG5

7SC 7 3WS 3a

7LG53SC6

6LG74LK5

8LK52LK7

5SH63SF62LK6

8LG72GK7

4LG74SG72LG5

7LK 5 2LK 7 1SB5

5LK73SF7

2WM3a

LG7

8LG52SG5

8LG72LK7

LG5

8LGsw5 2LKsw5

7LG73SC7

6LG54SC5

7LG73SC7

6LG63LG41BF2b

6LG52SG5

2WM3a

6LG74SH7

LG4

6LG53BF2b1LG7

6LKk7 4LKk5

6LG52SG5

2WS3a

8LG72SC7

7LK 7 3LK 5

LG6

8LG 5 2LGs5

8LG42SC4

8LG 5 2SC 7

LG5

7BF2b3LG5

SC 7

8WW 3a2SB 5

7LG73SH7

8LG52SC5

WS3a

8LG52GK5

8LG52SH5

6LG72LG52SG5

BF2b

6LG73SC7

1WS3a

8WW3a2SF5

8LG72GK5

8LG52SC5

7LK73SH7

6LK64LG5

SC 7

8WS3a1BF2b1SH3

5SF 7 4WM 3a

1RZ

6SF73LK5

1WW3a

6LG52LK52LG7

BF2b

4LK 7 3SB 7

3WW3a

7LK43LK3

5SG 5 3WS 3a2LG5

WS3a

6LG 7 2LG 5 2SC7

8LG52SG5

8WS3a2SH3

8LK52SB5

8LK51LK51SH5

8LKvw5 2LKvw7

8LG41LG61SH3

8LG42LG6

5LG53GK52SG5

8LG41LG61SH3

6SG54ST5

LK6

8SG52LG5DS3b

8LG 5 2SC 5

6BF2b2WS3a2SG5

6LG42BF2b2SH3

SH5

8LK72SH7

7LG52WS3a1LK5

LG7

9LG51WS3a

9LG51SG5

8SC 7 2WS 3a

8BF2b2SG5

8LG52LG7

7LK53SH5

8LG72SC7

6LG53WM3a1SH5

5LK 5 5SF 5

8LK52SB5

8SC62SH3

8LG52GK5

8LK 4 2LK 5

6LG72GK72LG5

9LG51SC5

LKk5

9LG51JK3

7LK 5 2LK 3 1RZ

LG5

6LK74LK5

8LG52SC5

6LG63LG51GK5

8LG72SG5

8WS3a2BF2b

6SC54WM3a

6LG54SG5

6SC54LG5

7LG 7 3LG 5

8BF2b2WS3a

6BF2b4WM3a

6LG53LG71SG5

8LK52SF5

9LK71SB7

LKv5

7SC42LG41SH3

6JK3 4DS 3b

9LG41RZ

8LK62LC6

6SF52LK5

2WM3a

6LG54SG5

7LG52SC51BF2b

8BF2b2SG5

7LG53SH5

8LG72SG5

8WM 3a2SB 7

8LKk3 2RZ

6LK 5 4LK 7

8LG52SG5

5LG73SG52BF2b

LG7

8GK62LG5

GKr5

BF2b

LG5

6LK 5 2SB 7 2LC5

8SF72LK7

6LG42BF2b2SH3

8WS3a2SG5

8LK52SH5

7LG53SG5

8LG42LG6

5WS3a4SH31LG4

9LG41SH3

7LG52SC5

1WM3a

8LG42LG5

6WS3a4SH5

6LK64SF6

5LG65WS3a

5WS3a3SG62BF2b

8WS3a2SG5

8LG42LG5

8LK 7 2SF 7

LK6

8WM3a1BF2b1SB6

8WS3a2BF2b

6SC 7 4LG 7

8LG52LG7 8LG5

2SC5

7BF2b3SG5

9LG51SG5

6LG54SG5

6SG 7 2WS 3a2BF2b

7WM3a3SH7

5LKs7 5JKs3

5LKk5 5LKk7

5LKv53JKv32LG5

5SC44LG41SH3

LK 5

7SC 5 3WS 3a

7LG 5 3SC 5

8LKk5 2LKk3

8LG72SH7

8SH62LG5

7LG73GK7

6LK44JK3

8LK72LC5

8BF2b2WS3a

9WW3a1BF2b

LG5

8LK 5 2LK 3

8LG52SH5

5WS3a4SH31LG4

6LK 5 4LK 3

8WS3a1BF2b1SH3

LG5

8LG41LG61SH3

8LG52SC5

6LG74SH7

8LG72SG5

7LG53LK5

LKk5

7WW 3a3SF 5

WS3aLG5

8LG52SC5

8LC 7 2JK 3

7TAk1 3LCkv7

8LG52SG7

4JK34LC32LC4

BF2b

7DT22LG6

1WM3a

5ST53WS3a2SG5

5LG53WS3a2SG6

8LK52LK7

4LK 7 4SB 7

2WW3a

8LG52SC5

LK5

LG5

8LG52SG5 BF2b

BF2b

8LG52SG5

6WW 3a2DS 3b2OW

6WS3a4SG5

8LKs4 2LCv4

8SGp62WM3a

8LG41SH41LG7

8WM3a2SH7

8LG72SC7

6BF2b3LG51SG5

BF2b

8LG52SC5

8LG52WM3a

6WM 3a4SF 5

JK3

7LK43WW3a

9SC 7 1WS 3a

7LG72LK5

1WM3a

6LK 5 4LC 5

8WW 3a2SB 3

LG5

8SH72WM3a

4LG43LG73SC7

LKks7

7BF2b3OW

6SC42SC7

2WS3a

LG5

LKks7

LG5

6LG74SG7

5LG63SC62BF2b

8LG52GK5

6WS3a3LG41BF2b

SH6

SC 7

6WW 3a4SB 7

9LK 5 1WW 3a

WS3a

8WS3a1BF2b1SH3

7SC62LG4

1WM3a

7WW 3a3SB 5

5BF 2b3WS 3a2SG7

8WS 3a2SC 3

BF2b

5SC53WS3a2LG5

LG5

BF2b

BF2b

WW3a

7LK43LK6

LG5

9SC61WM3a

6SH72LG62GK6

8LG72SH7

5SC44LG41SH3

JK3 8LG52WM3aLK5

8WS3a2ST5

7BF 2b3SG 7

8LG52GK5

6LK43LC51LK5

6SG54BF2b

6LG52SG52BF2b

8BF2b1LG41SH6

8LG71SG71BF2b

8BF 2b2SG 7

4BF2b4SG6

2WM3a

WS3a

8WS3a2SG6

6LK 7 2SF 7

2WW3a

BE1

8LG52WM3a

8SH72WS3a

LG7

6LG54GK5

7LG52GK5

1WS3a

9WW3a1SB6

BF2b

7SC 5 3BF 2b

WS3a

BF2b

6LG63LG41BF2b

BF2b

BF2b

8BF2b2ST5

LG7

8BF2b2SG5

BF2b

5LKs7 5LCv7

8BF 2b2WW 3a

WM3a

BF2b

LA

LG5

8WS3a2LG6

8LG52SH5

9WM3a1JK3

8LG42LG7

6LG42BF2b2SH3

5LK44LK51LC4

8WS3a2SH3

BF2b

6OW4YL2c

8LG42SC6

BF2b

LG7

BF2b

WM3a

4LKk6 4LKw3 2ES1

8WM3a2SG5

BF2b

BF2b

6LG52SG5

2WM3a

LK6

9LK41LC4

6LG73SH7

1WM3a

6LG72SH72BF2b

BF2b

7WW3a3SH6

8WS3a2BF2b

4LG43LG73SC7

LG5

6SG62LG42SH3

BF2b

7LG53GK5

BF2b8SC52WS3a

8SC72WM3a

SG5

WS3a

SG5

5LG53SH5

2WM3a

5SB53WM3a

2LK5

BF 2b

LK5

8WS3a1BF2b1SH3

8WS3a2SH3

6SC 7 2LG 7 2LG5

8LG52GK5

8SC52SH3

LA

5WW 3a5SB 7

LC 5

BF 2b

4LG63GKh63BF2b

6SC52BF2b2LG5

LG5

7WW 3a3SF 5

5SF53LK4

2WM3a

7LG72GKh71WS3a

7LG52GK51SH5

8WM3a2LK5

SC 7

LK7

LK 5

LG5

8LG52SC5

4LK54SH52LK7

1600

1500

1700

1400

1600

1600

16 00

1 5 00

1500

16 00

1600

1700

15001600

1600

1500

1700

4560

00

456000

460000

460000

464000

4640

00

5692000

5692

000

5696000

5696000

5700000

5700000

5704

000


Baseline Ecosystem Units

25th July 2012

2.8.2-1 REV0

LEGEND:

Ecosystem Unit

Montane Spruce (Very Dry, Very Cold)

Sub-Boreal Pine - Spruce (Very Dry, Cold)

Post-Mine Feature

Terrestrial EcosystemMapping Extent

Paved Road

Gravel Road

Rough Road

Trail

River

Lake0 1 2 30.5

Kilometers


Datum: NAD 83 Zone 10 Drawn By: R Stohmann Verified By: T Dinneen Data Sources: Taseko Mines Limited, Stantec, Province of British ColumbiaPath: U:\123210163\gis\figures\Reclamation\MXD\123210163_069_Rec_BL_TEM.mxd

NOTES:

