the mining association of canada

The Mining Association of Canada

E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R O G R E S S R E P O R T 2 0 0 1

T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

About the cover

A fern unfolding in Winnipeg,Manitoba, superimposed oversugar maples at Minnowan Lake,near English River, Ontario.Photography Mike Grandmaison

P r e s i d e n t ’ s M e s s a g e

S E C T I O N 1M a n a g i n g R e l e a s e s t o A i r a n d W a t e r 4

S u m m a r y o f I n d u s t r y P r o g r e s s 5

M e t a l M i n i n g E f f l u e n t R e g u l a t i o n s ( M M E R ) a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l E f f e c t s M o n i t o r i n g ( E E M ) 6

S u l p h u r D i o x i d e R e l e a s e s 7

D i o x i n s 7

F e a t u r e E c o l o g i c a l R i s k A s s e s s m e n t a t C o m i n c o T r a i l 8

E n e r g y a n d C l i m a t e C h a n g e 9

F e a t u r e E n e r g y E f f i c i e n c y a t F a l c o n b r i d g e R a g l a n 10

S E C T I O N 2F i n d i n g E n v i r o n m e n t a l S o l u t i o n s t h r o u g h R e s e a r c h 11

M i n e E n v i r o n m e n t N e u t r a l D r a i n a g e ( M E N D 3 ) 11

M e t a l s i n t h e E n v i r o n m e n t R e s e a r c h N e t w o r k ( M I T E - R N ) 12

To x i c o l o g i c a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f M i n i n g E f f l u e n t s ( T I M E ) N e t w o r k 12

S E C T I O N 3R e c y c l i n g — A G r o w i n g B u s i n e s s O p p o r t u n i t y 13

S E C T I O N 4I m p r o v i n g R e s p o n s i b l e M i n e M a n a g e m e n t 14

M a n a g e m e n t o f Ta i l i n g s F a c i l i t i e s 14

F e a t u r e A g n i c o - E a g l e L a r o n d e : A M o d e r n M i n e 15

O r p h a n e d / A b a n d o n e d M i n e s i n C a n a d a 16

F e a t u r e R e c l a m a t i o n a t R i o A l g o m ’s P o i r i e r M i n e 16

F e a t u r e R e c l a m a t i o n i n t h e S u b a r c t i c — E K A T I T M D i a m o n d M i n e 18

S E C T I O N 5H i g h l i g h t s o f C o m p a n y A c t i o n s 20

C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n 34

Mining Association of Canada Environmental Progress Report

The Mining Association ofCanada highlights the work ofCanadian nature photographerMike Grandmaison in ourEnvironmental Progress Report 2001.Mr. Grandmaison’s photographicsubjects range from nature andagriculture to architecture, industryand tourism. His passion forphotography, particularly his abilityto capture light and the intimatedetails of the natural world, haswon him numerous commissionsfrom clients throughout Canada.You may visit his web site atwww.grandmaison.mb.ca.


Churchill River, Manitoba.

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P r e s i d e n t ’ s M e s s a g e

One challenge we face with the report ishow to provide readers with meaningfulinformation in a format that is bothcomprehensive and accessible. Thisyear’s new look reflects our efforts to dojust that. We provide a synthesis ofMAC member activities in the body ofthe report, with more detailed supple-mentary information, including releasedata, in individual fact sheets enclosed inthe back pocket. We hope you find thisnew format more useful and enjoyable.

The EPR continues to highlight thesector’s progress in reducing releases ofARET-listed substances. All releases forthe year showed no change or furtherreductions except for nickel, whichincreased but remains 70 percent belowbase year levels. All key substances arewell under base year amounts; overallreductions range from 40 percent forcopper to 93 percent for mercury.

Last year’s EPR focused on industryefforts to decrease greenhouse gasemissions. This year the industry isreporting further progress. Combinedmetal mining and non-ferrous smeltingand refining greenhouse gas emissionsare currently 15 percent below 1990levels, according to the most recentindependent data from the CanadianIndustrial Energy End-Use Data and

Analysis Centre.This is one of thebest performancesof all Canadianindustrial sectors.

Reporting on the industry’s recyclingcontinues, but with a new angle. Inprevious years we reported the totalitems gathered and sent for recycling bymember companies. This year we alsosupply information on metal productsrecycled by smelters. Recycling metals,which can be recovered and recycledalmost indefinitely, is a growing businessfor Canada’s smelting industry.

