ONTARIO’S

ABANDONED MINES REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Presentation for IAEA/CNSC Workshop

Elliot Lake, ON

May 1, 2014

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Mining in Ontario…

Annual mineral production topping $5.5

billion/yr.

Creates an estimated 90,000 jobs.

Produces $1.8 billion in exports.

Typical base metal mine annually contributes

$50 million into Ontario’s economy.

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Ontario Mining Act

Rehabilitation of Mining Lands is addressed in Part

VII of the Mining Act

Proponents must file a Closure Plan before mining can

commence

Proponents must estimate the costs for mine closure

and provide Financial Assurance to implement the

closure plan

Requirements for Mine Closure are stipulated by

Ontario Regulation 240/00 and the Mine

Rehabilitation Code

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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Mine Rehabilitation Code Schedule 1

1. Protection of Mine Openings to Surface

2. Limit hazards of Open Pits

3. Stability of Crown Pillars (rock left above underground

workings)

4. Tailings Dams

5. Surface Water Monitoring

6. Ground Water Monitoring

7. Metal Leaching and Acid Rock Drainage

8. Physical Stability Monitoring

9. Revegetation

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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program Objectives/Goals

Ensure public safety.

Protect the environment.

Invest in the rehabilitation of abandoned mine sites on Crown held lands.

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Ontario’s Abandoned Mines

Approximately 5,700 known abandoned mine sites located

within Ontario containing more than 17,000 documented

mine features.

30 to 40% of all of Ontario’s abandoned mine sites are

estimated to be on Crown land.

Rehabilitation Costs of all Crown held abandoned mines will

likely cost several hundred million dollars.

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program (1999 – Present)

Funding to be primarily applied to the rehabilitation of

Crown-held abandoned mine sites.

The Abandoned Mines program continues to date with

current funding at $4 million per year.

To date, $138 million has been dedicated to the Program.

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Timminco Mine Site – Haley, ON

Magnesium producer 1943 - 2005

Implemented mine closure plan 2005-2011

Went into receivership, property abandoned in 2012

MNDM is implementing the closure plan using the Financial

Assurance

Issues:

Ongoing operation of the groundwater containment and treatment

system

Complete capping of the tailings

Removal/disposal of thorium contaminated building materials

Hydrocarbon contamination

Ground and surface water assessment and monitoring

Building demolition

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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Timminco Mine Site – Haley, ON

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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Questions?