phaned/Abandoned Mine Site Rehabilitation
NEWS
RELEASES:
PROVINCE COMMITS $42 MILLION FOR CLEANUP OF ORPHANED MINES
Orphaned or abandoned (O/A) mines are mines for which the owner cannot be found or is financially unable or unwilling to carry out site rehabilitation. Many of these sites were developed decades ago, before environmental impacts were fully understood and modern operating standards were developed. Some of these mines pose environmental, health, safety and economic risks to communities, the mining industry and governments. Orphaned and abandoned mines exist within all mining jurisdictions in Canada.
Schist Lake, Manitoba, before and after reclamation
Mine site rehabilitation is a responsible action to close former mine sites by
- identifying and correcting any safety hazards,
- managing the disposal of potential hazardous and toxic substances,
- eliminating contamination in the air and water, and
- returning the land as close as possible to its natural state.
Rehabilitation plans bring significant economic benefits to the area by creating jobs and spin-off benefits. Remediation of mine sites improves the lives of people who live near orphaned or abandoned mines by
- addressing health and safety risks,
- providing a more aesthetically pleasing environment for residents, visitors, and tourists,
- covering tailings to manage wind blown dust,
- encouraging revegetation, and
- bolstering the economic viability of the area.
In 1999, Manitoba adopted mine closure regulations which require that environmental liabilities incurred during mining operations be financially secured to cover future remediation costs. Mine closure plans and financial security must be filed and approved prior to a permit being granted for a new mine operation.
The Mine Closure Regulation is currently undergoing a formal review to ensure that its requirements remain relevant and consistent with government policies and programs.
MR 67/99 - Mine Closure Regulation
General Closure Plan Guidelines, available in
html or
PDF
Mine Closure Guidelines, Financial Assurance available in
html or
PDF
In 2000, Manitoba established the Orphaned/Abandoned Mine Site Rehabilitation Program to address the public safety and environmental health concerns associated with orphaned/abandoned mine sites.
- Under the program, 149 former mine sites were identified as orphaned or abandoned, which include five high-priority sites (Lynn Lake, Sherridon, Gods Lake, Snow Lake and Baker Patton), 31 high-hazard sites and the remaining low- to moderate-risk sites.
- To date, the Province has spent over $20 million on O/A mine site rehabilitation, mostly through the Orphaned/Abandoned Mine Site Rehabilitation Program administered by Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines.
►$1 million was spent for ongoing capping and closing off open mine shafts, site inspection, environmental monitoring, dyke repair, demolition and cleanup, and preparation of long-term rehabilitation plans.
►$1 million was spent by Manitoba Conservation through the department's Environmental Health Risk Assessment Program to research and assess the environmental impact of abandoned mines including air and water quality testing.
►$4 million was spent in 2006-2007 for rehabilitation projects at Lynn Lake, Sherridon, Snow Lake and the Ruttan mine at Leaf Rapids, including environmental monitoring, dike repair, demolition and cleanup, site revegetation and preparation of long-term rehabilitation plans.
►$5.3 million was spent in 2007-2008 for rehabilitation projects at Lynn Lake, Sherridon, Gods Lake and 11 sites in the Bissett and West Hawk Lake areas. Key accomplishments included starting demolition of the Farley mine and headframe complex in Lynn Lake, the demolition of the power line from the Gods Lake mine site to Kutchewan Falls, continued work at the Lynn Lake and Sherridon sites and rehabilitation of 11 sites in southeastern Manitoba.
►$9 million was spent in 2008-2009 for rehabilitation projects in Lynn Lake, Sherridon, Snow Lake, Gods Lake and 12 other sites. Key accomplishments included the rehabilitation of 4 high-hazard sites in southeastern Manitoba; demolition of the Farley Mine Mill Complex, Ruttan Loadout, and the El Mine Complex at Lynn Lake were completed; the Sherlett Creek Restoration at Sherridon was completed; and an extensive surface and groundwater study was conducted at the Ruttan mine site at Leaf Rapids.
►$42 million has been allocated for 2009-2010 rehabilitation projects in Lynn Lake, Sherridon, Snow Lake, Gods Lake, Leaf Rapids and 13 high-hazard sites. Planned rehabilitation work includes:
- Lynn Lake: East Tailings Management Area dyke enhancement, surface water management, tailings capping, revegetation and dust abatement; decommissioning of existing waste disposal facility located in the ETMA and construction of a new waste disposal facility for Lynn Lake; West Tailings Management Area remediation of contaminated soil at the mill site, comprehensive review of water management and treatment options and tailings re-vegetation studies; El Mine site closure plan, site remediation.
- Sherridon: the highest priority rehabilitation project for which HAZCO has been contracted to neutralize and relocate the mine tailings. The three-year, $34.5 million contract includes a 10% set-aside and a $500,000 training allowance for local First Nation and northern communities.
- Snow Lake: tailings remediation and revegetation, and rehabilitation of the arsenopyrite pile.
- Gods Lake: removing stock-piled steel, demolition of headframe and mine-site cleanup, and tailings capping.
- Ruttan Mine: design of a water treatment system, remediation of tailings area.
- Rehabilitation work at 13 sites which the department has identified as posing potential hazards to public health and safety and the environment.
- In 2006, Manitoba established a provincial environmental liability account for the rehabilitation of orphaned and abandoned mines and signed an agreement with Viridian Inc. to share the rehabilitation cost of the East Tailings Management Area near the Town of Lynn Lake. The account currently holds $218 million to fund rehabilitation projects.
- All 149 sites have been inspected for safety and environmental hazards, prioritized for rehabilitation and have had long-term rehabilitation plans completed.
- Rehabilitation has been completed at 16 sites including Baker Patton, one of the high-priority sites, and 15 high-hazard sites.
Manitoba supports the rehabilitation of O/A mines through its programs, partnerships, community involvement and funding initiatives. In addition, the province also participates in the National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative (NOAMI), a co-operative partnership of the Canadian mining industry, federal/provincial/territorial governments, environmental non-government organizations and First Nations.
Manitoba’s ongoing work on the rehabilitation of O/A mines is consistent with NOAMI objectives to address key priorities and issues including:
- building a national inventory,
- setting standards and rational expectations,
- ownership and liability issues,
- identification of funding models, and
- community involvement.
Manitoba hosted the first NOAMI Workshop in Winnipeg in 2001. Sixty-three participants met to review issues and identify processes for moving forward. Manitoba also hosted the 2006 O/A mines workshop to explore and understand the best, emerging and innovative practices relating to the management of orphaned and abandoned mines. Participants included Provincial, Territorial and Federal Government officials; Communities of interest; Aboriginal peoples; NGOs; Academics; Scientists; and mining industry representatives. For more information, please visit the NOAMI website:
National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative (NOAMI)
In June 2008, Manitoba hosted the
MEND Manitoba Workshop, a federal/provincial initiative organized through Natural Resources Canada’s Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) Program and Manitoba’s department of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines.
Acidic drainage is recognized as the largest environmental liability facing the mining industry and, to a lesser extent, the public through abandoned mines. MEND was implemented to develop and apply new technologies to prevent and control acidic drainage.
The workshop presented the challenges in acidic drainage for operating, closed or abandoned mines and developed best practices to ensure that future mine development will not have long-term acidic drainage concerns upon closure.
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