Exploration Plans And Permits, And The Duty To Consult With Aboriginal Communities

Prior to any work commencing, certain prescribed, lower-impact exploration activities require the prospector to send a notice of intent to submit an exploration plan to the MNDM and to all affected surface rights owners. Exploration plans must summarize the proposed exploration activity, where it will take place and the timing of the activity.

The following activities require the submission of an exploration plan (but do not require an exploration permit):

• geophysical surveys requiring a generator;
• line cutting where the width of the line is 1.5 metres or less;
• mechanized drilling to obtain rock or mineral samples where the weight of the drill is 150 kilograms or less;
• mechanized surface stripping where the total combined surface area stripped is less than 100 square metres within a 200-metre radius; and