1. Full legend for baseline ecosystems is located inAppendix 5-5E (March 2009 EIS Application)

ECOSYSTEMUNIT LABEL

6FVk 33FH 31FL 3

Site SeriesDecile Percentage

Decile 1

Structural StageSite Modifier

Decile 2

Decile 3

Fish Lake

WaspLake

9119LK41SH6

854LA

84LA

1023LG7

7824LG6

3GKh63BF2

45LG5

1528LG51LG61BF2

8769LG61BF2

665LG55LG6

8846LK64LK4

846LK7

1555LG54BF21GK5

88LG5

875LG7

755LK6

403LG6

306LG6

1025LG65LG5

7116LK64LC6

10365LG75LG5

1032LG7

506LG63LG51GK5

528LC3

8977LG 73SC 7

5298LG51BF21SG5

2936LG53LG51GKr5

870LG6

8949LG61LG5

302LG6

203LG7

5887LK73LK5

5607LG72BF21GK7

1938LG42BF2

5208LG62LG6

1365LG64LG51LK5

766LK6

256BF2

7749LG71BF2

92LG6

10897LG42LG61SG6

7649LG41BF2

10259LG51SH6

10535LG45LG7

4768LG62GK6

10608LG41SH41LG7

9426SC 72LG 72LG5

681LK6

379LK5

1908LK 72LK 4

4728LK62SF6

5946LK53LK61LC5

138LG6

352LK4

6749LK71LK5

9489LG41SC4

890LG4

8168LG72BF2

798YL2

3246LC64LK5

7978LK41LC41WM3

8238LK72LC7

754LK4

239LCs6

962LK6

5629LG61SG6

11148LG42LG7

1418LK42LK5

4708LG51GK51BF2

619LG6

9268LG51SC51SH3

2468JK3

1LCw31RO1

5924LG6

3GKh63WS3

2579LG51SC5

905LKk7

334LK5

7517LK52LK41LC5

675LC4

8287LKk73LKk7

9738LG71SC71BF2

327LGs42LK41WJ2

83LG4

1118LK42LC4

10697LG43LG7

9327LK6

3LCs6

4955LK44LK51LC4

316LK3

169LK51LC5

6997LK 73LKs7

7507LG7

2GKh71WS3

886LK 7

4768LG62GK6

3099LK41SH4

537LGs62LK51WJ2

9206GK63LG41BF2

10417LG52GK51SG6

14LG3

8277LC62LC41JK3

2106LG62LG72LG4

1448LG51GK41BF2

733LG4

8158LKk52LKk7

10118LG42LG6

6827LK 73LKs7

7187LK62LC61BF2

794LK6

697LG5

4676LK54LC5

10378LG41BF21GK4

6947LKs73LK 7

4819LG61BF2

230LK4

6528JK3

1LCw31ESw1

724LG3

909LK5

4127LK62LK51SB6

326LCw3

7357LK62LC61BF2

489LK7

487LG53LG6

1494LC64LK52JK3

432LK5

466WM34BF2

473LK6

9067LG62GK61BF2

9659LK41LC4

238LG52LK5

6046LG63LG41BF2

1406LG52LK52LG7

3469JK3

1LCw3

6154LG43LG73SH4

6538LG32SG3

350LG5

8838LK 72LKk7

676LG52WM32GK5

5068LG 52LGs5

889SC 7

2357LK62BF21LC6

7309LK61LC6

10844SH44WS32BF2

2964JK34LC32LC4

531JK3

6806LK54LK6

4456LK62LC62SF6

8317LK43LK6

7087LG52WM31SH7

2338LC62LK6

8875LCs64LKs61LKs4

246LGs43LK41WJ2363

7LK43LK5

10358LG61LG51SH3

7606WS32LG62LG4

898LK52SB4

5637LG42GK41SG4

329LK5

4638LK42LC4

7429LK61BF2

636LK5

2379LK61LC6

877LK 5

7466LC74LCk7

9079LG51BF2

2816LK43LC51LK5

8816LG63LG51LG7

10837LG73SH6

4979LK41BF2

10429LG61SG6

1297LG42GKr41SH3

1309BF21LG6

1809LK 5

1WW 3

114LG4

925LKk4

851LKk7

7218LK72LC7

93BF2

1997LK63LK4

3117LCw63JK3

4365WJ23LC42LC5

1588LK72SB7

1005SC65LG6

9356LG64SC6

9136LKk74LKk5

2765LC54LC41JK3

2077LCw62JK3

1LKk4

178LK4

242BF2

8566LG 72LGs72SC7

1657LKs42SB51LCs4

3126LG53LK51SC6

4477LK73LC7

8916LG 72LG 52SC7

1916LK53LK61LC5

2545LG74SC71LG4

10017LK52LC51WM3

9169LK4

1LCs4

859LG51GK5

6098LK 72SF 7

2367LG52WS31LK5

386LK4

7046LKk54LK 5

4266LK53LC51SB6

36LK5

113LG5

2854LK44LC42JK3

3858LK52SF5

4868LK62SF6

8418LC72JK3

2318LG71SG71WS3

7379LG51SC6

11464LG63LG53LG7

7968LG52SC5

669LK5

4838LK72LK5

1898LG52GK5

583LC6

3646LC64LK5

7859LK61BF2

447LGs42WJ21LK4

502LK5

5446LG42LG62WS3

69LK4

95OW

2626LG53LK51OW

1977LK72SF71BF2

10288LG42LG5

8225SF 75LK 7

38LC41LC51LK5

977JK3

3LCw4

124LCw4

1956LK52LC52SH5

1648LK52SB5

1068LG52SC5

3596LK64SF6

9616LK54LK4

253BF2

7038LK6

1WM31BF2

5969LG71BF2

2385SF53LK4

2WM3

7837LG52GK51SH5

267LK4

209LG7

48LGs42LK4

8744LK 73SB 73WW3

800LG6

545SC65LG6

6868LG52LT5

817LK 7

752LCs4

595LK4

2686LG72BF22WS3

8328WM32LK5

8247LK73LK5

715LC6

3076LG54GK5

9758WS32SH3

8988SC52SH3

918LK 5

299LK3

278LC4

6148LG51WS31SH5

7618LKk72SF 7

4117LKs43LCv4

7286LG54LG7

5596SG62LG42SH3

5988LK72LC7

3968LK52SH5

867LKs52LCs51JK3

431OW

454LK5

5465LG63LG42WS3

998LG52SC5

7LGs3

1927LCs43WJ2

6737LK53LC7

5149LG41SG5

9027LG42GK41SH3

8346LG 52SC 52WS3

582LK4

578LKs41WJ21LCs4

4145LK45LK4

3818LK52SB5

806SC7

851LKk7

724LG3

275LKs44LCs41WJ2

2894LK74LG72LG5

791LG4

5258LK52LC5

9497LG52SC51BF2

3587LK43LK5

9388LK52LK4

9005SC74LG71SH3

3696LC43LK41BF2

639LK4

175LKk5

2106LG62LG72LG4

298LK5

6926WW34BF2

63LK5

10556SG62LG42SH3

6987LK 73LC 7

7719BF21SB5

802SF 7

7628WS31BF21SH3

602WM3

4907LK53SB5

9964LG43LG73SC7

9015JK3

4LCw31ES1

6006LCw52LCw32JK3

7127LG72LG51WS3

522LK4

9806WW32BF22WM3

584LA

313JK3

2925LK45SM4

8527JK32LC31ES1

3976LK53SF51SB5

717WM32BF21GK5

479LC51WJ2

8116LK63LC61JK3

7256WS32LG42LG6

9467SC62LG61SH3

7347BF2

3WW3

6488BF22WS3

3917LK53LK4

864LKw5

4047LK52SB51LC5

3274LC34LK62LK5

3668LK52LC5

3005BF23LG52WM3

153LK3

7586LG53WS31SH5

5088LK52SF5

3675JK35LC6

7315ROk15LCk7

2834LC63SH63WM3

8427JK32ES11LC3

8889LG71SC6

5477LKs73LCv7

3827JK33LC5

7998WM31BF21SB6

4026BF2

4WW3

3436LK54LK6

8218LG 52LGs5

28LKw32LG4

9724LG43LG73SC7

8077JK3

3ROw1

1319BF21LG5

590LG5

5236BF24LG5

88LGs42OW

4135LK55SB5

9825LG43BF22SG6

2776LK64LG5

3238SH32LK4

726LK5

168LK5

265SC6

2748LG72GK7

7365WW34BF21OW

10336WS33LG61SG6

229LK 4

769BF2

4438WW32BF2

8556LK 54LC 5

361BF2

4445LK53SB52LK7

4019JK3

1LCw3

1062WS3

6518BF22SB5

6418LK42LC4

4856SB54WM3

1439LK4

1WW3

186LA

3787LCw42LCw51JK3

2477LG72LG41SC7

398LK5

2956LC44LC3

507BF2

7845SC63LK5

2WM3

6708LG52LK5

4307LK52LC51SH5

5876SF 7

4WW 3

1736WM34SB3

6508LK 42LC 4

4716SB5

3WW31LK5

716LG5

7195LG53WS32SG6

8017SC62LG41WM3

8256BF24LG6

8387LK4

2LCw41JK3

1456LG53LK51OW

1289WW31BF2

8087LK73LC7

271LG6

55SC55LG5

676LK7

4358LC42WJ2

5265LK45SF6

6428LG61GK61BF2

7204WM33LC63BF2

3955LK53LC52SB6

1024SH3

4086LK6

2WW32SH6

9039LG41SC7

4506LK72LC72SF7

939WM3

4175LCw44LCk41JK3

10455LG63LG42SG6

7027BF22LK61SB5

4697LK5

2WM31JK2

1718LK5

2WW3

4004LK44LC42WJ2

333LK5

6125SG 53WS 32LG5

5035SH35WW3

814SF5

28OW

1476LK4

2LCw32JK3

8297JK32ES11LC3

6796LK5

4WW3

10158LG42LG5

629WS31BF2

113LG5

3926LK44LC4

10925LG44LG51GK4

2484LK44LK62JK3

5049LGs71BF 2

184LG7

10308LG42LG7

2348SC72WM3

1668LK62LK5

500LK4

6935BF2

5WW3

4845BF2

5WW3

2518BF2

2WW3

206LK5

9566LG42LG62SG6

9415SB63LK4

2WM3

9608LG41LG61SH3

6386LCw53LKk51JK3

705SF 7

1328WW31BF21WM3

261LK4

1569LK5

1WM3

7065LCw64LKw41LCw4

8378LK62SB6

1828LK52LK3

317LK5

940DT2

137SM4

7865WW33LK62SB7

586LG52WM32BF2

90LG7

360LCw4

126LK4

2598SM62WW3

647WM3

4875LK53SB5

2WW3

2696BF22LG62SH3

196SB 7

5488BF22OW

5017LG53SC5

3836LK52LC52LC7

885BF2

1988LG41WS31SC4

2975LKv53JKv32LG5

499LG 7

3845LK64LK51LC6

1767JK3

3LCw5

758LG52GK5

7436LG54SH6

4618LK42LC4

9458LKk42LKk6

435SC65LG6

5517WW 33SF 5

953WM3

4427LK53SB5

6956BF22YL22OW

5277JK33LC6

713LK 5

9175LKk55LKk7

5867LK52LC41JK3

308LK3

835JK3

9245SB65LK6

321LK4

3194LK54SH52LK7

7686WS33SH31SG7

3887WW33BF2

5307LK5

2WM31LC5

3546LG74SC7

862SC 7

3578BF2

2WW3

3395SB53WM32LK5

1038LG51BF21SG5

345LG5

3445LC73LK42LC4

7274LK 54SF 52BF2

7785SC44LG41SH3

7535LC64LK4

1WM3

244LK5

4646BF2

4WW3

3304LC64LK52LC3

4417WW32BF21SB5

7805SC44LG41SH3

9545LC45LK4

8116LK63LC61JK3

805LA

8436SC 53LG 51BF2

820LA

6839LK51SB5

4756JK32LC52LK5

9195SC44LG41SH3

8588JK3

2LCw3

138LK5

2WW3

5996SC42SC72WS3

2848LG52BF2

9446LK54LK4

610BF2

7078WW32BF2

187LG7

142WW3

2417LK63LC6

7016LKs74LCv7

8916LG 72LG 52SC7

6017LK42SB41WM3

7707LK42LC41JK3

2017LK62LK41JK3

5859LK61BF2

3896SB62LK6

2WW3

8638LG 72SC 7

9125SC44LG41SH3

792SC4

6458LK52LC5

7387LG52GK51WS3

3805WW33LG52SB5

250JK3

850LK 5

2086SC 74LG 7

9744LG43LG73SC7

5939LG41SC5

1725LCw44TAw11ROz1

1354LG63BF23GK6

3126LG53LK51SC6

116BF2

6968LG52SH5

10097BF23WS3

7569LK61BF2

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8667LK4

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407BF2

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372LK5

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188LK5

710BF2

3289LG51BF2

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1746LK 72SF 72WW3

194WW 3

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243WW3

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341BF2

372LK5

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6897BF 23SB 7

5508LG52GK5

10008LG42LG5

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10068LG41SH31SC5

1395LG73LG52SH7

8697LG 73LGs7

10145WS34SH31LG4

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8717LKk73LKk5

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803LK5

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87BE1

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5919LG51SH5

390LK5

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1018LG52GK5

951LG6

943LG 5

6848LCw42LCw5

8187LG 73LG 5

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6LF04LG0

RE0

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LG6

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8LG41LG61SH3

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LKks7

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9LG51SH5

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LK7

8LG42LG7

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6LG72LGs72SC7

5LG44LG71SC7

LG5

LKk5

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4LK74LG72LG5

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BE0

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8LG32SG3

8LG41SH41LG7

7LG03LK0

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9LG51SC5

LG4

6LG62LK62SC6

5LG73LG52SH7

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8LG52LT5

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6LKsw54LKw5

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LG4

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8LGs72LGs4

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8LK72SF7

LG6

RO0

7LKks73LKk5

8LG41SH31SC5

LG0

LF0 LF0LG7

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6LG53LK51SC6

6LG42BF2b2SH3

6LG54LG7

7LG52WM3a1SH7

9LG51SH5

LG5

5SC44LG41SH3

LK4

LK0

9LG51SH5

9LG41SC5

6WW3a2BF2b2WM3a

6LG54LG7

SC7

6LG53LK51SC6

5LG53LG6

2WM3a

5SB65LK6

LK7

8LK52LC5

8LG41SH31SC5

SC7

6LG72LGs72SC7

RZ0

LK5

6LG52WM3a2GK5

6LG54GK5

8LG41SH41LG7

8LG51BF2b1SG5

7LG73LGs7

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8LG52LT5

6LKk74LKk5

7LG73LGs7

SC4

9LG41SC5

8LG72GK7

LG7

6LG72LG52SC7

9LG51SC5

LC0

8LG62LG6

8LG72SC7

6WS3a2BF2b2SH6

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8LG62GK6

LG4

LG5

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8LK52SH5

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LC0

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5SC44LG41SH3

8LK52SF5

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6LG52LK52LG7

8LG62SC6

PD0

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8WS3a2SH3

9LG51SC5

6LG53WS3a1SH5

8LG41LG61SH3

7SC73LG5

7LG42LK41SH5

9LG51BF2b

9LG51SC5

8LG62SC6

8LK52SF6

6LG42BF2b2SH3

8LG42SC4

7LG73SC7

WS3a

RZ0

LG6

WS3a

LK0

8LG72SG5

6LG74SC7

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8LK52LK7

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8LK41SB41RZ0

9LG51SH5

8LG02SC0

LK5

8LG41LG61SH3

5SC74LG71SH3

8LG52SC5

8LG52SC5

6LG63LG51GK5

LG5

LG0

LK5

8LK52SB5

LG0

7LG73LGs7

LG0

8LK41SB41RZ0

7LG73LGs7

8WS3a2BF2b

7LG53SC7

8BF2b2WW3a

9LK71SB7

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5LG73LG52SC6

6LG63LG41BF2b

LG6

9LG51SH5

8LK52SF6

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7LG52WS3a1LK5

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8LG62SC6

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8LG42LG6

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9LG51SC5

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5WS3a3SG62BF2b

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8LG72SH7

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6WW3a4BF2b

8LG41SH31SC5

5LG44LG71SC7

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7LG73LG5

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LG0

8LG52SC5

7LG73LG5

6LG72LGs72SC7

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8LKvw52LKvw7

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8LG41SH31SC5

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8GK62LG5

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8LG41LG61SH3

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8LG42LG6

LG3

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6LG63LG41BF2b

LG6

6LG52LG72SG5

4LK74LG72LG5

4LK74LG72LG5

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5LG73LG52SH7

9LG51SH6

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5LK44LK51LC4

7LG53LG7

6LK54LK3

8SC52SH5

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8SC62SH6

RZ0

8LG52SC7 6LG5

2SG52WM3a

SC7

7LG73LG5

LK4

6LG72LG52SG5

LKks7

8LG52SC5

6LG53LK51SC6

8LG41LG61SH3

LG3

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5LG44LG71SC7

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4LG63GKh63BF2b

6LG72LG52SH7

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5LG55LG6

LA0

6BF2b4LG5

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5LG55LG6

8LK72LKks7

7LGs53LGw7

1600

1500

1700

1400

1300

1600

1600

1700

1400

1600

160

0

16 00

1600

1500

1600

1500

1500

1700

1400

4560

00

456000

460000

460000

464000

4640

00

5692000

5692

000

5696000

5696000

5700000

5700000

5704000

5704

000


Post-closure Ecosystem Units

25th July 2012

2.8.2-2 REV0

LEGEND:Ecosystem Unit

Baseline



Reclaimed



Post-Mine Feature

Terrestrial EcosystemMapping Extent

Paved Road

Gravel Road

Rough Road

Trail

River

Lake 0 1 2 30.5

Kilometers


Datum: NAD 83 Zone 10 Drawn By: R Stohmann Verified By: T Dinneen Data Sources: Taseko Mines Limited, Stantec, Province of British ColumbiaPath: U:\123210163\gis\figures\Reclamation\MXD\123210163_070_Rec_PC_TEM.mxd

ECOSYSTEMUNIT LABEL

6FVk 33FH 31FL 3

Site SeriesDecile Percentage

Decile 1

Structural Stage

Site Modifier

Decile 2Decile 3

NOTES:

1. Full legend for ecosystems is located inAppendix 5-5E (March 2009 EIS Application)



September 2012

Wildlife Capability

Reclamation for wildlife will focus on habitat characteristics for species that were assessed as Key Indicators for wildlife (see Section 2.7.2.8 – Impact Assessment for Wildlife). Where reclamation practices are of particular benefit to a key species, these are shown in brackets following the description of the practice; however, it should be understood that these measures are not limited in application to the key species. For example, movement corridors beneficial to ungulates and bears will also be used by wolves and coyotes.

