What's happening at Giant Mine? Winter 2023
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Site update
The Giant Mine Remediation Project is currently in its fourth season of remediation work. While remediation work takes place year-round, the new active work season started this April and is expected to take place until fall 2024, or until all mandatory work for this season has been completed. Last year, the Project's work season was extended, with work taking place until the end of February 2024. This was so the Project team could complete remediation and investigation activities that were delayed due to the mandatory 2023 City of Yellowknife wildfire evacuation order.
Completed remediation work for the Project to date includes:
- Freeze Optimization Study (this study helped inform the design of the below remediation activities)
- Site Stabilization Plan (Roaster decontamination and deconstruction and urgent Underground backfill stabilization activities)
- townsite decontamination and deconstruction
- AR1 Freeze Pad construction
- on-site non-hazardous waste landfill construction and operation
The Project is currently scheduled to focus on the following remediation work this year:
- continue construction of the new Water Treatment Plant including blasting and removing contaminated soils, installing intake wells and associated infrastructure, erection of the Water Treatment Plant steel structure, and constructing the outfall pipeline and marine outfall in Yellowknife Bay
- paste backfill operations are planned to resume this spring 2024, and are scheduled to be completed by fall 2024
- continuing Earthworks remediation and site-wide design for contaminated soils
- investigative drilling work
- complete drilling and sampling of the potential borrow stockpiling areas and advancing the borrow design
- site-wide revegetation planning and engagement sessions
- completion of the Baker Creek Design Plan
- collection and disposal of legacy debris around the site
- closure of underground
Future remediation work, to be started next year and beyond, includes:
- Baker Creek remediation and realignment
- boat launch and nearshore cover work
- pits fill and covers
- tailings consolidate and covered
- borrow development
- installation of the freeze system
- core area building deconstruction
- soils remediation
- decommissioning Effluent Treatment Plant
Water Treatment Plant construction update
The Project began construction of the new on-site Water Treatment Plant in the 2023/2024 work season. This included:
- preparing the pad for the building construction
- drilling the mine water intake wells
- clearing vegetation
- removing contaminated soils
- blasting and rock crushing for reuse
The Project also has begun driving piles and pouring the concrete foundation for the building and will continue to advance on the work listed above in 2024 by constructing the marine outfall near the Yellowknife pubic boat launch in Yellowknife Bay. A key milestone for construction this year will be to construct the shell of the WTP to allow for winter work inside the building.
Procurement updates
New contracts awarded:
Northern Indigenous contracts:
- Waste Transfer Station Operator (0107)
Contract awarded to True North Environmental
Contract value as of January 2024: $1,501,788.71
Contract period: November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024
Scholarships and apprenticeships in 2023:
The Giant Mine Remediation Project including the site Main Construction Manager, Parsons and subcontractors issued a total of 6 scholarships and supported 1 apprentice in 2023:
- 1 scholarship issued by AECOM for $5,000 to Dechı̨ta Nàowo
- 3 scholarships issued by Parsons for $5,000 each
- Annual Contribution Agreement funding issued by the Giant Mine Remediation Project to Yellowknives Dene First Nation that can be used for 1 $5,000 scholarship
- Annual Contribution Agreement funding issued by the Giant Mine Remediation Project to North Slave Métis Alliance that can be used for 1 $5000 scholarship
Total funding allocated to scholarships by the Giant Mine Remediation Project, Main Construction Manager and subcontractors in 2023 was $30,000.
Contact us
Phone: 867-669-2426
Email: giantmine@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Construction updates and schedules: Get on our distribution list: giantmine@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Safety, work and general notices: www.canada.ca/giantnotices
Concerns or questions about the boat launch or parking: publicuse_giant_lieupublic@gov.nt.ca