We have also included some stories thathighlight individual companies’ efforts tobetter their environmental performance,whether by improving reclamation in the subarctic or by conducting one ofCanada’s most comprehensive ecologicalrisk assessments.

In the body of the report and in the fact sheets, you will find news about ahost of other MAC activities. Includedare updates on the Metals in theEnvironment Research Network, theMine Environment Neutral Drainageprogram, the proposed Metal MiningEffluent Regulations, the ToxicologicalInvestigations of Mining Effluents

Over the past seven years of reporting on MAC membercompanies’ environmental initiatives, the EnvironmentalProgress Report has changed significantly. The first year we

published, we were unsure there would be a second. Sincethen the EPR has not only become an annual publication, butthanks in large part to the excellent work of MAC’s DataIntegrity Group, it has also grown more comprehensive,covering a broader range of issues and taking a more in-depthlook at the mining industry’s environmental performance.The EPR has expanded again this year to report industryreleases of sulphur dioxide and dioxins.

Gordon R. Peeling

President, The MiningAssociation of Canada

Network, our continued promotion of A Guide to the Management of TailingsFacilities and our development of a complementary operations manual. We also report on a multi-stakeholder endeavour to address theunfortunate legacy of orphaned andabandoned mines.

To provide context for the environmen-tal initiatives described in this report, wehave included a copy of MAC’sEnvironmental Policy in the backpocket. Adoption of this policy is a

condition of membership in MAC. Aswell, company contact informationappears at the end of the report.Questions and comments are welcome;you can either contact companiesdirectly or call us at MAC, at (613) 233-9392.

I hope you find this year’s report interesting and informative.

Sincerely,

Gordon Peeling


Vermilion River near Whitefish, Ontario.

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4

Managing to reduce releases to air and water is one of the most important

responsibilities of Canada’s mining industry. This section expands considerably the

reporting of environmental performance and data from previous years. Releases of

ARET-listed substances in 2000, measured against the base year, are reported, as is

the industry’s continued progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For the first

time, the Environmental Progress Report describes members’ efforts to reduce sulphur

dioxide emissions, a major source of acid rain, as well as collective efforts to identify

and understand the potential for generating and releasing dioxins and furans. And

finally, in anticipation of new Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER), compa-

nies are preparing to publish annually

their effluent data, beginning with

next year’s issue. In the future, this

data, along with the environmental

effects monitoring data generated

under the MMER, will present a

detailed picture of the industry’s

aquatic effects performance.

Environmental Progress Report Mining Association of Canada Managing Releases to Air and Water

ArsenicReleases to Air and Water (combined total)

0

100

200

300

400

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

CadmiumReleases to Air and Water (combined total)

0

50

100

150

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

CopperReleases to Air and Water (combined total)

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

Hydrogen SulphideReleases to Air Only

0

100

200

300

400

500

Base 93 94 95 96* 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

* Please refer to the release tables in pocket for details on the 1996 total.

S E C T I O N � M a n a g i n g R e l e a s e s t o A i r a n d W a t e r

S u b s t a n c e R e l e a s e G r a p h s

0

2

4

6

8

10

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

Year

Tonn

es/Y

ear (

thou

sand

s)

Air Water

Air and water components of total releases for all substances

and companies

5

Managing Releases to Air and Water Mining Association of Canada Environmental Progress Report

Substituting chemicals for a saferenvironment

Hexavalent chromium compounds were used

extensively in the past to inhibit corrosion in

cooling tower systems. These systems, besides

being part of mining and metal processing

facilities, exist in many areas where excess heat

must be dissipated, including office towers,

industrial plants and apartment buildings.

In the late 1980s, concern arose about the safety

of hexavalent chromium compounds—

specifically about their role in environmental

contamination and the risk of exposure for

maintenance staff working on cooling towers.

Inco Limited, after investigating the matter in the

early 1990s, worked with chemical suppliers to

convert its facilities to non–hexavalent chromium

systems. The company’s new phosphate-based

systems have since been accepted as a standard

package for corrosion inhibition in industrial

cooling towers. Thanks in part to Inco’s efforts, the

use of hexavalent chromium compounds in cooling

towers has been largely phased out.