The 10 key wildlife species for this Project were great blue heron, Barrow’s goldeneye, mallard, amphibians as a class, short-eared owl, fisher, mule deer, moose, black bear, and grizzly bear. Habitat capability for amphibians, mallard and great blue heron is only found in wetland ecosystem types, while habitat capability for most other species can be found in upland or wetland ecosystems.

Some wildlife and plant species indicated as important by the Tsilhqot‘in in the William Case are key species for reclamation. The species selected for wildlife capability also represent habitat requirements for other key wildlife species. For example, reclamation of habitat for the SARA-listed olive-sided flycatcher is captured in general reclamation for key species, such as fisher, that share similar broad habitat requirements (i.e., mature forest), but specific reclamation practices (e.g. planting snags) are included as well.

Wildlife habitat capability categories are based on the highest rating for all species out of all life requisites and seasons assessed independent of timeline (see Table 2.8.2.2-2). For example, where Pl–Kinnikinnick–Lingonberry habitats were rated as having grizzly bear spring, summer, and fall feeding capability values of “moderate”, “moderate” and “low”, respectively, the overall rating used for the conceptual reclamation plan was “moderate” for grizzly bears in that habitat.

Table 2.8.2.2-2 Wildlife Capability on the Post-Closure Reclamation Area1

Wildlife Habitat Category Description Area (ha) Area (%)

Upland Habitat (moderately high ODHE, URAR; moderate ALAM, BAGO; low MAPE, SEOW) 23.5 1.2

Upland Habitat (moderately high ODHE, ALAM; moderate URAM, URAR; low MAPE, SEOW) 31.6 1.6

Upland Habitat (moderate MAPE, ODHE, URAR, BAGO; low URAR, URAM, ALAM, SEOW) 737.4 38.4

Upland Habitat (moderate URAM, ODHE, ALAM, BAGO; low URAR, MAPE, SEOW) 84.4 4.4

Upland Habitat (moderate ODHE, URAR, ALAM, BAGO; low MAPE, SEOW) 8.3 0.4

Upland Habitat (moderate URAM, ODHE, ALAM; low URAR, MAPE, SEOW) 219.1 11.4

Upland Habitat (moderate ODHE, URAR, ALAM; low MAPE, SEOW) 59.4 3.1

Total Upland Habitat 1231.4 64.1



September 2012

Wetland Habitat (moderate URAR, SEOW, AMPH; low GBHE, MALL) 25.8 1.3 Wetland Habitat (low MAPE, SEOW, AMPH, ODHE; moderate URAR, ALAM) 0.5 <0.1

Wetland Habitat (low GBHE, AMPH and MALL) 7.0 0.4

Wetland Habitat (low AMPH, GBHE) 4.5 0.2

Total Wetland Habitat 43.9 2.3

No Wildlife Habitat Capability Rating Assigned (deep water and water related infrastructure)

646.9 33.7

Total Area 1922.3 - Species Key: MAPE – Fisher URAM – Black bear URAR – Grizzly bear ODHE – Mule deer ALAM – Moose

BAGO – Barrow’s goldeneye SEOW – short-eared owl GBHE – Great blue heron MALL – mallard AMPH - amphibians

1 The post-closure reclamation area includes 6.05 ha of shoreline on the eastern side of the TSF Lake where habitat capability for Barrow’s goldeneye, amphibians and other species will change due to the decreased proximity to water compared to baseline.

2 Note: wetland habitats on the post-closure mine site were not considered wetlands for the vegetation effects assessment, to be most conservative about the success rates to reclaim these ecosystems.

Predicted ecosystems will provide: moderately high capability for grizzly bears, moose and mule deer; moderate capability for fisher, short-eared owl, black bear, Barrows goldeneye, and amphibians, and low capability for great blue heron and mallard (Figure 2.8.2-3).

Some ecosystem functions and habitat types will be restored more quickly than others. For example, mule deer will likely use reclaimed sites within a few years of reclamation, while it may take longer for species like fisher, which require old forests, to use the land again. Reclamation practices such as placement of nest boxes or artificial snags will be used to restore some ecosystem functions to partially compensate for the time lag to restore entire ecosystems. Placement of snags will allow for some raptor and bird nesting requirements to be met prior to the natural development of snags in reclaimed forests Reclamation practices for specific ecosystem functions to be restored on site as part of the Habitat Compensation Reference Document are described in the following subsection ‘General Means by Which Objectives Will Be Met’.

Pit Lake

TSF Pond

Fish Lake

WaspLake

1600

1500

1700

1400

1600

1600

1 600

1600

1600

150 0

1600

1600

1500

1600

1500

1600

1600

16001500

4560

00

456000

460000

460000

464000

4640

00

5692000

5692

000

5696000

5696000

5700000

5700000

5704000

5704

000

±


16th August 2012

2.8.2-3 REV0

Upland Habitat (moderately high URAR; moderate MAPE, ALAM, BAGO, SEOW; low URAM, ODHE)Upland Habitat (moderately high ODHE, URAR; moderate ALAM, BAGO; low MAPE, SEOW)Upland Habitat (moderately high ODHE, ALAM; moderate URAM, URAR; low MAPE, SEOW)Upland Habitat (moderate MAPE, ODHE, URAR, BAGO; low URAM, ALAM, SEOW)Upland Habitat (moderate ODHE, URAR, ALAM, BAGO; low MAPE, SEOW)Upland Habitat (moderate ODHE, URAR, ALAM; low MAPE, SEOW)Upland Habitat (moderate URAM,ODHE,ALAM, BAGO; low MAPE, SEOW)Upland Habitat (moderate URAM,ODHE,ALAM; low MAPE, SEOW)Upland Habitat (very low URAR)

0 1 2 30.5

Kilometers


Datum: NAD 83 Zone 10 Drawn By: Steve Parker Verified By: Katherine Gizikoff Data Sources: Taseko Mines Limited, Stantec, Province of British ColumbiaPath: U:\123210163\gis\figures\Reclamation\MXD\123210163_099_Rec_CL_WL_Cap_Mine_FP_Detail.mxd

Post-Mine Terrestrial Wildlife Capability

Closure Wildlife Capability - Mine Site Footprint

LEGEND:

DRAFT

DRAFT

SPECIES LIST:

FisherBlack bearGrizzly bearMule deerMooseBarrow’s goldeneyeShort-eared owlGreat blue heronMallardAmphibians

MAPEURAMURARODHEALAMBAGOSEOWGBHEMALLAMPH

Species Code: Common Name:

Permanent FeaturePaved RoadGravel RoadRough RoadTrailRiverLake

Wetland Habitat (moderate URAR, ALAM; low MAPE, SEOW, AMPH, ODHE)Wetland Habitat (moderate URAR, SEOW, AMPH; low GBHE, MALL)Wetland Habitat (low GBHE, AMPH and MALL)Wetland Habitat (low AMPH, GBHE)Wetland Habitat (very low URAR, ALAM; moderate AMPH)No Habitat CapabilitySuitable for Grazing

ckher

Rectangle

ckher

Rectangle



September 2012

Consideration of Species of Interest to First Nations based on the William Case

Twenty-four species were identified in the William Case as being of particular importance to the TNG. Six of these species (moose, mule deer, grizzly bear, black bear, fisher and mallard) were used to develop wildlife capability ratings for the post-closure footprint. The capability for 14 of the other species is considered to be inferable from the capability rating for the key reclamation species that are related, or have similar behaviour and habitat use patterns. These linkages between William Case species and key reclamation species are presented in Table 2.8.2.2-3.

Table 2.8.2.2-3 Linkages between Key Reclamation Species and William Case Species

Key Reclamation Species

William Case Species captured by Key Reclamation Species Habitat

Grizzly bear* wolf, cougar, Canada lynx, bobcat, snowshoe hare, wolverine, American marten, American mink, weasels, mice and voles

Black bear* red squirrel, northern flying squirrel, American marten, weasels, mice and voles Mule deer* wolf, cougar, Canada lynx, bobcat, snowshoe hare, feral horses, wolverine,

American marten, weasels, mice and voles Moose* wolf, cougar, Canada lynx, bobcat, snowshoe hare, wolverine, American marten,

American mink, weasels, mice and voles Fisher* red squirrel, northern flying squirrel, American marten, American mink, weasels,

mice and voles Short-eared owl mice and voles, feral horses Barrow’s goldeneye red squirrel, northern flying squirrel, American marten, American mink, weasels,

mice and voles Great blue heron - Mallard* American beaver, common muskrat, northern river otter Amphibians - *key reclamation species also listed as important First Nations species



September 2012

First Nations Use for Traditional Purposes

The reclamation of habitat for ungulates and large carnivores will provide moderate to high hunting opportunities on the post-closure mine features. Trapping opportunities for Lynx, Snowshoe Hare, mink, weasels, and squirrels will also likely be high based on the moderate to high post-closure capability for mule deer habitat. Trapping opportunities for beaver, muskrat and river otter will be lost from the wetland areas under the TSF, which will not be reclaimed to suitable wetland and marsh habitats for these species; however, trapping of these species can still occur in the Fish Lake watershed north of the TSF. There will also be no capability for fishing in the Pit Lake predicted at this time, but fishing capability will be maintained in Fish Lake and the TSF.

Traditional use (berry, medicine and other cultural use) plants that are listed in the final revegetation species list include: dwarf mountain blueberry, wild strawberry, black currant, black gooseberry, red elderberry, common paintbrush, black hawthorn, green alder, and water birch. Other species may be added to the revegetation mix based on successful survival trials in reclamation research. Taseko will be open to discussing with interested First Nations the reclamation species lists through all phases of mining.

Other Resource Uses

Grazing opportunities may be restored on reclaimed areas of the non-PAG waste rock storage areas and the TSF tailings beach, where open landscape can provide forage for summer use. Waterfowl viewing areas are expected to be obtained on the TSF with the sedge ecosystem ([BF] Water sedge – beaked sedge).

Fish Lake Island, an area identified as being of particular importance to First Nations, will be maintained through the New Prosperity mine. During all phases of mining, access to Fish Lake will be provided.

Recreational opportunities will be provided in the post-closure landscape by: improved safer access to Fish Lake and the reclaimed mine site area by the upgraded access road; and hunting opportunities on the former mine site due to the creation of wildlife habitats.

Post-mining recreational capability for boating, camping, and wildlife viewing are expected in the TSF area.

General Means by Which Objectives Will Be Met

To meet end land use objectives of restoring stable landforms, functioning ecosystems and grazing opportunities a number of general reclamation practices will be implemented on the reclaimed landscape (See Figure 2.8.2-4). The techniques applied can be divided into three categories: 1. Mine Planning and Design, 2. Revegetation, and 3. Habitat enhancements.

1. Mine Planning and Design

Leaving natural forest intact within the mine site clearing boundary wherever possible to enable movement of wildlife (bears, ungulates) and plants across the mine site

In areas requiring vegetation clearing only, (i.e., power lines) leaving tall stumps (stubs) and snags, where possible and safe to do so, for cavity nesting species and raptor perches



September 2012

Salvage, storage and replacement of sufficient quality soil materials for reclamation to meet land capability objectives

Resloping the non-PAG waste rock stockpile and TSF embankments to 2H:1V prior to reclamation. Resloping will facilitate placement of soil, establishment of vegetation and ease of movement of humans, wildlife and livestock

Recontouring reclaimed linear disturbance features (i.e. pipelines, roads and drainage ditches) to re-establish natural drainage patterns, and

Site preparation to alleviate compaction where required and facilitate drainage.

2. Revegetation

Seeding channels and applying rip rap, willow cuttings as required to control erosion as shown on spillways for the BC Quintette Operating Corporation (Sharman, 2004)

Seeding areas as soon as possible after placement of soil with a seed mix suitable for erosion protection. Interim seeding mixes will also provide summer forage for bears, moose and mule deer, and

Planting deciduous and coniferous trees in variable densities and clumps to create habitat patches and forest openings as tested at BC’s Sullivan Mine (Przeczek and Ryder, 2011). The island and clump planting increase the suitability of the reclaimed landscape for a variety of species for feeding and shelter (ungulates, bears, short-eared owl).

3. Habitat Enhancement

Habitat enhancements are additions to the reclaimed landscape that add habitat value. These ehancements to the landscape can be divided into upland and shoreline techniques. Many of the suggestions have been tested on other mine sites and literature is cited where appropriate.

Upland Habitat Enhancements

o Providing visual breaks on large mine features by creating topographic features such as low berms or rock piles and dense plantings of conifers and large deciduous shrubs (bears, ungulates).

o Adding large logs, rock piles, stumps, and other coarse woody debris to future forested areas to provide micro-habitats for small mammals and furbearers (fisher) and perching habitat for raptors (short-eared owl)

o Planting artificial snags 5 m high on reclaimed areas along forest edges (olive-sided flycatcher), and

o Installing nest boxes on poles in areas less than 500 m from Fish Lake to compensate for habitat lost by the construction of the TSF (Barrow’s goldeneye).

