Northern Saskatchewan

Northern Saskatchewan is home to numerous uranium mines and mills and is the world's leader in uranium production. 

Latest Updates:

• August 19, 2010: Record of Proceedings - Saskatchewan Research Council - Review by the Commission of the Designated Officer Order Issued on June 18, 2010 with Respect to the Deterioration of the Gunnar Mine Site in Northern Saskatchewan (PDF)
• July 26, 2010: CNSC Issues an Order to Replace the Designated Officer Order Issued to Saskatchewan Research Council for the Gunnar Mine site
• July 7, 2010: Transcript of the July 5 public hearing regarding Saskatchewan Research Council: Opportunity to be heard (PDF)
• July 5, 2010: Saskatchewan Research Council: Opportunity to be heard on the Designated Officer Order issued on June 18, 2010 (Agenda item #4)(PDF)
• June 18, 2010: Order to Saskatchewan Research Council regarding the proposed Gunnar Rehabilitation Project
• December 29, 2009: CNSC Announces Decision to Extend Gunnar and Lorado Mine Sites Exemption from NSCA’s Requirements
• December 15, 2009: Uranium Mining: The Facts on a Well-Regulated Industry
• October 23, 2009: Notice of a one-day public hearing to be held in Ottawa, Ontario on December 10, 2009 to consider the Saskatchewan Research Council’s application for the extension of exemptions of the Gunnar and Lorado mine sites from the requirements of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. (PDF)
• August 31, 2009:
  • Notice of one-day Public Hearing to be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on November 6, 2009 to consider Cameco Corporation’s application for amendment to the Cigar Lake Construction Licence (PDF)
    
    
  • Notice of Resumption of Public Hearing to be held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on November 5, 2009 to consider Cameco Corporation’s application for the renewal of the licence to possess, manage and store nuclear substances at Beaverlodge Mining and Milling Facility (PDF)
• July 22, 2009: CNSC Announces its Decision to Renew AREVA Resources Canada Inc.’s Uranium Mine Decommissioning Licence for the Cluff Lake Project
• June 30, 2009: CNSC Announces Decision to Renew AREVA Resources Canada Inc.’s Uranium Mine Operating Licence for the McClean Lake Operation and to Revoke Midwest Uranium Site Preparation Licence
• May 7, 2009: Nero Lake: Saskatchewan Research Council Former Lorado Uranium Mill Site Rehabilitation Project
• May 1, 2009: Key Lake Mill Services Project: Request for Public Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment Screening Report (May 1, 2009 to May 21, 2009)
• April 16, 2009: Environmental Assessment for Cigar Lake Water Inflow Management Project
• April 2, 2009: Continuation of Mining and Milling at McClean Lake Operation: Development of Caribou deposit: Request for Public Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment Screening Report (April 2, 2009 to May 5, 2009) (PDF)
• March 16, 2009: CNSC Exempts from Licensing Five Decommissioned Satellite Mine Sites at the Beaverlodge Site in Northern Saskatchewan

Uranium mines and mills in northern Saskatchewan

Northern Saskatchewan is home to numerous uranium mines and mills and is one of the world's leaders in uranium production. 

The McArthur River mine, which started production at the end of 1999 is operated by Cameco Corporation. Its ore is milled at the Key Lake site. Cameco's other operating facility is the Rabbit Lake mine and mill facility, where further expansion of the Eagle Point underground mine area continues. Cameco is also the licensee responsible for managing the decommissioned Beaverlodge site. In terms of new uranium mines, Cameco's Cigar Lake underground mine will continue construction and plans to progress to ore production in the next few years. For more information, visit Cameco’s Web site.

AREVA Resources Canada Inc. (formerly COGEMA Resources Inc.) operates the McClean Lake mine and mill facility which started production in mid-1999, and the Midwest Project (proposed new mine undergoing an environmental assessment). Its Cluff Lake mining facility has now closed after 25 years and is in the final stages of decommissioning. Additionally, AREVA's McClean Lake mill was expanded to accommodate the ore from Cigar Lake. For more information, see the AREVA Resources Canada Inc. web site.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has full-time project officers based in Saskatoon who perform compliance and licensing activities for existing, operating and decommissioned mines and remain the subject matter experts on any other new uranium mines proposed in Saskatchewan, or elsewhere in Canada.

Through inspections and meetings with the licensee’s site staff, CNSC personnel evaluate and verify that the regulatory requirements and license conditions are in compliance, and identify best practices and opportunities for improvement. These findings are also routinely shared during northern Saskatchewan public community meetings, or with the representatives of Environmental Quality Committee (EQC). The EQC is comprised of community representatives who are appointed by the Saskatchewan government through the Northern Mines Monitoring Secretariat, which is an inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Northern Affairs Division of the Government of Saskatchewan and is dedicated to informing northerners about Saskatchewan's uranium mining industry. The mandate of the EQC is to be the liaison and communication channel between northerners, government and the uranium mining industry.

For more information, read the fact sheet about how uranium mining is a federal responsibility and regulated by the CNSC.