LeadReleases to Air and Water (combined total)

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

MercuryReleases to Air and Water (combined total)

0

10

20

30

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

NickelReleases to Air and Water (combined total)

0

500

1,000

1,500

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

ZincReleases to Air and Water (combined total)

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

Base 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00

YearTonnes/Year

S u m m a r y o f I n d u s t r y P r o g r e s s

During the year the sector continued its efforts to reduce releases of major ARET-listed substances. Decreases were reported this year for copper and hydrogensulphide. Nickel showed an increase from 1999 levels, while arsenic, cadmium,

lead, mercury and zinc remained relatively constant. However, all key ARETsubstances remain well below base year levels, with overall reductions ranging from40 percent for copper to 93 percent for mercury. All but copper will meet or exceedthe original target of 50 percent reduction by 2000.

The Environmental Progress Report includes a non–MAC member this year, CambiorInc. Last year Kinross Gold Corporation, another non–MAC member, submitted its ARET data to the report for the first time. It is resubmitting this year.

Releases by company and by substance are available (see back pocket or www.mining.ca). Detailed facility-based release data are available at www.mining.ca.

The Environment Canada ARET listings arespecifically for inorganic arsenic; respirable andsoluble inorganic forms of cadmium; hexavalentchromium (Cr6+); inorganic and soluble cobalt;inorganic salts of copper; all forms of lead, exceptalkyl; elemental and inorganic mercury; inorganic,respirable and soluble nickel; soluble, inorganic

salts of silver; and inorganic, respirable andsoluble zinc. In practice, reporters in the MACEnvironmental Progress Report provide values fortotal (not speciated) releases of arsenic, cadmium,chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickeland zinc.

The level of chromium, cobalt and silver releasedto the environment is so close to the detectionlimit for any one company that a total figure forthese elements is not meaningful. For this reason,yearly release graphs are not presented andpercentage changes are not calculated.

The methodology for estimating cyanide releasesto air is in the process of being refined. Releasesof cyanide to air, between 1993 and 2000, havebeen estimated using a wide variety of techniquesresulting in discrepancies between years. For thisreason, a yearly release graph is not presented,and percentage change is not calculated.

Reductions Achieved to 2000

Arsenic 51%

Cadmium 73%

Copper 40%

Hydrogen Sulphide 73%

Lead 74%

Mercury 93%

Nickel 70%

Zinc 81%

6

M e t a l M i n i n g E f f l u e n t R e g u l a t i o n s ( M M E R ) a n dE n v i r o n m e n t a l E f f e c t s M o n i t o r i n g ( E E M )


New regulations proposed

The summer of 1999 saw the end of a multi-stakeholder process to amend the 1977Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations and to design a national EEM programfor metal mining. On July 28, 2001, the proposed amended regulations, which fall

under the federal Fisheries Act, were published in Part I of the Canada Gazette,starting a 60-day public comment period.

The new MMER (the “L” for “Liquid” has been dropped) will repeal the oldMMLER as well as the Alice ArmTailings Deposit Regulations. Consistingof six parts and eight schedules, theproposed regulations will do the follow-ing:

■ apply to all existing metal mines inCanada

■ add limits for cyanide to the originalMMLER limits for arsenic, copper,lead, zinc, nickel and radium-226

■ require an effluent pH range of 6.0to 9.5

■ lower the limit for total suspendedsolids in effluents

■ prevent production of effluents thatare acutely lethal to rainbow trout

■ require mines to conduct a compre-hensive EEM program to evaluatethe effects of mining effluent on theaquatic environment

MAC intends to use the public commentperiod to thoroughly analyze andcomment on the proposed regulations,the EEM program requirements and theaccompanying regulatory impact analysisstatement.

The MMER will come into force the day they are registered, and will subse-quently be published in the CanadaGazette, Part II.

A more detailed separate bulletin is available on this topic (see back pocket or www.mining.ca).

Arctic fox leaping off rock,

Churchill, Manitoba.

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Because they contribute toacid rain and the forma-tion of fine particulates,SO2 emissions can affectboth ecosystem health andhuman health. Themineral sector is a majorsource of SO2 in Canada.

This is the first time theEnvironmental ProgressReport is providing data on member companies’sulphur dioxide releases.The substance was notincluded in previousreports because it was not on the ARET list ofsubstances, and SO2 datawere already published bygovernments. Its inclusionthis year highlights the EnvironmentalProgress Report’s evolution into a morecomplete picture of the industry’s envi-ronmental progress and achievements.