Shoreline Habitat Enhancements



September 2012

o Placement of coarse woody debris along some of the shoreline of the TSF to provide habitat for amphibians, and placement of submerged and floating logs in the TSF to provide surface area for aquatic bacteria and algae to establish when water quality allows. This technique has been successfully tested at Highland Valley Copper mine in BC (Larratt et al., 1999).

o When water quality allows, inoculation of the TSF with surface substrate from nearby suitable water bodies to accelerate wetland ecosystem establishment. This technique has been applied at Highland Valley Copper mine in BC (Larratt et al., 1999).

o When water quality allows, transplant native aquatic plants from nearby water bodies to accelerate wetland ecosystem development. This technique has been applied at Highland Valley Copper mine in BC (Larratt et al., 1999).

o Innoculating the TSF with macro and micro nutrients (fertilizer) to encourage quick establishment of an aquatic ecosystem as completed at both Highland Valley Copper and (Larratt et al., 1999) and Island Copper at mine closure.

D

Pit Lake

TSF PondE

D

Fish Lake

WaspLake

D

C

A

B

A CB

BF

A

B EB

A

FE

E

E

E E

EE

E

E

E

E

E1600

1500

1700

1600

1600

1600

1 600

1600 1600

1600

1600

1500

1700

4560

00

456000

460000

460000

464000

4640

00

5692000

5692

000

5696000

5696000

5700000

5700000

5704000

5704

000

±


16th August 2012

2.8.2-4 REV0

Permanent Mine FeaturePermanent Water Body

Paved RoadGravel RoadRough RoadTrail

RiverLake

0 1 2 30.5

Kilometers


Datum: NAD 83 Zone 10 Drawn By: K. Poll Verified By: T. Dinneen Data Sources: Taseko Mines Limited, Stantec, Province of British ColumbiaPath: U:\123210163\gis\figures\Reclamation\MXD\123210163_098_reclamation_plan.mxd

Conceptual Reclamation Plan

A. Slope to 2H:1V and cap with 50 cm stockpiled soilB. Grade to natural contour; no soil replacement(native soils left in place)C. Grade to natural contour and cap with 50 cmstockpiled soilD. Cap with 50 cm soilE. Grade to natural contour and cap withwindrowed soilF. Pit walls exempt from reclamationNo soil capping

Coarse woody debrisNative grass seeding on slopes withclump planting of native shrubsPlacement of coarse woody debris (CWD)and rock piles; native trees and shrubsplanted at variable density from open shrublandto closed canopy forestPlacement of nest boxes for cavity nesting birds(e.g. Barrow’s goldeneye)

Surface Shaping andSoil Replacement Treatments

Revegetation Treatments andWildlife Habitat Enhancements



September 2012

Soil Salvage and Stockpiling

A Soil Handling Plan is provided in Section 2.8.1(g) of the Environmental Management Plans. Soil salvage is based upon the data collected by Talisman in 1996 and 1997 (Talisman Land Resource Consultants Inc., 1997), and soil sampling and mapping completed by JWA in 2006 (see March 2009 EIS/Application Volume 5, Section 4.5 Scope of Assessment for Soils). Details of the reclamation suitability criteria for soil used to generate salvage volumes are outlined in Section 2.7.2.6, Terrain and Soils.

The soil handling plan takes into account the volumes of soil required for final reclamation of mine disturbance sites. Table 2.8.2.2-4 lists the Project mine disturbance areas and sites which will be reclaimed progressively during mine life and at closure. Approximately 1,380 ha will require a soil cover prior to revegetation.

Table 2.8.2.2-4 further details the volumes of soil required for final reclamation based on the area of each disturbance site and the proposed soil replacement depths. For soil volume estimation, waste rock storage and TSF embankment slope areas were increased by a liberal 30% in order to account for larger surface areas once these sites are resloped to 2H:1V grades. Approximately 6,322,000 m3 of soil material will be required for capping.



September 2012

Table 2.8.2.2-4 Soil Volumes Required for Reclamation

Disturbance Site Area (ha)

Soil Capping

Depth (cm)

Soil Volume

Required (m3)

Soil Source/Stockpile

Windrowed Soil Sites1 :

Access Trail 1.3 76 9,896 Access trail windrows Ditch – Contact 7.9 57 45,074 Ditch windrows Ditch Non-Contact 5.7 54 31,248 Ditch windrows Explosives Storage 1.2 87 10,328 Explosives storage windrow Fish Lake Dam 0.5 108 5,113 Fish Lake Dam windrow Fish Lake Pumphouse 0.1 45 268 Fish Lake Pumphouse windrow Pipelines 12.3 52 63,688 Pipeline windrows Pond – Contact 12.7 74 101,046 Pond windrows Pond - Non-Contact 5.2 48 25,113 Pond windrows Pond – Tailings 0.1 45 563 Pond windrows Site Road 43.9 55 240,229 Site road windrows Sub-totals: 90.9 532.63

Stockpiled Soil Sites:

Conveyor 2.3 50 11,316 Plant Site Stockpile Haul Road 26.9 50 134,363 Plant Site Stockpile Pit2 177.2 0 0 Plant 35.9 50 179,655 Plant Site Stockpile Stockpile - Non-PAG 132.0 50 660,000 Plant Site Stockpile Stockpile – Ore 77.5 50 387,741 Plant Site Stockpile Stockpile – Soil3 129.5 0 0 TSF Beach 763.9 50 3,819,276 East Stockpile 1, East Stockpile 2 TSF Embankment 123.0 50 615,000 North Stockpile 1, North Stockpile 2 TSF Pond4 405.6 0 0 Sub-totals: 1,873.7 5,807,351

Totals: 1,964.6 6,339.98 NOTES: For Windrowed Soil Sites- volumes of soil salvaged are the volumes that are replaced at time of reclamation; therefore, replacement soil depths will depend on the areas to cover at time of reclamation. Depths in Table 2.8.3-4 are based on the site areas and the calculated soil salvage volumes of the sites in Table 2.8.3-5. Pit walls and pond will remain as permanent disturbance features; no soil replacement. Soils under soil stockpile sites will be left intact; therefore, no soil replacement required. TSF Pond will remain as permanent disturbance feature; no soil replacement.



September 2012

Recontouring

The non-PAG waste rockpiles will be resloped as required to meet end land use goals, facilitate the placement of soil, and revegetate as part of the reclamation plan, as well as assist the long-term geotechnical stability of these waste piles.

Surfaces of waste rock and overburden compacted from equipment traffic will be scarified as necessary prior to soil capping.

Soil Replacement

Soils replacement strategies are presented in the soils handling plan in Section 2.8.1(g) Environmental Management Plans. Reclamation sites will be capped with soil materials stored in windrows or from designated stockpiles. The soil replacement depths for the windrow sites are determined from the volume of material estimated to be salvaged from the sites and their areas. An average soil replacement depth of 50 cm will be placed on areas that will receive soils from stockpiles. This depth is based on average pre-development rooting depths.

The access trails, water management facilities/structures, pipelines, roads and explosives facilities will be reclaimed through replacement of windrowed soil.

The non-PAG waste rock dump (non PAG stockpile), ore stockpile, plant site, conveyor line, haul road and tailings embankments will be reclaimed through placement of 50 cm of salvaged and stockpiled soil in one lift. The replaced soil cap will consist of up to 26 % organic soils by volume mixed with mineral soils based on the amount of organic soils that are expected to be salvaged and mixed into stockpiles. Where required, soil may be scarified prior to seeding if the surface becomes compacted due to truck or equipment traffic.

Portions of the tailings beach requiring capping to enhance vegetation growth and reduce effects from wind erosion will be capped with stockpiled soil material to a depth of 50 cm, with the exception of a proposed 100 m wide zone on the beach area measured from the high water mark. Soil replacement is not planned for this zone to prevent erosion of the soil capping material along the shoreline. Establishment of riparian and shoreline vegetation is expected to be successful without soil capping.

Revegetation

Revegetation prescriptions proposed are based on plant species occurrences at baseline, post closure conditions, availability of species in greenhouses or as seed mix, historical effectiveness of species, as well as plant species of interest to First Nations in the William case.

Interim revegetation refers to the seeding of soil stockpiles, soil windrows, disturbances associated with the transmission corridor, diversions ditches and mine features, particularly sloping sites as they become temporarily or permanently inactive, for the purpose of invasive plant and erosion control. Interim revegetation involves seeding of a grass and legume ground cover consisting predominantly of native grass and legume species and some agronomic species.

Ground cover will successfully reduce water impacts, velocities, and runoff on the slopes. Candidate species for interim reclamation, invasive plant control and reclamation designed to control surface erosion on stockpile slopes are given in Table 2.8.2.2-5.



September 2012

Table 2.8.2.2-5 Candidate Grass and Legume Species for Interim Reclamation

Common Name Scientific Name Grass/Legume/Forb Native species:

spreading needlegrass Achnatherum richardsonii Grass hair bentgrass Agrostis scabra Grass

timber milk-vetch Astragalus miser Legume Bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Grass

slimstem reed grass Calamagrostis stricta Grass slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus Grass

Fireweed Epilobioum angustifolium Forb Rocky mountain fescue Festuca saximontana Grass needle and thread grass Hesperostipa comata Grass

fowl bluegrass Poa palustris Grass Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis Grass Nevada bluegrass Poa secunda Grass

bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicatum Grass American vetch Vicia americana Legume

Agronomic species:

cicer milkvetch Astragalus cicer Legume annual ryegrass Lolium multiflorum Grass birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus Legume

Sainfoin Onobrychis vicifolia Legume annual / fall rye Secale cereal Grass

NOTES: 1. Native species listed based on species surveyed in mine project area. 2. Use of listed native species will be dependent on availability of seed stock from commercial seed suppliers. If unavailable,

suitable substitute species will be used. 3. Annual agronomic grass species included to provide a fast growing/establishing vegetation cover until native species become

established. 4. Agronomic legume species included to provide fast establishing nitrogen fixing species; application rates will be kept low to

prevent from becoming too widespread and out-competing native species.

The candidate revegetation mix focuses on native species to address concerns of introducing agronomics for reclamation in specific areas of the Project, limiting the spread of introduced species, and when possible, including species of importance to First Nations.

Due to the large amount of disturbed ground that is created in mining operations, development of a program to prevent invasive plant species from becoming a management problem on the mine site and associated disturbances is necessary. An invasive plant management plan, an overview of which is provided in Section 2.8.1, developed by the proponent will be implemented.

Final reclamation will involve both planting and seeding prescriptions. All areas with moderate forest capability will be reclaimed using treatments designed to promote a return to productive forest ecosystems with wildlife values. Such treatments will include planting of coniferous and deciduous trees with understory shrub and forb species to provide stand diversity.



September 2012

Table 2.8.2.2-6 provides a list of native tree, shrub and herb species which potentially could be used for final reclamation. Planted areas may be inter-seeded with nitrogen-fixing agronomic legumes to enhance site nutrient, control surface erosion and prevent invasive plant establishment on newly reclaimed sites.

Areas with low forest capability, but moderate to high capability for wildlife will be reclaimed using treatments to promote productive open landscapes with wildlife values. Such treatments will include combinations of seeding or transplanting of grasses, sedges and rushes; and planting of deciduous shrubs.

The initial reclamation objective on slope faces will be controlling surface erosion to prevent degradation of the soil cap as described above. Over time these reclaimed areas will provide a variety of changing habitats. As natural regeneration progresses they will provide a diversity of habitat through the natural colonization of deciduous tree and shrub species, and will eventually evolve into mature conifer forest ecosystems.

Trees and shrubs will be planted predominantly on the non-PAG waste stockpile plateaus and in variable densities and clumps (from open to dense forest), creating habitat patches and forest openings that increase the suitability of the reclaimed landscape for a variety of species for feeding and shelter.

As with the non-PAG waste stockpile, the initial focus of revegetation efforts on the tailings embankments and beach will be seeding with a grass/legume mix to prevent erosion of the soil cap. Deciduous shrub and tree species will be planted in island groupings.



September 2012

Table 2.8.2.2-6 Candidate Species for Final Reclamation

Biogeoclimatic Subzone

Tree Component Shrub and Herb Component

Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name

SBPSxc lodgepole pine Pinus contorta green alder* Alnus tenuifolia

trembling aspen

Populus tremuloides Saskatoon berry

Amelanchier alnifolia

scrub birch Betula glandulosa

water birch* Betula occidentalis

buckbrush* Ceanothus sanguineus

black hawthorn* Crataegus douglasii

wolf-willow* Elaeagnus commutata

common juniper Juniperus communis

creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis

black twinberry Lonicera involucrata

false box* Paxistima myrsinites

prickly rose Rosa acicularis

Barclay's willow Salix barclayi

grey leaved willow Salix glauca

Soopolallie Sheperdia canadensis

dwarf mountain blueberry*

Vaccinium caespitosum

birch-leaved spirea Spirea betulifolia

Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

pasture sage Artemisia frigida

crow berry Empetrum nigrum

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium

wild strawberry* Fragaria virginiana

MSxv hybrid white spruce Picea X green alder* Alnus tenuifolia

lodgepole pine Pinus contorta scrub birch Betula glandulosa

trembling aspen

Populus tremuloides black hawthorn*

Crataegus douglasii



September 2012

Biogeoclimatic Subzone

Tree Component Shrub and Herb Component

Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name

common juniper Juniperus communis

false box* Paxistima myrsinites

black currant* Ribes hudsonianum

black gooseberry* Ribes lacustre

prickly rose Rosa acicularis

Willow Salix sp

Barclay's willow Salix barclayi

short fruited willow Salix brachycarpa

red elderberry* Sambucus racemosa

Soopolallie Sheperdia canadensis

dwarf mountain blueberry*

Vaccinium caespitosum

Yarrow Achillea millefolium

Kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

common paintbrush* Castellija miniata

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium

wild strawberry* Fragaria virginiana NOTES: 1. Native species listed based on species surveyed in mine project area. 2. Species marked with an asterisk have been identified as plant species of importance to Tsilhqot'in in the William Case.

The species will be tested in planting trials to determine their ability to establish on reclamation sites. The species mix will be further refined to include plants which are most likely to successfully establish on the reclamation sites to achieve the proposed end land uses.



