PotashCorp's Commitment

Two reinforcing considerations shape PotashCorp's approach to biodiversity:

• Its SHE Policy commits the company to minimize impacts on the environment, which will help preserve natural biodiversity.
• It is also committed to meeting all federal, state/provincial and local regulatory requirements, which often include enhancing natural biodiversity by creating new habitats.

Mining is a highly regulated industry. A mining permit requires an extensive environmental impact statement that explains how PotashCorp will avoid or mitigate impact on plant and animal species. Public involvement is part of the permitting process, which can be lengthy. It took eight years to get the current mining permit at Aurora and about five and a half years to receive the current permit in White Springs.

As a result, PotashCorp takes steps to understand, avoid, minimize and mitigate biodiversity impacts throughout the life cycle of its operations. It believes that biodiversity is promoted by enhancing or preserving habitat at and near its operations and so it minimizes negative impacts on the surrounding lands and water.