7

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is the major source of acid rain. Since 1988 the miningsector’s SO2 emissions have declined by 56 percent. This reduction is the result oftechnological changes in response to concerns about acid rain in eastern Canada.

S u l p h u r D i o x i d e R e l e a s e sNew feature this year


0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Tonn

es

Year

Until recently dioxins and furans werebelieved to form in smelters only ifthe feed material contained chlori-

nated plastics, such as electronic scrapand certain other secondary materials.But as last year’s Environmental ProgressReport noted, Falconbridge Limited,which does not process such materials,detected dioxins at its Sudbury smelter.

After alerting Environment Canada tothe Sudbury dioxins, MAC began toinvestigate whether other primarysmelters could generate dioxins andfurans. Because the processes and feedmaterials at each smelter are unique,simply extrapolating from theFalconbridge case was not possible.

At a January 2001 workshop on basemetal smelters, MAC asked Environment

Canada for technical assistance. Thedepartment responded by forming amulti-stakeholder group, the SmeltersEmissions Testing Technical AdvisoryNetwork. Since then, participants haveidentified priority sources for testing ateach facility and have developed a testplan. Because it takes several months toanalyze a sample, preliminary data ondioxin emissions from most MACmember smelting facilities are notexpected until 2002. With this informa-tion, MAC will be able to estimate thesector’s significance as a source ofdioxins. The results should lead to abetter understanding of the factorsenabling dioxins to form and may help toidentify prevention and control options.


* Note on the data: A base year of 1988 waschosen to provide consistency with the reportingof other releases.

Sulphur Dioxide Releases 1988-2000 from MAC Member Smelters, Refineriesand Oil Sands Operations

D i o x i n sProactive efforts lead to better understanding


8


E c o l o g i c a l R i s k A s s e s s m e n t a t C o m i n c o T r a i l

Columbia River by the Trail smelter.

Ecological Risk Assessment

One of the most complex, comprehensive ERAs in Canada

The Columbia River winds through the Kootenay Mountains in south-central BritishColumbia past the town of Trail, where Cominco’s principal metallurgical complexhas operated for over 100 years. Trail is also the site of perhaps the largest, mostcomprehensive ecological risk assessment (ERA) in Canada.

In keeping with British Columbia’s environmental (contaminated sites) regulations,Cominco commissioned Cantox Environmental Inc. to co-manage and conduct anERA in the area surrounding its Trail operations. Additional support is being providedby the Geological Survey of Canada, Golder Associates, Klohn Crippen Consultants,Larkspur Biological Consultants Ltd. and Parametrix Inc.

The ERA is being conducted to assess the impact on fish and wildlife of the smelter’spast and current operations. While in recent years Cominco has significantly reducedair emissions at Trail, over the past century airborne and waterborne metals (primarilylead and zinc but also arsenic, thallium, mercury, selenium and others) have beentransported up and down the river valley.

Much of the initial ERA work, which started in early 2000, focused on several preliminary tasks:

■ development of a GIS (geographic information system) database

■ selection of substances to be examined more closely

■ evaluation of the habitat surrounding Trail

■ selection of plants and animals to be evaluated

■ development of comprehensive toxicological profiles for each chemical selected

■ identification of acceptable exposure limits for representative wildlife species

This year an ERA screening model has been developed to predictthe primary substances of concern and to assist in developing thesummer 2001 field program. The field program will involveassessing groundwater contributions to surface water and soilcontamination, comprehensive soil and vegetation sampling,assessing fish habitat and species presence, and evaluating back-ground concentrations of chemicals in soil and sediment. The datacollected will help refine the ERA model to allow realistic anddefinitive estimates of ecological risks.

This ecological risk assessment is one of the most complex andcomprehensive in Canada, with its own public communicationsprogram recently launched. The assessment is expected to becomplete in 2003 or 2004, after which a regional remediation planwill be developed.

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Thanks to MAC’s efforts and to betterenergy management by MAC members,the mining sector significantly reducedgreenhouse gas emissions over the period1990–99. The sector’s achievements haveaided Canada’s international climatechange commitments, and have broughtmany benefits—both environmental andcompetitive—that stem from globalleadership in environmental stewardship.

Also in 1999 some 6.4 percent ofCanada’s industrial GHG emissionsoriginated from metal mining (3.3 percent) and non-ferrous metalsmelting and refining (3.1 percent). That amount represents 2.2 percent of Canada’s total GHG inventory.