September 2012

2.8.2.3 Plans for Removal of Structures and Equipment and Remediation of Contaminated Soils

At the end of closure, several new landforms will have been created. These will include:

The pit with Pit Lake, which will fill with water to the 1440 m elevation

The soil capped non-PAG waste stockpile, and

The TSF with submerged PAG materials, soil capped tailings beach, uncapped tailings beach (shoreline), mudflats (shoreline), and soil capped embankments.

Areas that will be returned to landforms similar to pre-mining and capped with stockpiled or windrowed soil are:

Plant site

Ore stockpile pad

Soil stockpile footprints

Conveyor Line

Power lines (where soil has been removed to level grade)

Interior roads and linear disturbances

Fresh water and site water collection ditches and collection ponds around stockpiles and the plant site, and

Explosives site.

Dependant on the timing of ability to discharge TSF lake water and seepage directly to the environment mine features that may remain unreclaimed for a period of time at closure could include:

Seepage collection ditches and ponds below the tailings embankments and directly south of Pit Lake

Groundwater pumping wells below the main embankment

Pipelines directing water from the main embankment seepage ponds and groundwater wells to the Pit Lake, and

Roads and power lines for maintenance of any prolonged use water management features.

Other facilities requiring decommissioning include:

The tailings and reclaim pipelines and reclaim barge.

For the final configuration of all mine features at post-closure, including unreclaimed mine features and mine site drainage, see Figure 2.8.2-5.

All structures and equipment not needed for permanent water management will be removed in the decommissioning and closure phase. The only features that will be retained are key diversion ditches, pipelines and groundwater pumping wells required to meet long-term water management objectives.



September 2012

Structures to be removed include all plant site facilities; the conveyor; maintenance/warehouse complexes; explosives manufacture and storage facilities including the manufacturing plant, storage tanks, silos and plant services; substations, power lines and poles.

Concrete building/structure foundations (i.e., slabs, footings and foundation walls) will be left in place if the concrete is steel-reinforced, or otherwise broken apart. Compacted areas will be ripped prior to soil capping and revegetation, and windrowed soil will be pushed back over the site to a minimum depth of 50 cm prior to revegetation.

Any soils identified as being contaminated with hydrocarbons or other hazardous materials will be managed in accordance with provincial and federal regulations.

Fish Lake

WaspLake

10

4

4

16

4

17

6

33

12

12

33

3

17

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7

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415 18

11

12

18, 9

98, 9

5

1514 18 18

18

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21

1920

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3

3

39,15

9

13

15

15

15

TSF Overflowto Fish Lake

Pond Overflowto Wasp Lake

Pond Overflowto Big Onion Lake

Fish LakeOverflow

to Pit Lake

Pit LakeOverflow toLower Fish

Creek

12

1600

1500

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1600

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1600

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00

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4560

00

456000

460000

460000

464000

4640

00

5692000

5692

000

5696000

5696000

5700000

5700000

5704000

5704

000

±


15th August 2012

2.8.2-5 REV0

LEGEND:Predicted Water Flow Post-closure

Water Flow Post-closure

Reclaimed Mine Feature

Permanent Mine Feature

Permanent Water Body

Paved Road

Gravel Road

Rough Road

Trail

River

Lake0 1 2 30.5

Kilometers


Datum: NAD 83 Zone 10 Drawn By: Steve Parker Verified By: T. Dinneen Data Sources: Taseko Mines Limited, Stantec, Province of British ColumbiaPath: U:\123210163\gis\figures\Reclamation\MXD\123210163_068_Rec_Mine_Features.mxd

Post-Closure Mine Site Configuration

Mine FeatureIDPond - ContactPond - Non-ContactPond - TailingsSite RoadStockpile - Non-PAGStockpile - OreStockpile - SoilTSF BeachTSF EmbankmentTSF Pond

12)13)14)15)16)17)18)19)20)21)

Access TrailConveyorDitch - ContactDitch Non-ContactExplosives StorageFish Lake DamFish Lake PumphouseHaul RoadPipelinesPit LakePlant

1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)9)10)11)



September 2012

2.8.2.4 Mine Site Interior Roads and Other Linear Disturbances

Site haul roads will be constructed with non-PAG overburden and waste rock material. At mine closure, all haul roads will be reclaimed using the following methods:

Road surfaces will be ripped or otherwise treated to decompact the running surface

Culverts will be removed, with creek crossings and cross-ditches installed to re-establish natural drainage in accordance with the post-mine water management system

Sidecast material along roads will be pulled back to the extent practicable re-establish grades that blend with the natural topography

Prepared surfaces will be capped with salvaged soils from adjacent windrows, and

Surfaces will be revegetated with species listed in Section 2.8.2.6 to meet end land use objectives prevent erosion, and prevent invasive plant establishment on bare soils.

Roads required for maintenance access for any required water management features will be left in semi-permanent deactivated condition. Semi-permanent deactivation will allow the road to remain in place and be useable, but also environmentally stable. Semi-permanent deactivation measures which will be carried out to include removal of culverts and replacement with cross-ditches; installation of ditch blocks at cross ditch locations; installation of waterbars across the road to direct road surface water off the road; removal or breaching of windrows along the road edge; outsloping/insloping of the road surface as appropriate; and revegetation of exposed soil surfaces for erosion and weed establishment control.



September 2012

2.8.2.5 Non-PAG Waste Rock Pile

Non-PAG waste rock and overburden not used in the construction of the TSF or in road construction will be placed in the non-PAG waste stockpile to the northeast of the pit. Final configuration of the non-PAG waste stockpile is illustrated in Section 2.2.5. At mine closure, all areas of the non-PAG waste stockpile not previously revegetated through progressive reclamation during operations will be reclaimed using the following methods:

The stockpile will be resloped to maximum slope angles of 2H:1V

Plateau surfaces will be ripped or otherwise treated to decompact soils as required, and

Surfaces will be capped with 50 cm of salvaged soils from stockpiles. Surfaces will be revegetated to meet end land use objectives prevent erosion, and prevent invasive plant establishment on bare soils.

The ore stockpile will be mined out entirely by closure, and footprint will be left at natural topography. A soil capping of 50 cm will be placed over the footprint, and the site will be revegetated in the manner of the non-PAG waste stockpile.



September 2012

2.8.2.6 Tailings Storage Facility

Final configuration of the tailing storage facility is illustrated in Section 2.2.5. The embankments will be raised over the life of operations to contain the tailings, and will be constructed of compacted glacial till, non-PAG overburden and waste rock. PAG waste rock and overburden will be submerged within the TSF impoundment and covered completely with selectively discharged tailings during Years 17 to 20 of operations, when the low grade ore stockpile is being processed. The supernatant pond, called the TSF Lake at closure, and the tailings cover will prevent oxidation of non-PAG waste and ARD generation.

The following measures have been incorporated into the Project design to ensure that the TSF is stable and self-sustaining: engineered zoned embankments designed as per the Canadian Dam Association Guidelines; long beaches to keep the TSF Lake away from the embankment crests, thereby improving stability of the structures; a constructed spillway sufficient to prevent overtopping and eroding of the embankments, as well as maintaining the TSF Lake at the desired elevation; and, the inclusion of vibrating wire piezometers within each embankment to allow for on-going monitoring of the structure’s stability.

At mine closure, the TSF will be reclaimed using the following methods:

With the exception of the shoreline, the tailings beach surfaces will be capped with 50 cm of salvaged soils from stockpiles.

Embankments will be resloped to 2H:1V and capped with 50 cm of soil.

Surfaces will be revegetated to meet end land use objectives prevent erosion, and prevent invasive plant establishment on bare soils. Rocks and coarse woody debris will be placed in piles across the beach surface for line of sight breaks and habitat enhancement.

CWD will be submerged in the TSF to accelerate the growth of bacteria and algea beneficial to aquatic ecosystem development.

A strip of beach up to 100-m wide, measured from the high water mark of the TSF Lake, will not be capped with soil or planted, but will be allowed to revegetate naturally. When water quality monitoring confirms the area is suitable for wildlife use, wetland species will be planted. Fine sediments will be incorporated into the TSF beach in designated areas near the end of operations to facilitate the creation of mudflats. These will provide waterfowl feeding areas in the future. Post-closure wildlife capability ratings likely underestimate the wildlife capability of this shoreline zone due to uncertainties regarding water quality and the timeframe for the area to become suitable habitat; however, if revegetated with emergent and wetland species, and inoculated with sediment from nearby appropriate water bodies, the zone is expected to have high capability for small mammals, waterfowl, and breeding habitat for amphibians.



September 2012

2.8.2.7 Pit

At the end of Year 16, the open pit will be approximately 1200 to 1600 m in diameter, and 525 m deep. The pit will naturally begin filling with water once operations have ceased, beginning in Year 17. Water from the TSF will be released to the pit starting in Year 31 or sooner, if the TSF Lake elevations reach the spillway before the projected fill date. The pit will be allowed to fill with water over 27 years, to the 1440 m elevation, by approximately Year 45. The pit water quality will be monitored and released only if it will enable water in Fish Creek to meet either established water quality standards, or site-specific objectives. These water quality standards will be set out in the effluent permit. If water quality standards will not be met as a result of natural geochemical processes (e.g., precipitation of metals in ambient conditions), water treatment (either of specific sources, in the pit, or with a water treatment plant upstream of the Pit Lake spillway) may be required. The need for treatment will be identified through monitoring of water quality during the 27 years the pit is filling. Effluent water quality and environmental effects monitoring programs will be conducted in accordance with effluent permit requirements.

The nominal elevation of the pit rim will be 1470 m, leaving up to 30 m of rock and overburden pit wall exposed above the lake level. Approximately 31 ha of rock wall will be left, and will be exempt from reclamation (Section 10.7.14 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code). Approximately 10–15 ha of pit wall will be located in overburden, which will be sloped to 30 degrees and seeded with a non-invasive native and agronomic grass/legume mix. No soil capping will be conducted on the overburden walls.

2.8.2.8 Water Management Plans and Watercourse Re-establishment

Water management system reclamation at mine closure will focus on the deactivation of structures and subsequent stabilization and revegetation. A water management plan is presented in Section 2.8.1(m) Surface and Groundwater Management Plan.

The reclamation of water management structures will include:

Removal of non-essential diversion ditches and pipelines

Re-establishing drainages into original creek channels where possible, and

Stabilization of permanent structures for erosion control.

Windrowed soil will be pushed back over deactivated structures following recontouring, and revegetated.

The contact and non-contact ditches and collection ponds around the non-PAG waste stockpile, ore stockpile, plant site and pit will be reclaimed at closure, and all drainage from the stockpile and plant site areas will be allowed to return to natural drainage patterns. The drainage from the non-PAG waste stockpile will flow to the Pit Lake, and the drainage from the ore stockpile location and plant site will flow to Fish Lake. The maintenance and eventual decomissioning of the Fish Lake water management system is described in Section 2.8.1(m) Surface and Groundwater Management Plan.

The Fish Lake Recirculation system features will be decommissioned in stages over the 29 years between Year 16 and Year 45 while the TSF Lake and Pit Lake fill to final elevations.

At Year 45, post-closure, the seepage collection ditches and ponds for each TSF embankment will remain in place until such time as water quality permits direct discharge to Fish Lake. The groundwater



September 2012

pumping wells and Main Embankment pond pumping system will also remain in place to divert TSF water away from the Fish Lake tributaries, through the pipeline to the open pit for as long as water quality objectives require. All other water management features will be removed and natural drainages will be re-established.

Water management under temporary or early closure scenarios is described in Section 2.8.2.11.



September 2012

2.8.2.9 Reclamation Monitoring and Maintenance

Reclamation success will be monitored throughout mine life to confirm that reclamation is successful, and that end land use goals are being achieved. Post-closure reclamation monitoring for the mine site will continue until a self-sustaining vegetation cover that meets end land use objectives has been established and documented. The primary objectives of the environmental monitoring program after closure will remain consistent with those during operations. Parameters that will be assessed include:

Successful establishment of ground cover for erosion control

Forage production in open landscapes and meadow ecosystems

Planted tree and shrub seedling survival and growth

Natural establishment of vegetation and evidence of increasing diversity of native species

Wildlife use of reclaimed areas (through site personnel observation records, scat counts, nest box surveys or other wildlife surveys), and

Trace element uptake in vegetation.

On sites where ground cover or survival of planted stock is too low to provide erosion control or wildlife habitat value, re-seeding and infill planting will be completed. Investigation of soil properties, browse pressure and other factors will be undertaken if revegetation success remains low, so that limitations to reclamation success can be identified and removed or mitigated.

Monitoring and control of invasive plants on the reclaimed site will be conducted according to the invasive plant management plan in Section 2.8.1.

Monitoring programs for ground and surfaced water quality and seepage volumes are discussed in Section 2.8.1 – Water Management Plan. Long-term monitoring of the geotechnical stability of the TSF is described in Section 2.8.1 – Geotechnical Stability. Monitoring plans for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems outside of reclaimed areas are discussed in Section 2.7 for each ecosystem component. More information on the monitoring program, including data collection and evaluation methods and thresholds that trigger mitigation, will be established in consultation with the MEM and will be provided at the time of permitting.

Soils and vegetation on the New Prosperity project area have naturally elevated metal concentrations in comparison to published standards from non-mineralized areas (see Section 2.6.1.6 – Impact Assessment, Soils); therefore, similar elevated metal concentrations are expected to be found in soils used for reclamation. Vegetation will be sampled from all reclaimed sites to determine if trace element concentrations on reclaimed sites vary from the baseline values in similar vegetation. Monitoring will focus on species and plant parts consumed by cattle, horses or wildlife, or that were specified as country foods of interest to First Nations. If it is shown that plants accumulate trace elements to levels where humans, wildlife or livestock may be affected, suitable mitigation measures will be developed. Such measures may include the placement of additional suitable soil material over the site to prevent metal uptake from the metal-enriched substrate.

