The responsible development of the Rook I Project is paramount, and NexGen has been participating in the rigorous Environmental Assessment (EA) process overseen federally by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and provincially by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment (ENV) through a harmonized process.
The EA for the Rook I Project (Project) has been subject federally to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 (CEAA 2012) and provincially to The Environmental Assessment Act.
Provincial: In Saskatchewan, provincial EAs are governed under The Environmental Assessment Act which requires that a proponent receive a positive Ministerial Decision before proceeding with a development. Under the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment (ENV), the Saskatchewan Environmental Assessment and Stewardship Branch (SEASB) acts as the lead agency overseeing the provincial EA process and is responsible for coordinating activities in cooperation with other provincial ministries, agencies, and authorities. Ministerial EA Approval for the Project was received on 8 November 2023.
Federal: The federal EA requirements are detailed within CEAA 2012. The CNSC acts as the lead agency overseeing the federal EA process and is responsible for coordinating activities in cooperation with other federal agencies and departments that may be involved in the federal EA review process. Federal internal and public review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been completed, and on 28 January 2025, the CNSC confirmed that the Final EIS had been accepted. The CNSC are currently preparing an EA Report that will inform an approval decision by the Commission. Public and Indigenous input will be solicited and comments considered in finalizing the EA Report. The Commission will then hold a public hearing for the Project EA and Licence, after which it will make a final determination on approval of the Project, which will be issued in a formal Notice of Decision.