Given the link between energy consump-tion and GHG emissions, MAC membershave pledged to reduce their energyconsumption per unit of output by 1 percent per year for the period1995–2005. So far, the industry is well ontrack with this pledge. Over the period1990–99 metal mining decreased itsenergy consumption by 25.6 percent,while its energy intensity, or energy perunit of metal concentrate, improved by 8.2 percent. Over the same period non-ferrous metal smelting and refiningincreased its energy consumption by 2.8 percent but improved its energyintensity, or energy per unit of refineryoutput, plus matte export, by 11.9 percent.

As for GHG emissions, over the period1990–99 metal mining decreased its totalemissions by 24.7 percent and improvedoverall GHG intensity (GHG emissionsper unit of metal concentrate) by 13.8 percent. Over the same period non-ferrous metal smelting and refining decreased GHG emissions by 1.8 percent, improving GHG intensity by 15.9 percent.

As part of their commitment to green-house gas reduction, 16 of MAC’s 32members, representing the majority ofenergy consumed in the mining sector,

are participating (as of November 2001)in the Voluntary Challenge and Registry(VCR) program, a federal initiative toencourage emission reduction. To date,the VCR has awarded gold medalreporting status to five of these compa-nies (Falconbridge, Inco, Noranda,Suncor and Syncrude), silver medalstatus to three (Koch, Battle Mountainand Teck) and bronze medal status toBHP Diamonds.

MAC recognizes that there are manyenvironmental, political and businessreasons why a climate change strategy isbest adopted as part of a long-termsustainable business strategy. For onething, this approach ensures that effortsto reduce GHG emissions and managecorporate “carbon liability” reinforceefforts to drive business success based oncontinuous environmental improvement,technical innovation and efficiency. Tothis end, MAC has issued StrategicPlanning and Action on Climate Change: A Guide for Canadian Mining Companies.This guide, prepared with assistancefrom the Pembina Institute, Stratos andthe federal Office of Energy Efficiency, is a pivotal tool to help the miningindustry devise climate change strategies that support long-term GHG reduction efforts.

In June 2001 the guide was released onCD-ROM. This format, with its elec-tronic template for inventorying, measur-ing and reporting on climate changeactions, will help companies take basicinventory of greenhouse gases, estimateemission changes for specific projects andreport on annual and projected emissions.With this integrated framework, MACmembers can better manage the risksassociated with future GHG managementand reduction objectives.

To help the industry align its strategicand corporate actions on climate change,MAC’s Task Force on Energy hosted itsfirst annual Energy Efficiency

E n e r g y a n d C l i m a t e C h a n g e

Improving energy performance while reducing greenhouse gas emissions

The Mining Association of Canada is firmly committed to being part of the climatechange solution. One aspect of this commitment is promoting innovations thatimprove energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Source: Energy Efficiency Trends in Canada 1990 to1999: An Update. Indicators of Energy Use, EnergyEfficiency and Emissions, July 2001, Office of EnergyEfficiency. (Canadian Industrial Energy End-Use Dataand Analysis Centre, September 2001)

* Industrial excludes metal mining, non-ferrous metalsmelting and refining.

Energy Related GreenhouseGas Emissions 1999 (Direct and Indirect)

Industrial* 31.1%

Commercial 11.96%

Residential 15.45%

Metal Mining 1.1%Non-Ferrous Metal Smelting & Refining 1.0%

Agriculture 3.6%

Transportation 35.7%

Go for Gold!

In 2001, MAC achieved the Voluntary Challenge

and Registry’s highest status, Gold Champion Level

Reporting, for its depth of commitment and

continued improvements in reporting actions to

address climate change.

10


Conference in April 2001. One objectivewas to pinpoint the key requirements foran effective energy efficiency programfor Canadian mining. Energy managersfrom across Canada identified, in orderof importance, eight requirements:

■ management framework: senior-level commitment to establishedenergy reduction targets

■ measurement and controlmeasures: installation of metering,prioritization of control targets,analysis of progress against targets

■ communication: training, education, internal and externalpresentations on progress, employeeincentive programs

■ alternative energy: benchmarks for energy consumption and cost,performance indicators for fuelswitching, fuel substitution, reuseand conversion

■ technology use and options:research and development,

continuous improvement, controlprocess development

■ operational optimization: mainte-nance, best practices

■ financial resources: lower hurdlerates for energy efficiency projects

■ policy and government: clear andconsistent energy and climatechange policies

MAC’s Task Force on Energy is commit-ted to fostering new ideas that willenhance productivity, improve energyefficiency, reduce costs and boost theindustry’s global competitiveness. Overthe past decade MAC has worked hard topromote change and innovation withinthe industry. But it is individual compa-nies that have made it happen, bybecoming more energy-efficient and bypledging to further cut energy consump-tion and greenhouse gas emissions in thefuture.