Reclamation research will initially focus on survival trials to determine which native plant species will have the best survival on the site. Additional research may be conducted as site-specific issues for reclamation arise.



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Research focusing on water quality, wildlife habitat quality or safety for human use of Fish Lake and associated tributaries is described in the follow-up and monitoring requirements described in the Impact Assessment (Section 2.8.3) for each valued ecosystem component.



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2.8.2.10 Geotechnical Stability

Design of permanent mine-related landforms such as the open pit, tailings storage facility, and non-PAG waste stockpiles have been undertaken to ensure long-term stability after mine closure. The tailings storage facility has been designed to be fully compliant with the Canadian Dam Association Safety Guidelines, and the non-PAG waste stockpile has been designed in accordance with the Interim Guidelines of the BC Mine Waste Rock Pile Research Committee per Section 10.6 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (refer to the Mine Plan, Section 2.2.4).

Geotechnical stability monitoring is described in Section 2.8.1, Environmental Management Plans.



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2.8.2.11 Long-Term Monitoring for Surface and Groundwater Quality

Surface and Groundwater Quality monitoring is described in Section 2.7.2.4 Water Quality and Quantity.



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2.8.2.12 Management Plans for Final Closure and Temporary and/or Early Closure

In the event of a short-term closure of less than one year, the following actions will be taken to maintain the site:

Site environmental monitoring and management programs continue as per regular operations without interruption.

A “care and maintenance” team is retained from the site operations and maintenance personnel which will maintain the site security program, maintain the equipment in an operationally ready state, and monitor and maintain all site environmental systems.

Pumping of tailings seepage water and runoff collected from the waste rock dumps and low grade ore stockpile will continue as per regular operations.

Mining equipment will be relocated to a marshalling site for storage.

Reagent inventories retained in their original packaging will be assessed to determine which, if any, will be adversely impacted by the expected storage term.

Any reagents which will degrade during the shutdown period will be returned to the vendor, sold or disposed of in an approved facility. Any reagents which will remain active for the resumption of operations will be stored in a secure manner.

Any reagent inventory which has entered the concentrator process and is stored bulk in tankage after cessation of operations will be removed and disposed of in an approved manner.

Solvent, oil and fuel inventories at the site will be assessed to determine quantities to be retained and consumed during the site care and maintenance activities. The balance will be returned to the vendor or sold.

Any waste oil and/or grease inventory will be disposed of in an approved facility.

Inventory of blasting supplies will be assessed and any supplies which will expire during the shutdown period will be returned to the vendor or disposed of in an approved manner. All retained inventory will continue to be held in a secure facility.

Nuclear sources will be removed from the concentrator density gauges and stored in a secure facility on site as per Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulations.

All of the coarse ore stockpile will be processed through the mill prior to cessation of operations.

Any other stockpiled ore will remain in stockpiled and available as mill feed.

Drainage from the stockpile will be controlled and treated.

Mill facilities and equipment (including concentrate sheds as well as concentrate and ore handling systems) will be washed down after operations cease. All concentrate will be shipped to market and any excess mineral from the cleanup will be impounded in the tailing facility.

The tailings facility will continue to be maintained with required freeboard limits.

If a tailings lift is underway at the time of closure and is required to maintain freeboard levels through the closure period then construction of the tailings lift will be completed.



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Dust from the tailings facility will be mitigated during dry periods by either wetting the tailings beach with supernatant water from the TSF or implementing alternative methods effective for dust control.

In the event that the short-term closure extends beyond one year with no imminent foreseeable change, the following items in addition to those listed above will be scheduled for action as appropriate for the length of closure anticipated:

Remaining reagents at site will be returned to suppliers, sold or disposed of in an approved facility.

Remaining blasting supplies at site will be returned to the vendor or disposed of in an approved manner.

Fuel and lubricating oil storage at site will be minimized with sufficient supplies maintained at site to support only the going care and maintenance activities.

In the event of a permanent premature closure, the decommissioning and reclamation plan in this section will be implemented with the following modifications:

If required, PAG waste rock material in the TSF will be excavated and re-distributed to ensure PAG is submerged.

All stockpiled ore will be processed prior to closure.



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2.8.3 Monitoring and Follow-up Programs

Framework for Compliance and Follow-up Monitoring Programs

Compliance monitoring programs are appropriate to verify that Taseko has implemented the required mitigation measures and fulfilled the provisions of the environmental assessment with respect to public consultation, requirements for additional studies or work to be completed. A follow-up and effects monitoring program is appropriate to verify the accuracy of environmental assessment conclusions and to determine the effectiveness of measures implemented to mitigate adverse environmental effects of the Project as well as to confirm the nature and extent of beneficial effects predicted to occur. The EIS Guidelines require Taseko to provide a framework upon which compliance as well as follow-up and effects monitoring will be conducted and evaluated throughout the life of the Project, should the Project proceed.

Both compliance and follow-up and effects monitoring programs are required if there is a project and if that project is constructed, operated and closed. At the EA stage of project development and review, while it may be feasible to outline a framework of what such programs might look like if the Project proceeds, it is not possible in a meaningful way to define or identify specific environmental variables to be monitored, indicators to be used, sampling methodology, frequency or duration or specify the roles and responsibilities of regulators, Aboriginal groups and other elements of such programs. This level of detail and specificity quite properly, as a matter of practice, is determined at permitting. Compliance and effects monitoring programs will be required as part of permits and licenses issued by various governmental agencies, including BC Ministry of Energy and Mines, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, BC Ministry of Environment, Environment Canada, Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. It is understood that additional development of the details included in these monitoring plans and programs will be developed and included as necessary as the Project schedule progresses, such that construction follow-up and monitoring programs are established and functioning prior to the commencement of construction, and similarly for operations and closure.

Taseko is committed to monitoring the effects of the New Prosperity Project and to follow-up with the results of these programs. If any unforeseen adverse effects arise during the life of the Project, measures will be taken to correct these effects and prevent them from occurring in the future. All monitoring undertaken will be done in accordance with the terms and conditions of permits and authorizations issued and the results and compliance with conditions will be the primary objective of the site’s Environmental Management System (EMS). As part of an adaptive management process, the EMS elements of Environment policy, Environment Management Programs, and Operational Controls can be updated as needed and associated training programs enhanced to improve the level of environmental protection based on the results of these programs. In this way the EMS upholds the basis of continual improvement in environmental management and in turn, the adaptive management process.

Compliance Monitoring and Reporting

Taseko will hold and maintain necessary permits for any work that takes place in, on, or about the mine and will comply with all provisions of provincial and federal legislation, the Regulations, conditions of permits issued, and “Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia” (British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources [BC MEMPR], 2008). A preliminary list of anticipated compliance monitoring and reporting obligations associated with necessary permits, authorizations, licenses, Regulations and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code is provided in Table



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2.8.3-1. This list is not comprehensive, since it only includes monitoring and reporting requirements that are stipulated within the regulation, legislation, or the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. It is understood that there are additional permit approvals and authorizations necessary for proposed Project commencement (see Table 2.1.2-2 Provincial Permits and Licenses Required) that may have their own compliance monitoring, follow-up program conditions, and requirements that are specific to the legislation under which the authorization was issued, which has not been covered under this section. Planned environmental monitoring and follow-up programs to determine the effectiveness of mitigation measures or to verify predictions of potential environmental effects are outlined in Table 2.8.3-2.

Table 2.8.3-1 Preliminary List of Anticipated Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Obligations

Legislation Responsible Authority Permit Authorization

Program

Discipline Anticipated Compliance Monitoring and Reporting

Obligations

Mines Act BC MEM Mines Act Permit Health, Safety and Reclamation Code

Health and Safety - Develop and implement an Occupational Health and Safety Plan - Develop and implement Environmental Management System - Establish and maintain a joint management-worker Occupational Health and Safety Committee. - By 31 January of each year, forward the chief inspector a report for the previous calendar year outlining work place conditions as per Section 1.9.3 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. - Establish a written program (as per Section 2.1.3 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code) to monitor workplace contaminants to ensure employees shall not be exposed to airborne concentrations of chemical agents or noise in excess of the levels specified in Section 2.1.1 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. - Develop and implement an effective housekeeping program as per Section 2.2.1 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. - Develop and file with the Chief inspector, a Mine Emergency Response Plan, which shall be kept up to date as per Section 3.7.1 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code.

Environmental Management Act

BC MoE Effluent, Air Emissions, and Refuse Permit

Environmental Protection

- Effluent and Air Emission maximum rates of discharge and various conditions on flow monitoring and reporting will be stipulated and followed. - Water and Air Quality Monitoring and Reporting requirements (sites, station ID, frequency, characteristics to be analyzed, sampling procedures, analysis and the detection limits for each, Biological, toxicity and EEM



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Program


Obligations

program, if required, and quality assurance programs) will be developed by the proponent and the regulator and maximum concentrations for each characteristic are usually set in the permit. - Frequency of monitoring and reporting (monthly or quarterly) will be as required in permit. - On April 1 of each year an Annual Environmental Report is required to summarize data and evaluate performance of the protection systems. - Refuse permits will be developed if necessary and maximum rates of discharge and other conditions (such as cover) will be set in permit.

Sections 46- 53 CEPA Environment Canada NPRI Atmospheric

- Develop and maintain an annual inventory of releases, disposals and transfers for recycling as defined by NPRI. - For those calendar years that the proposed Project meets the NPRI reporting requirements (per the NPRI Notice published in the Canada Gazette): create, certify and submit an NPRI inventory report by 1 June (or whichever deadline the Notice states) the following year.

Sections 46 CEPA Environment Canada GHGRP Atmospheric

- Develop and maintain an annual inventory of GHG emissions as defined by the GHGRP. - For those calendar years that the proposed Project meets the GHG emissions mandatory reporting criteria specified in the annual notice published in the Canada Gazette: prepare and submit a GHG emissions report by 1 June (or whichever deadline the Notice states) the following year.

Mines Act BC MEM Mines Act Permit Health, Safety and Reclamation Code

Reclamation and Environmental Monitoring

- As specified in Section 10.1.4(5) of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code; submit an annual report of reclamation and environmental monitoring work performed under Section 10.1.4(4) by 31 March of the following year.

Mines Act BC MEM Mines Act Permit Authorize tailings storage facility or water management facility as per Section 10.5.1 of Health, Safety and Reclamation Code

Geotechnical - Submit an as-built report to the Chief Inspector certifying that the facility was designed and constructed according to Section 10.1.5 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. - Develop and implement an Operation, Maintenance and Surveillance manual prior to commissioning the impoundment as per Section 10.5.2 of the



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Program


Obligations

Health, Safety and Reclamation Code. - Submit annual dam safety inspection report on the Operation, Maintenance and Surveillance of the tailings and water management facility and associated dams to the Chief Inspector (Section 10.5.3 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code).

Fisheries Act Environment Canada MMER MMER Environmental Effects Monitoring

- Once the proposed Project becomes subject to section 7 of the MMER: Develop and complete an Emergency Response Plan per Section 30 of MMER, to describe the measures to be taken in respect to the occurrence of a deposit of a deleterious substance that is out of the normal course of events. - Quarterly monitoring of effluent characterization and water quality. - Bi-annual sub lethal toxicity testing for one species of fish, invertebrates, plant, and algae. - Biological monitoring study including site characterization, fish population, fish tissue, and benthic invertebrate community studies starting 12 or 24 months after the proposed Project becomes subject to section 7 of MMER. - As per Section 21 of MMER, submit effluent monitoring report each calendar quarter. - As per Section 22 of MMER, submit an annual effluent monitoring report on 31 March for the previous calendar year.

Mines Act BC MEM Mines Act Permit “Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in BC”

Closure and Reclamation

- Implement reclamation monitoring programs, as required by the Chief Inspector, to demonstrate that reclamation and environmental protection objectives, including land use, productivity, water quality and stability of structures are being achieved. This may include ML/ARD monitoring, revegetation success and/or plant metal uptake. - Upon closure or declared closure of a major impoundment, submit a report to the chief inspector in accordance with Section 10.6.10 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code.

NOTE: BC MEM - British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines; EMA – Environmental Management Act; BC MoE – British Columbia Ministry of Environment, CEPA - Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999; EC - Environment Canada; GHG - greenhouse gas; GHGRP - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Program; MMER - Metal Mining Effluent Regulations; NPRI - National Pollutant Release Inventory



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Compliance with all existing applicable federal and provincial environmental legislation and site permits will occur through a variety of methods, consistent with those in place at Taseko’s Gibraltar Mine. Ensuring that the protective measures, monitoring, and reporting requirements that are contained in any permit, approval or licenses are adhered to across the mine site will be assured via the site Environmental Management System (EMS). Taseko’s Environment Policy contains the commitment to compliance and to integrating environmental policies, programs and practices into all activities at all operations. Numerous mechanisms exist in the EMS, including a senior management environmental committee (Environmental Management Committee chaired by the General Manager) under whose purview, Environmental Management Programs and Operational Controls are formally developed for each significant environmental aspect (risk). As part of the EMS, Environmental Awareness Training and education in the EMS programs will be conducted on a regular schedule for all site employees, similar to safety training sessions, to ensure that all employees understand their environmental responsibilities. In addition, internal and external compliance audits to verify compliance with permits, approvals and licenses will be conducted as part of the EMS.

Reporting Structure

The supervisor managing environmental matters for the New Prosperity Project will have the responsibility to ensure that qualified staff are hired to implement the EMS, conduct the necessary training sessions, collect monitoring data, prepare regulatory reports, and liaise with Government agencies, thus creating a multi-tiered system that will ensure compliance with applicable federal and provincial environmental legislation.

It would be through the EMS that monitoring, reporting, documentation, communication and training would be undertaken to achieve the necessary compliance reporting. Section 2.1.2 provides some insight into this process. Conformance monitoring of the EMS, including internal and external EMS audits and senior management review are also required by the management system.

