Biodiversity

PotashCorp takes steps to help maintain a healthy environment and to promote natural biodiversity at and near its mining operations.

The company tries 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.

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 also part of the permitting process, which can be lengthy.

Biodiversity Performance Expectations

Expectations for managing biodiversity are set out in the SHE management system, which states that:

• Facilities are designed and constructed to minimize impact on biodiversity and other environmental impacts, while meeting federal, state/provincial and local regulatory requirements. Where these regulatory requirements are absent, PotashCorp strives to develop standards and best practices that appropriately protect people and the environment.
• Facilities are operated and maintained to minimize impacts on biodiversity.
• All facilities are expected to report performance data as part of SHE reporting requirements.

Approach to Biodiversity

PotashCorp undertakes studies to develop and monitor biodiversity around the mine sites. In Saskatchewan, the landscapes around the mines remain extremely biodiverse, with operations having little impact other than approved tailings management areas. Plants and animals are varied and landscapes range from mixed grassland (Allan) to aspen grove vegetation (Rocanville).

The company conducts ongoing studies to monitor the condition of surface and ground water at all its Canadian locations.

When the company leases property at its Saskatchewan potash sites to farmers, it requires detailed farm-lease agreements to ensure safe and environmentally friendly farming practices. It promotes continuous cropping, does not allow straw burning or breaking of natural habitats, requires grazing limits based on Canadian government guidelines and promotes reversion of land used for cereal crops back to grasslands, where it makes sense.

PotashCorp works with partners to enhance biodiversity outcomes. It supports Ducks Unlimited in Canada and participates in the Acres for Wildlife program of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.

The company actively supports government initiatives to promote biodiversity. PotashCorp participates in the Province of Saskatchewan's Representative Area Network, a program within the Saskatchewan Biodiversity Action Plan that is designed to safeguard lands representative of various ecosystems in the province.

Biodiversity Performance

Following are examples of PotashCorp's initiatives and achievements at its mine sites.

Cory: Approximately 240 hectares within Cory's land holdings are maintained in a natural condition to preserve habitat. About 2,000 trees planted around the site augment the natural habitat.

Lanigan: A program to enhance wildlife in a 41-hectare area west of the mine entrance was initiated in 2001. An asphalt parking lot, a municipal road and agricultural land were reclaimed and transformed into a wildlife enhancement area with a network of sloughs (ponds). Piping was installed so fresh water could be circulated through the sloughs and to ensure a water supply for future irrigation systems. Excavation of the sloughs lengthened the shoreline significantly and added islands for nesting waterfowl.

In 2002, more than 5,000 trees and shrubs were planted in two shelterbelts in the wildlife enhancement area. Another 4,000 trees and shrubs were planted in 2003. Assiniboine poplar, plains green ash, chokecherry, Saskatoon berry, wolfwillow, buffaloberry, snowberry and hedge rose were selected, based on their tolerance to drought and ability to support wildlife. PotashCorp has converted approximately 800 hectares of cultivated land in the area to permanent grasslands.

Patience Lake: Wildlife habitat is maintained around the mine site, and two wetlands on the property are part of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation's Acres for Wildlife program.

Rocanville: Rocanville has enrolled 1,490 hectares of parkland around the mine site in Saskatchewan's Representative Area Network. Much of this land is in its natural state, with aspen trees, wetlands and meadows. This region is an excellent wildlife habitat, with numerous deer and sharptailed grouse, plus other animals and many native plants. Another project involves developing wetland as a waterfowl marsh with Ducks Unlimited.

New Brunswick: PotashCorp's New Brunswick mine is located within the Southern New Brunswick Uplands ecoregion that forms a 40-kilometer-wide zone parallel to the Bay of Fundy along the border with the United States to the Saint John River valley. Employees are involved with fisheries and wildlife initiatives, including the Hammond River Angling Association Watershed Restoration Committee and Ducks Unlimited.

Aurora: Considerable effort has been spent on land reclamation and wetland mitigation at Aurora, which has reclaimed 2,352 hectares and planted 2.1 million trees over the years. Wetland remediation ratios are typically 1.6 acres to one, meaning that for every acre of wetland impacted by mining, the company is required to mitigate, restore or replace 1.6 acres. PotashCorp's primary focus at this site has been restoring wetlands that were drained in the past – a common practice in the phosphate industry long before the company entered it. Standards must be met – hydrology criteria, soil quality and survival rates for a wide variety of vegetation, including trees.

Aurora has won many awards for its reclamation efforts, which have included enhancing the aquatic culture and stream system so that reclaimed areas are again home to fish, birds and wildlife.

White Springs: White Springs has reclaimed more land than it mined over the past decade. More than half of the 4,500 hectares reclaimed are designated for public use, largely hunting, fishing and hiking. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission supervises a Wildlife Management Area that uses 1,620 hectares. A commercial recreational hunting and fishing business operates on some reclaimed land. Approximately 7 million trees have been planted.

Reclamation of mined lands results in creation of aquatic habitats that did not exist prior to mining, attracting bald eagles, osprey, alligators and a wide variety of wading birds. White Springs personnel, assisted by special consultants, routinely relocate osprey nests and gopher tortoises to these newly created habitats.

Potashcorp Initiatives To Protect And Restore Ecosystems

Summary of PotashCorp Initiatives to Protect and Restore Ecosystems
Rocanville	1,490 hectares preserved as natural aspen parklands. Developing wetland with Ducks Unlimited as waterfowl marsh. Transplanted rare plants found in North West Pond project area. Committed to replacing wetlands lost in North West Pond project area.
Patience Lake	Two wetlands being preserved on the property are part of the Acres for Wildlife program of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.
Lanigan	800 hectares converted to permanent grasslands. More than 9,000 trees and shrubs planted. Developed wetland area attracting waterfowl.
Cory	240 hectares maintained naturally as wildlife habitat. More than 2,000 trees planted.
White Springs	58 reclamation projects cover more than 5,970 hectares. About three-quarters of the projects, and one-fourth of the area, involve wetlands restoration. Approximately 7 million trees planted.
Aurora	Considerable effort spent on land reclamation and wetland mitigation, covering 2,352 hectares over the years. About 2.1 million trees planted.
New Brunswick	Site personnel are involved with fisheries and wildlife initiatives (Hammond River Angling Association, the Kennebacasis Watershed Restoration Committee and Ducks Unlimited).
Source: PotashCorp

Impact on Species on the IUCN Red List or National Conservation Lists

The company is unaware of any International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List species in areas affected by its operations.

In Saskatchewan, nine wildlife species at risk have breeding ranges that overlap with project areas. These are piping plover and burrowing owl (endangered); loggerhead shrike and Sprague's pipit (threatened); and yellow rail, long billed curlew, short-eared owl, northern leopard frog and Monarch butterfly (species of concern). It is not believed that the company's operations have had a significant impact on the habitats of these species.

The region around PotashCorp's White Springs plant in Florida is home to a number of species listed by federal or state authorities as endangered, threatened or of special concern. Potential impacts have been evaluated comprehensively for the project area. Through various permitting processes, wildlife agencies have determined that operations would have no impact on those species, or that impacts could be mitigated by operating practices that avoid sensitive habitats, creating new habitats for relocations and raising awareness of potential impacts for workers.