A more detailed separate bulletin is available on this topic(see back pocket or www.mining.ca).

E n e r g y E f f i c i e n c ya t F a l c o n b r i d g e R a g l a nCorporate commitment to

energy efficiency:

a success story

Energy Efficiency

Raglan is Falconbridge’s newest nickel and copper mining operation. Located on theUngava Peninsula in northern Quebec, 100 kilometres southeast of Salluit and 1,540kilometres north of Rouyn-Noranda, this remote site is accessible only by air or water.Diesel generators consuming some 25 million litres of fuel a year (diesel and lubricant)provide the electricity that sustains the complex, where 350 employees live and work.Clearly, energy efficiency is crucial at Raglan.

Four 5-megawatt diesel generators power the site, which contains mining, concentrat-ing and accommodation complexes. These generators produce 270 gigawatt hours ofpower per year, with associated emissions totalling 75 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Thanks to innovative heat recovery from the generators’ exhaust gas and cooling water,the Raglan site has eliminated the need to generate an additional 250 gigawatt hoursand emit a further 70 kilotonnes of CO2 equivalent. As a result, the energy conversionefficiency of the power and heating system is 65 percent, and the overall cost perkilowatt hour is $0.06 (at a fuel price of $0.40 per litre). This makes Raglan one of theworld’s most energy-efficient mining facilities operating in subarctic conditions.

The success story began with energy-efficient engineering at the project design phase.Designers took great pains to recover heat from the generators’ exhaust gases to drythe final concentrated product and provide heating for both the concentrating andaccommodation complexes. Heat was recovered by placing specially designed heatexchangers in the exhaust gas ducts and the cooling water system, as well as by using awaste heat boiler. Many kilometres of piping circulate heated glycol through thebuildings to keep the working and living environments comfortable. This complexsystem is controlled from a central location, using sophisticated computer technology,to ensure the highest energy efficiency.

Despite the advanced technology of the waste heat recovery system, it is the peoplewho work and live on site, and who maintain and operate the system’s many compo-nents, that enable Raglan to achieve world-class energy efficiency.

11

Finding Environmental Solutions through Research Mining Association of Canada Environmental Progress Report

S E C T I O N � F i n d i n g E n v i r o n m e n t a l S o l u t i o n s t h r o u g h R e s e a r c h

A commitment to continuously improving environmental performance requires

an investment in research to identify solutions to environmental issues and challenges.

Over the past decade, MAC’s member companies have made major investments

collectively and individually to develop new technologies and methods to mitigate

environmental impacts and improve performance. MEND3 builds on the successes of

its predecessors, MEND and MEND 2000, to help the industry make progress on

perhaps its most significant environmental challenge—acid rock drainage. MITE-RN,

a network involving leading scientific experts from across Canada, is seeking to

improve our knowledge of the longer-term effects of metals on the environment.

TIME is helping to identify the causes of and solutions to effluent toxicity, and to

facilitate information sharing within a wide network of interested stakeholders.

M i n e E n v i r o n m e n t N e u t r a l D r a i n a g e ( M E N D 3 )

■ promoting information and technol-ogy transfer

■ monitoring the results of MEND-developed technologies

■ providing essential links betweengovernments, industry and non-governmental organizations(NGOs)

■ enhancing communication withmany international government andindustry organizations

Despite the tremendous progress madeby MEND and MEND 2000, acid rockdrainage remains the most significantenvironmental issue facing the miningindustry, governments and the public,with potential liability reachinghundreds of millions of dollars.

For this reason, the MEND3 programwas launched in early 2001. Its chiefobjective is to foster and coordinateenvironmental research, developmentand demonstration, focusing on tech-nologies that meet Canadian needswithin an international context. Anotherkey goal is to develop best practices formanaging acid rock drainage issues

through a consultative multi-stakeholderprocess that includes communities,NGOs, governments, industry, academiaand others.