The enforcement branch of each government agency responsible for any given permit, approval or license set their own schedules for conducting desk-top and/or on-site inspections related to their mandate. The role of the enforcement agencies are to ensure that the permits, approvals and licences are being adhered to and identify if amendments are required based on the state of the mine operations. Taseko’s Environmental Policy further commits to working with Government and the public to develop effective and efficient measures to improve protection of the environment, based on sound science.

Follow-up and Monitoring Programs

The following sections and the summary table (Table 2.8.3-2) describe the outline of follow-up and monitoring programs to the extent possible at this stage of project development and review. Many of them will have links to provincial and federal permit compliance monitoring noted in the Compliance Monitoring and Reporting program described above. The table and sections are based on the commitments tracking table from the New Prosperity EIS in regard to follow-up and monitoring and identifies where the need for a monitoring program or follow-up provision was identified. It also describes the program objective and temporal (mining phase) aspects of each program and identifies, to the extent possible both the methods to be employed and the roles and responsibilities for who will develop, implement and report for each program. Specific details concerning sampling or monitoring methodology, frequency, duration, and information management and reporting aspects for each mitigation measure or EA provision are generally



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described below and in Table 2.8.3-1, however, detailed criteria such as the characteristics or variables to be monitored and on what frequency will only be determined appropriately at the permitting and detailed design phase of project development and in conjunction with the Regulators.

Surface Water Hydrology and Hydrogeology

As a result of the changes in surface water flow patterns and hydrology in and around the TSF, the follow-up and monitoring programs for surface water and hydrogeology are designed to ensure the baseline conditions were adequately predicted and that on-going operation of the TSF has minimal impact. In general terms, the monitoring program will include:

Taseko will implement a long term follow-up and monitoring program to verify the predicted seepage rates and concentration of contaminants from the tailings storage facility into the Big Onion Lake system; additional measures will be taken at the beginning of project development to reduce any remaining uncertainty concerning seepage issues through the west embankment and ridge. The following items are part of that program.

Collect additional hydrogeologic data in the adjacent Big Onion and Little Onion Lake systems, Wasp Lake and Taseko River. Location of shallow pit perimeter wells to be determined.

Improve transport simulations used to evaluate concentration and transport times for seepage migration to Big Onion Lake beyond their current scoping level.

Install a groundwater well network along the length of the west tailings embankment and sample on a quarterly basis for deviation from baseline conditions; these will be established one year prior to commencement of active mining.

Install an adequate number of contingency seepage collections and pump back wells during the construction period.

Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology

Follow-up and monitoring for water quality and aquatic ecology will focus on verification that impacts are not occurring from the mine development. Baseline and pre-construction information will be critical in the establishment of current understanding, some of which has already been completed or is currently underway. Future monitoring of water quality and instrumentation will occur during all phases of mine construction, operation and closure.

Water quality studies in lower Fish Creek, Wasp Lake, Beece Creek, TSF and pit lake will continue to confirm water characteristics at various stages of the Project.

As per the recommendation that the monitoring programs [for air, water, and soil quality] planned for Year 2, 5, 10 and 15 years will include sampling of soil, water, sediment, vegetation and fish tissue from Fish Lake and the vicinity.

On-going water quality monitoring further to provincial permits will be used to assess the effectiveness of the seepage collection system and other works. Compliance with the limits in these permits and those imposed by the MMER will be a prime objective of the New Prosperity Site EMS. See Section 2.1.2 and 2.8.2 for more on the EMS functions.



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For Tailings Pond (TSF) operations, instrumentation monitoring should be done routinely both during construction and operations. Following initial installation of the geotechnical instrumentation, measurements should be taken and analyzed on a daily basis to monitor the response of the earthfill and foundation from earthfill loading.

The frequency of monitoring for the piezometers and inclinometers may be decreased to bi-monthly readings once the effects of initial construction have dissipated. Surface movement monuments should be surveyed twice per year during operations. Water quality monitoring of the seepage through the embankment and foundation shall be monitored monthly during operations.

Observation wells (piezometers) should be placed between the groundwater pumping wells and Fish Lake to identify any leakage that could occur from the bottom of the TSF. Piezometers would help detect any deep seepage and hence capture any contaminated groundwater before it reaches Fish Lake.

For water management facility operations, the seepage collection ponds and recycle pumps will be retained until monitoring results indicate that any seepage from the TSF is of suitable quality for direct release to downstream waters. The groundwater monitoring wells and all other geotechnical instrumentation will be retained for use as long term monitoring devices.


Implement MMER effluent and water monitoring programs and Environmental Effects Monitoring of the aquatic organisms (fish health, benthic invertebrates, fish tissue, supporting environmental factors).

Implement ML/ARD sampling programs at seeps etc. as per the Ministry of Energy and Mines on a quarterly basis to assess geochemical issues. The ML/ARD Prediction and Prevention Plan will also be followed.

Should this monitoring indicate water quality parameters are greater than permit requirements, we will identify additional measures (e.g., liming of Pit Lake, water treatment plant) and implement as required to adequately treat water outflows to protect aquatic life.

Continue monitoring Fish Creek and Taseko River post-closure in accordance with the required MMER Environmental Effects Monitoring program.

The need for treatment or other options will be assessed through ML/ARD and permit monitoring programs during operations and closure to assess the actual geochemical performance of the Project (to calibrate the water quality prediction to site data) and during the 27 years required for the pit to fill.

Fish and Fish Habitat

With respect to mitigation and compensation measures, a compliance monitoring program verifies the proper implementation of all such measures whereas a follow-up program is used to determine the accuracy of EA conclusions and the efficacy of the required mitigation measures. CEAA defines follow-up as “a program for verifying the accuracy of the environmental assessment of a project, and determining the effectiveness of any measures taken to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of the Project”.



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To ensure the compensation element is constructed to design specifications, compliance monitoring will be scheduled at regular intervals throughout the construction and closure period. The construction monitoring schedule will generally follow the instream habitat monitoring described in Standards and Best Practices for Instream Works (MWLAP, 2004[1]). The measurable parameters that will be assessed include but are not limited to: assessments of pool depth, areas and volumes.

The follow-up program will include assessments of water quality (e.g., temperature, pH) and quantity, habitat structure and attribute integrity and functionality (e.g., substrates), riparian revegetation survival, and fish use by species- and life-stage (limited to the New Prosperity Lake inlet channel).

Terrain and Soils

Follow-up and monitoring activities for the mine site are designed to ensure reclamation suitability can be restored at Project closure that allows for similar land use, these measures in turn result in preservation of the soil resource. Follow-up and monitoring activities for each phase of the Project and specific to reclamation suitability will be implemented. The following list is intended to provide the details of the follow-up and monitoring programs that are designed to protect the soil resource and are applicable at all phases of the Project:

At least one more long-term soil monitoring site will be established at the north end of Fish Lake, in addition to sites that were proposed for the New Prosperity EIS. These monitoring sites will be established prior to construction activities, and sampling will continue until reclamation of the mine site is complete.

Inspection of soil stockpiles will occur regularly and after storm events or rapid snow melt to ensure vegetation cover is maintained and additional erosion control measures are effective.

Once vegetation is established, monitoring of vegetation vigour and cover density will provide an indication of soil fertility. If soil fertility has been diminished from baseline conditions, foliar analysis will to determine the fertilizer amendments that may be required.

A monitoring program for metal concentrations in soils, local surface water and vegetation will be undertaken throughout the Project.

In order to confirm that the soil models are correct, the five locations specified in Section 2.7.3.3-Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment will still be monitored for soil contamination and uptake of metals in vegetation (including around the camp and at the north end of Fish Lake within the LSA).

At post-closure, check the shoreline along the TSF and Pit lakes for evidence of erosion on an as needed basis to protect the soil resource.

Vegetation

Monitoring activities will be completed as part of the reclamation program to ensure successful growth of planted grasses, forbs, shrubs and tree seedlings. Details are found below. Reclamation success will be monitored throughout mine life to ensure that reclamation is successful, and that end land use goals are being achieved. Post-closure reclamation monitoring for the mine site will continue until a self-sustaining vegetation cover that meets end land use objectives has been established and documented. Assessments will cover the following:



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o Assess successful establishment of ground cover for erosion control o Assess forage production in open landscapes and meadow ecosystems o Assess planted tree and shrub seedling survival and growth o Assess natural establishment of vegetation and evidence of increasing diversity of native species o Assess wildlife use of reclaimed areas (through site personnel observation records, scat counts,

nest box surveys or other wildlife surveys), and o Assess trace element uptake in vegetation.

A variety of berry species were noted in the Ehrhart-English study; several of these species were included in sampling for baseline vegetation metals through the previous project, and therefore, will be part of the ongoing reclamation and monitoring programs. In addition, balsam, cottonwood, blueberry, strawberry and crowberry species will be included in the reclamation planning and monitoring for mine disturbances.

Monitoring for shifts in vegetation community and soil moisture changes will be conducted in new sensitive ecosystem locations outside the mine site disturbance area. In areas of groundwater decrease, wetland ecosystems will be monitored. In areas of groundwater increases, sensitive vegetation ecosystems on dry sites will be monitored. Vegetation surveys and soil moisture measurement through operations and for at least five years post-closure (i.e., until groundwater is expected to reach a new equilibrium around the pit). Sensitive communities that should be the focus of monitoring efforts are discussed in Section 2.7.2.7 - Vegetation Impact Assessment. Monitoring at these sites will be for vigor and growth of the vegetation in addition to physical properties of the soil.

Wildlife

Follow-up programs in this area are intended to evaluate whether mitigation measures are effective. These follow-up and monitoring programs are proposed for wildlife:

Implementation of a Grizzly Bear education and awareness program will commence at the outset to ensure human-bear interactions are minimized.

Work with the Ministry of Environment.

Contribute to the Province’s grizzly bear population research and monitoring program currently under way. The program could be expanded to include monitoring the population of Grizzly bears within the Project area in relation to Project activities.

A record of all project-related wildlife-vehicle collisions or near misses will be maintained.

Implement a “Grizzly Bear Mortality Investigation Program” under the direction of the BC Ministry of Environment.

General wildlife use of reclaimed sites will be assessed in the Vegetation monitoring (see Section 2.8.8).

Atmospheric Environment

To verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment on air quality and noise, and to determine the effectiveness of the measures taken to mitigate any adverse environmental effects of the Project follow-up and monitoring will be undertaken:



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A second identical station to that installed at the site will be established in a region unaffected by mine emission sources to measure both PM10 and dustfall. This station will establish a baseline to which the other station’s measurements can be compared to differentiate between Project and other regional and global influences.

An air quality and dust control management plan (AQEMMP), will be developed and implemented.

A burn plan for vegetative debris consistent with the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (BC Reg. 145/93) will be submitted and followed prior to initiation of the construction and commissioning phase.

Socio-Economic, Human Health and Ecological Risk

The protection of human and ecological health is important with respect to our neighbours. Follow-up and monitoring to determine the effectiveness of the measures taken to mitigate impacts will take place in the following areas:

Undertake a monitoring program for metal concentrations in soils, local surface water and vegetation throughout the Project.

If through monitoring, concentrations of metals in water and/or fish were elevated over background concentrations, undertake a risk assessment to ascertain if the levels were of a sufficient concentration to pose a potential risk.

Adaptive Management

The concept of adaptive management was originally developed by C.S. Holling (1978) and is seen as a method whereby information from environmental studies could be used to better understand how the environment is affected by change. This, in turn, provides the basis for developing and implementing management practices based upon knowledge and ongoing experimentation even with uncertainty (Halbert, 1993).

Adaptive management is more than trial and error and learning by doing because it reflects a strategy for addressing management under uncertainty (Downs and Kondolf, 2002; Thom, 2000); Walters (1986) indicates adaptive management project designs are underpinned by mathematical models to highlight uncertainties and statistical analyses allowing decisions to be made on the basis of the best information available and to be further refined as more information is collected through monitoring and measurement. According to Thom (2000) and others, adaptive management can be a powerful tool for assessing and improving the performance of systems if it is established in the planning phase and implemented during the monitoring and management phases (Walters and Holling, 1990). The key point is that monitoring and management are inseparable components to effective adaptive management. Monitoring is the fundamental tool in adaptive management that will provide the project managers and evaluators with the information they need to implement change and strive for continuous improvement.



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The New Prosperity Mine Project proposes to develop and implement an adaptive management plan (AMP) consistent with the principals discussed above. Adaptive management is not new to the mining industry and the following two notable mining operations have incorporated adaptive management into their planning and operations:

DeBeers, Snap Lake Diamond Project (2004); Northwest Territories, and

Alexco, Bellekeno Project (2009); Yukon Territories.

In both these cases, adaptive management is seen as a management tool for guiding responses to unforeseen events or for managing uncertainty. In the case of the DeBeers project, adaptive management has been linked to its environmental management system (EMS) and is expected to facilitate the implementation of corrective actions and to continuously improve the mine’s performance.

Adaptive management is in widespread use across a range of resource sectors and countries (Stanky et al., 2005). This reflects its potential as an effective strategy for situations where there is uncertainty with respect to the predicted effects of a project on the environment (water quality, aquatic and terrestrial habitat, hydrology, hydrogeology, structural integrity, water management etc.). Implementing an effective adaptive management plan is a way to manage this uncertainty and not be crippled by it.

The AMP envisioned for fish and fish habitat, compensation plans as well as water quality and lake productivity predictions will include specific monitoring provisions. Part of these monitoring provisions will include the following, as reflected by Thom (2000):

Measuring the condition of the system with selected indicators (numbers, size and health of fish populations, water quality in Fish Lake and tributaries, etc.)

Identification of goals and setting performance criteria and standards (target numbers of fish in compensation habitat, water quality at or below predetermined thresholds, etc.

