BlackRock Metals

161-kV BlackRock Metals Mining Property Electricity Service P ub l i c Con s ultati o n • September 2012

Mining project in the Nord-du-Québec region

BlackRock Metals Inc. wishes to carry out a mining project east of Lac Chibougamau, about 30 km southeast of the town of Chibougamau and 60 km east of the community of Oujé-Bougoumou.

The current project consists of building a 161-kV single-circuit power line, about 25 km long, tapping off circuit 1627 to connect the future BlackRock Metals substation to Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie’s transmission system. The electrical load from all BlackRock Metals mining property facilities will be about 44 MW. Commissioning of this power line is planned for spring 2014. After project completion, Hydro-Québec plans to dismantle part of the existing line (circuit 1627) between Obatogamau substation and the tap-off. Obatogamau substation will also be dismantled as part of another project.

Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie has asked Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés to conduct the draft-design studies for the planned supply of the BlackRock Metals mining property.

Environmental studies

Proposed routes

Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés is carrying out environmental inventories and technical surveys in the study area to acquire knowledge about the host environment. These are done based on a clearly established procedure that includes documentary research and site visits and also take into account stakeholder concerns. An environmental impact statement will be submitted in fall 2012 to the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs du Québec in order to obtain the required permits to carry out the project.

Based on the inventory of the biophysical and human environments and the landscape, Hydro-Québec used a number of siting criteria to determine the possible line routes: • Respect of technical constraints • Avoidance of environmentally sensitive areas • Concerns of land users • Integration into the landscape

Tower types and rights-of-way The projected line will be supported by guyed steel towers. These towers are between 36 m and 55 m tall. The average span of 500 m, for 55-m high towers, will keep impact on the land to a minimum. The total width of the right-of-way to be cleared will be about 50 m for suspension towers and 80 m for dead-end towers.

Hydro-Québec has selected two routes: –– Route A is 25.4 km long and is located in the northwestern part of the study area. It avoids many wetlands, it is far from areas frequented by land users and will integrate well into the landscape.

–– Route B is 26.4 km long and is located in the middle of the study area. It follows a logging road, is more easily accessible and would allow infrastructure to be grouped together. However, it creates a greater impact on wetlands and is more visible. In terms of technical criteria, it is comparable to Route A. The routes will be compared based on the following main criteria: • Economic: cost • Technical: length, angles and access • Environmental: sensitive areas crossed, land use, social acceptability and landscape

Dismantling The section of the existing line carrying circuit 1627 between the tap-off and Obatogamau substation (about 12 km) will be dismantled. Obatogamau substation will also be disman­ tled as part of another project.

2

Lac Jenozeau u ea iss u R 74°20'

74°15'

Rau

49°50'

Dorés

Lac Chibougamau

Other road

Mature forest (41 years and over)

Regenerating forest (20 years and less)

Planned substation (private developer)

O59

Transmission substations and lines

Wetland

O57A and O59

161 kV

Exceptional forest ecosystem Exceptional forest ecosystem project

735 kV

1627 Circuit number

Lac des Îles

(voltage color)

Line routes studied

Experimental forest

O57A BlackRock Metals substation

Study area Special-status wildlife species

Lac Armitage

Line to be built Line to be dismantled

Riv iè

re

Arm it

49°45'

age

Biological refuge

nan

O57A

Railway

Young forest (21 to 40 years)

fa g

Town of Chibougamau

R

t ou

u Ro

O59

eA

te

B

Municipality of Baie-James

49°45'

Vegetation and wildlife

e Vill

Baie-James

Cree trapline

Municipality of 49°50'

O59

Main road

Lac aux

74°5'

Municipality

Outfitter without exclusive rights

Trans-Québec snowmobile trail

74°10'

Infrastructure and boundaries

Town of Chibougamau

Vacationing, recreation and tourism

Lac-Ashuapmushuan, NO

Lac Stella

g

Proposed routes

b ec A

Q

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No

rt h

T er ri t

gr

ué

ov

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ne

w ay R ail CN au am ug ibo C h ion To bstat 27 su 16

db yJ

am

167

24

em

es

O59

ent

B ay

Lac Dollier

Lac André

d

an

49°40'

49°40'

O59

aieJ

am

es

Lac Audet

of B

O60

708

Lac de la Besace

alit y

4

Mu nic ip

708 5

70

Lac Boisvert

49°35'

CN

93

Ra

O60

y

74°20'

a ilw

Lacs Obatogamau

49°35'

86

Lac Laurent

Obatogamau substation 74°15'

167

0 74°10'

Document for information purposes only. For any other use, please contact Géomatique at Hydro-Québec Équipement et services partagés.

74°5'

1,4

2,8 km

MTM, zone 8, NAD83 0901_bu_nu_012_120831a.mxd

3

Project schedule

Public participation

Draft design General information

Favorable reception from local communities is an essential condition for Hydro-Québec projects.

To ensure that their concerns are taken into consideration, the company will hold information and consultation sessions with community representatives, including the tallymen affected by the project, while the studies are under way.

This will help Hydro-Québec select the route with the least impact on the concerned area.

Spring 2012

Information and consultation

Summer 2012

Information on route selected

Fall 2012

PROJECT Filing of environmental impact statement Permitting Construction Commissioning

Fall 2012 Summer 2013 Winter 2013-2014 Spring 2014

www.hydroquebec.com/projects

Information Richard Simard Advisor – Community Relations and Special Projects Telephone: 418 748-8200, extension 8319 Toll-free: 1 800 679-9919, option 5 simard.richard.3@hydro.qc.ca Jimmy Lavoie Advisor – Aboriginal Affairs and Special Projects Telephone: 418 748-8200, extension 8339 Toll-free: 1 800 679-9919, option 4 lavoie.jimmy@hydro.qc.ca Direction régionale – La Grande Rivière 511, route 167 Sud C. P. 100 Chibougamau (Québec) G8P 2K5

2012E1079-A

Printed on paper made in Québec from 100% postconsumer recycled fibre.

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