Authorization to conduct impact-causing exploration work

An authorization is required to conduct impact-causing exploration work.

The authorization for impact-causing exploration work (ATI) aims to:

• ensure that the concerns of local municipalities and Indigenous communities located next to the exploration work are taken into consideration;
• foster a predictable framework conducive to mining development investments;
• provide better monitoring and control of the impacts of impact-causing exploration on their living environment.

The ATI is based on a desire for transparency and harmonious conciliation of land uses. It also allows the government to impose conditions and obligations for exploration work to be done on the land covered by the exclusive exploration right, so that the concerns about proposed mining exploration activities expressed by local municipalities and Indigenous communications are taken into consideration.

The exploration activities covered by the ATI are:

• exploration work conducted on exclusive exploration rights using hydraulic machinery or explosives, including but not limited to:
  • excavations in overburden;
  • rock stripping;
  • ore bulk sampling;
  • exploration drilling (diamond, percussion, reverse circulation or sonic);
  • seismic refraction geophysical surveys.
• work carried out using a hydraulic pump for gold mining purposes.

The exclusive exploration right holder must present the proposed impact-causing exploration work to the relevant municipalities and Indigenous communities, where applicable, prior to filing their ATI application with the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts. The holder can send a notice of mining exploration work using the sample form below.

When ready to submit an application to the Depatment, the holder must complete the Application for authorization of impact-causing exploration work (ATI) form below and send it to ati@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca.

The presentation of the work must include a detailed description of each proposed impact-causing exploration work, including, but not limited to, the nature of the work, location, period of completion, the type of machinery used and mitigation measures that the proponent intends to put in place, if applicable.

The holder of the exclusive exploration right must, when exchanging information with the local municipalities and Indigenous communities concerned:

• present the impact-causing exploration work they intend to conduct;
• gather the questions, requests and comments;
• provide responses.

A report of exchanges mentioning the concerns of the host community must be provided with the ATI application. Proponents may use the following templates to record questions, requests and comments received as well as responses provided:

For more information, refer to the Promoter’s Guide below.

At the exchange meeting, local municipalities and Indigenous communities submit their concerns, questions, requests and comments to the proponent related to the proposed impact-causing exploration work.

This exchange process between the proponent and the municipality is informative, transparent and clear enough to facilitate understanding. This will help in identifying any issues and concerns and, where applicable, in identifying mitigation measures to minimize the impacts of the exploration work.

However, it is not a formal consultation process in which the host community must take a position on an exploration project.

It is also recommended that the EER holder hold a separate meeting with Indigenous communities, as their concerns may differ from local municipalities.

Consult our brochure on ATIs for the municipal sector (in French only) (PDF 1.71 Mb), which deals with directives on this obligation or our support provided to RCMs.