Development of monitoring plans with adequate detection power (temporal and spatial coverage) to identify both deficiencies and shortcomings along with root causes, and

Evaluating root causes and the extent of deficiencies to make a decision on what actions to take: do nothing, implement corrective actions, or change the goal.

It is probable a number of AMPs will be developed for evaluating project effects on the receiving environment. In principle, the plans will be specific to the environment receptor/resource that could be affected by the Project. For example, water quality predictions have been made for Fish Lake and its tributaries and these modelled predictions have, in turn, been compared with Federal and Provincial guidelines as a metric to identify potential effects. Exceedances to the guidelines for some metals and sulphate are anticipated during certain phases of the mine life, as the Project proceeds, monitoring programs will be in place to gauge the accuracy of the predictions and the process by which to determine if any action is required. Because of uncertainty, it is not possible to predict exactly the timing or concentration of these parameters and monitoring is the tool available to confirm predictions. For the example of water quality in Fish Lake tributaries, should monitoring show or suggest levels are increasing, the AMP will include an “alert” level which could reflect a particular parameter is within X% of the guideline level. The alert level could be tied to increased monitoring and an “action level” would be declared if the level were to approach a certain % of the guideline. The action level would initiate



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corrective actions which might include treatment and/or pumping captured seepage into the TSF. This scenario is presented in a conceptual context only but it is intended to illustrate how an AMP would be implemented to address uncertainty and manage project effects to design or acceptable levels.

The concept of alert and action levels could be applied to but not necessarily limited to all of the following:

Predicted water quality in Fish Lake and tributaries

Success of habitat compensation programs

Survival, growth and health of fish in Fish Lake

Fish Lake trophic status and capability of the lake to support and sustain the monoculture population of Rainbow Trout, and

Other project components not just those related to environmental receptors.

Adaptive management is expected to be a valuable tool for monitoring project effects and for making adjustments in order to continuously improve and ensure the Project functions as predicted. AMPs have been identified in concept only and their development will proceed with the permitting phase of the Project. Monitoring programs developed will be part of adaptive management.

As part of an adaptive management process, the Site EMS elements fully support changes and updates by providing regular review of the adequacy of the Environment Policy, Environmental Management Programs and Operational Controls in light of concerns or other outcomes. EMS elements can then be updated as needed based on results and associated training programs can then be enhanced to improve the level of environmental protection. In this way, continual improvement of New Prosperity environmental management systems and mitigation programs will be assured.



September 2012

Table 2.8.3-2 Summary of Follow-Up and Monitoring Programs

Project Element Discipline/VEC Phase Mitigation Measure/Provision of EA Objective Program Details/Responsibility

1 Mine Surface Water Hydrology and Hydrogeology

Construction, Operations,

Closure

Collect additional hydrogeologic data in the adjacent Big Onion and Little Onion Lake systems, Wasp Lake and Taseko River. Location of shallow pit perimeter wells.

Improve transport simulations used to evaluate concentration and transport times for seepage migration to Big Onion Lake beyond their current scoping level.

Install a groundwater well network along the length of the west tailings embankment and sample on a quarterly basis for deviation from baseline conditions; establish a minimum of one year prior to commencement of active mining activities.

Install an adequate number of contingency seepage collection and pump back wells during the construction period.

Taseko will implement a long term follow-up and monitoring program to verify the predicted seepage rates and concentration of contaminants from the tailings storage facility into the Big Onion Lake system; additional measures will be taken at the beginning of project development to reduce any remaining uncertainty concerning seepage issues through the west embankment and ridge.

Confirming mitigation

Verifying predicted effects

Program details to be determined at permitting, however the location, characteristics, variables and frequency will be similar to monitoring conducted for the EIS. Reporting for these programs will be as required in permits. Taseko and regulatory agencies will be responsible.

2 Mine Water Quality Construction, Operations,

Closure

Continue water quality studies in lower Fish Creek, Wasp Lake, Beece Creek, TSF and pit lake to confirm water characteristics at various stages of the Project.

If water quality parameters are greater than predicted, identify additional measures (e.g., liming of Pit Lake, water treatment plant) and implement to adequately treat water outflows to protect aquatic life.

It is recommended that the monitoring programs [for air, water, and soil quality] planned for 2, 5 10 and 15 years include sampling of soil, water, sediment, vegetation and fish tissue from Fish Lake and the vicinity.

On-going water quality monitoring will be used to assess the effectiveness of the seepage collection system.

For Tailings Pond (TSF) operations, instrumentation monitoring should be done routinely both during construction and operations. Following initial installation of the geotechnical instrumentation, measurements should be taken and analyzed on a daily basis to monitor the response of the earthfill and foundation from earthfill loading.

The frequency of monitoring for the piezometers and inclinometers may be decreased to bi-monthly readings once the effects of initial construction have dissipated. Surface movement monuments should be surveyed twice per year during operations.

Water quality monitoring of the seepage through the embankment and foundation shall be monitored monthly during operations.

Observation wells (piezometers) should be placed between the groundwater pumping wells and Fish Lake to identify any leakage that could occur from the bottom of the TSF. Piezometers would help detect any deep seepage and hence capture any contaminated groundwater before it reaches Fish Lake.

For water management facility operations, the seepage collection ponds and recycle pumps will be retained until monitoring results indicate that any seepage from the TSF is of suitable quality for direct release to downstream waters. The groundwater monitoring wells and all other geotechnical instrumentation will be retained for use as long term monitoring devices.


The follow-up program will include assessments of water quality (e.g., temperature, pH) and quantity, habitat structure and attribute integrity and functionality (e.g., substrates), riparian revegetation survival, and fish use by species- and life-stage (limited to the New Prosperity Lake inlet channel).



Compliance monitoring

Program details to be determined at permitting, however the location, characteristics, variables and frequency will be similar to monitoring conducted for the EIS. Reporting for these programs will be as required in permits. Taseko and regulatory agencies will be responsible.



September 2012

Project Element Discipline/VEC Phase Mitigation Measure/Provision of EA Objective Program Details/Responsibility To ensure the compensation element is constructed to design specifications,

compliance monitoring will be scheduled at regular intervals throughout the construction and closure period. The construction monitoring schedule will generally follow the instream habitat monitoring described in Standards and Best Practices for Instream Works (MWLAP, 2004[1]). The measurable parameters that will be assessed include but are not be limited to: assessments of pool depth, areas and volumes.

3 Mine Water Quality Construction, Operations,

Closure

ML/ARD Prediction and Prevention Plan The need for treatment will be assessed through monitoring programs during

operations and closure to assess the actual geochemical performance of the Project (to calibrate the water quality prediction to site data) and during the 27 years required for the pit to fill.

Confirming mitigation Program details to be determined at permitting, however the location, characteristics, variables and frequency will be similar to monitoring conducted for the EIS. Reporting for these programs will be as required in permits. Taseko and regulatory agencies will be responsible.

4 Mine MMER Construction, Operations,

Closure

Monitor Fish Creek and Taseko River post-closure in accordance with the required MMER Environmental Effects Monitoring program.

Design and implement MMER effluent and water monitoring programs and Environmental Effects Monitoring of the aquatic organisms (fish health, benthic invertebrates, fish tissue, supporting environmental factors), or any similar legislation monitoring once there are discharges from the site.

Verifying predicted effects Program details to be determined upon issuance of Schedule 2 Authorization. Taseko and regulatory agencies responsible.

5 Mine Access Road and Mine

Mine Site Soil and Vegetation


Closure

Soils: Have the environmental supervisor ensure suitable soil quality for reclamation. Identify additional areas of soil salvage if the quality of soil does not meet the

requirements of the reclamation plan. At least one more long-term soil monitoring site will be established at the north end

of Fish Lake, in addition to sites that were proposed for the New Prosperity EIS. These monitoring sites will be established prior to construction activities, and sampling will continue until reclamation of the mine site is complete.

Check soil stockpiles regularly and after storm events or rapid snow melt to ensure vegetation cover is maintained and additional erosion control measures are effective.

Evaluate the effectiveness of soil mitigation for compaction, rutting, and drainage prior to revegetation efforts.

Once vegetation is established, visual inspections of vegetation vigour and cover density will provide an indication of soil fertility. If soil fertility has been diminished from baseline conditions, foliar analysis will to determine the fertilizer amendments that may be required.

For new road construction, it is assumed that soils with reclamation value will be stripped and windrowed unless it is deemed to be in proximity of metal deposition, where metal exceedences are anticipated. If in an area where metal exceedences are anticipated soil will be stockpiled an appropriate distance from Project activities associated with metal deposition.

In order to confirm that the soil models are correct, the five locations specified in Section 2.7.3.3-Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment will still be monitored for soil contamination and uptake of metals in vegetation (including around the camp and at the north end of Fish Lake within the LSA).

At post-closure, check the shoreline along the TSF and Pit lakes for evidence of erosion on an as needed basis to protect the soil resource.

Vegetation: Monitoring for shifts in vegetation community and soil moisture changes will be

conducted in new sensitive ecosystem locations outside the mine site disturbance area. In areas of groundwater decrease, wetland ecosystems will be monitored. In areas of groundwater increases, sensitive vegetation ecosystems on dry sites will be monitored. Vegetation surveys and soil moisture measurement through operations

Confirming mitigation Confirming Vegetation Success

Program details for Soils and Vegetation (Reclamation) to be determined at permitting. Taseko and Regulatory Agencies responsible. Program details for species used in Reclamation to be determined in operations by Taseko, and local First Nation communities.



September 2012

Project Element Discipline/VEC Phase Mitigation Measure/Provision of EA Objective Program Details/Responsibility and for at least five years post-closure (i.e., until groundwater is expected to reach a new equilibrium around the pit). Sensitive communities that should be the focus of monitoring efforts are discussed in Section 2.7.2.7 - Vegetation Impact Assessment. Monitoring at these sites will be for vigor and growth of the vegetation in addition to physical properties of the soil.

A variety of berry species were also noted in the Ehrhart-English study; several of these species were included in sampling for baseline vegetation metals through the previous project, and will be part of the ongoing reclamation and monitoring programs. There is little change to the impact on balsam, cottonwood, blueberry, strawberry and crowberry; these species will be included in the reclamation planning and monitoring for mine disturbances.

Reclamation success will be monitored throughout mine life to ensure that reclamation is successful, and that end land use goals are being achieved. Post-closure reclamation monitoring for the mine site will continue until a self-sustaining vegetation cover that meets end land use objectives has been established and documented. Monitoring will include: o Assess successful establishment of ground cover for erosion control o Assess forage production in open landscapes and meadow ecosystems o Assess planted tree and shrub seedling survival and growth o Assess natural establishment of vegetation and evidence of increasing diversity

of native species o Assess wildlife use of reclaimed areas (through site personnel observation

records, scat counts, nest box surveys or other wildlife surveys), and o Assess trace element uptake in vegetation.

Program details for Reclamation to be determined at permitting. Taseko and Regulatory Agencies responsible.

6 Transmission Line Transmission Line Soil Construction, Operations,

Closure

Have an environmental supervisor with knowledge of soil assigned to the site during construction and decommissioning activities of the Project.

During construction and at decommissioning, conduct visual inspections to ensure no detrimental physical changes such as admixing, compaction and rutting and erosion occur on the site.

Confirming mitigation Program details to be determined at permitting. Taseko and regulatory agencies responsible

7 Access Road and Transportation Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions


Closure

Record all project-related wildlife-vehicle collisions or near misses.


Program details to be determined at permitting. Taseko and regulatory agencies responsible. This formal record and reporting program will be facilitated by the site EMS.

8 General Wildlife - Grizzly Bear Construction, Operations,

Closure

Implement a “Grizzly Bear Mortality Investigation Program” be implemented under the direction of the BC Ministry of Environment.

Implement a Grizzly Bear education and awareness program. Contribute to the Province’s grizzly bear population research and monitoring

program currently under way. The program could be expanded to include monitoring the population of Grizzly bears within the Project area in relation to Project activities.


Program details to be determined at permitting. Taseko and regulatory agencies responsible. Scientific research involvement on Grizzly bears will be undertaken with Taseko and the Province.

9 Mine Physical and Cultural Heritage Resources

Construction, Operations

Develop and Implement a Cultural and Heritage Protection Plan

Confirming Mitigation

Program details to be determined at permitting. Taseko, local Aboriginal communities, and regulatory agencies responsible.

10 Mine Access Road and Transportation Atmospheric Environment


Closure

Develop and implement an air quality and dust control management plan (AQEMMP), as per EAO direction.

Prepare and submit a burn plan for vegetative debris consistent with the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (BC Reg. 145/93) prior to initiation of the construction and commissioning phase.

It is further recommended that a second identical station [to measure both PM10 and dustfall] be established in a region nearby, but unaffected by mine emission sources. This station will establish a baseline to which the other stations measurements can be compared to differentiate between Project and other regional and global

Confirming Mitigation Program details to be determined at permitting. Taseko and regulatory agencies responsible



September 2012

Project Element Discipline/VEC Phase Mitigation Measure/Provision of EA Objective Program Details/Responsibility influences.

11 Mine Socio-Economic, Human

Health and Ecological Risk


Closure

Undertake a monitoring program for metal concentrations in soils, local surface water and vegetation throughout the Project.

If through monitoring, concentrations of metals in water and/or fish were elevated over background concentrations, undertake a risk assessment to ascertain if the levels were of a sufficient concentration to pose a potential risk.

Verifying predicted effects Confirming mitigation

Program details to be determined at permitting. Taseko and regulatory agencies responsible

NOTE: (Phase = C–Construction, O–Operations, CL–Closure; Discipline = At–Atmosphere, Hy–Surface Water Hydrology, WQ–Water Quality, F–Fisheries, V–Vegetation, W–Wildlife, RU–Resource Users, Ac–Acoustic, TS–Terrain and Soils, EI–Economic, SI–Social, CH–Community and Health)

Documents

Section 2.8 Environmental Management Page 1370 New