A major strength of all three MENDinitiatives has been their uniquelyCanadian partnership and multi-stakeholder approach, which hasstrengthened the links between industry,governments, NGOs and others.Interest in MEND3 has led to moreprovincial representation on the steeringcommittee, which currently comprisesindustry, three federal governmentdepartments, four provincial govern-ments and the Canadian EnvironmentalNetwork. First Nations representation isalso anticipated.

MEND3 is administered by a secretariatat CANMET (Canada Centre forMineral and Energy Technology) and iscurrently funded by MAC, NaturalResources Canada and EnvironmentCanada.


Renewed interest in research on acid rock drainage

In December 2000 the MEND 2000 initiative, the three-year successor to the nine-year MEND program, wrapped up its mandate. MEND 2000 was instrumental inreaching several critical objectives in a relatively short time:

12

Environmental Progress Report Mining Association of Canada Finding Environmental Solutions through Research

Significant progress in year two

Aresearch network involving Canadian universities, government departments and industry, MITE-RN was formed to address gaps in our understanding of the sources, pathways, fates and effects of metals in the environment. It also

seeks to contribute to effective science-based policies and regulations to protect the environment.

M e t a l s i n t h e E n v i r o n m e n t R e s e a r c h N e t w o r k ( M I T E - R N )

Now at the end of its second year,MITE-RN has made significant headwayin transferring the results of its researchto the user community. It has organizedtwo research symposiums, four work-shops and numerous formal presenta-tions, as well as producing a fall 2000newsletter and an annual report.

Here are some highlights for the upcom-ing year (2001–02):

■ 18 new proposals received this yearfrom Canadian researchers; fouraccepted for Network funding afterinternal and external peer review

■ increased participation of threemore government researchers

■ new internship program to enablepost-doctoral students to work withkey partner organizations

■ new web site, in collaboration withthe University of Guelph’sDepartment of Mathematics andStatistics, to make MITE-RN dataaccessible to the general community

A more detailed separate bulletin is available on this topic (see back pocket or www.mining.ca). Further information can alsobe found on the MITE-RN web site (www.mite-rn.org).

P.G.C. Campbell, Ph.D.

Metals in the Environment Research DirectorINRS-EAU, Université du Québec

T o x i c o l o g i c a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f M i n i n g E f f l u e n t s ( T I M E ) N e t w o r k

Research projects underway

The Canadian mining industry has made substantial progress in meeting the objec-tive of non-acutely-lethal effluent. However, it has not been able to consistently doso using current “BATEA,” or best available technology economically achievable.

Last year a new multi-stakeholder group, the TIME Network, was formed to furtheridentify the causes of effluent toxicity and to develop practical, cost-effective, envi-ronmentally sound solutions. The Network’s research will help mining companiescomply with the new Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, which include a require-ment for non-acutely-lethal effluents.

Overseeing the TIME Network is theProjects Planning Group, with membersfrom MAC, Natural Resources Canada,Environment Canada, Fisheries andOceans Canada, Ontario’s Ministry ofEnvironment, British Columbia’sMinistry of Environment, the CanadianEnvironmental Network and the CreeRegional Authority. Administration isprovided by a small secretariat atCANMET (Canada Centre for Mineraland Energy Technology).

The first TIME workshop in November1999 identified numerous issues andprojects that could meet the program’s

objectives. Since then, four priorityresearch projects have gone ahead, theirwork now nearing completion. A secondTIME workshop is planned for lateNovember 2001.

The TIME Network is a partnershipthat provides a unique opportunity toshape solutions to an environmentalchallenge—solutions that will benefiteveryone in the long term.


13

Closing the Loop

When Eastman Kodak Co. finishes processing

photographic paper, it sells the surplus silver-laden

material to Noranda’s recycling operations, where

it is processed by the Horne smelter at Rouyn-

Noranda. Noranda recovers photographic-grade

silver from the material and sells it back to Kodak

for use in new paper. This eco-efficient product

cycle—a true closed loop—creates and recreates

marketable products through conscientious and

cooperative recycling.

Recycling, A Growing Business Opportunity Mining Association of Canada Environmental Progress Report

For the third year running, MAC members are reporting on their efforts to

recycle materials used on site. This year, however, MAC members differentiate

between materials used at a facility and then recycled, and materials brought in by

facilities for recycling as a main business activity. The recycling of minerals and

metals is a growing business for Canada’s smelters.

Members recycle metal-bearing materials as part of business

The mining and smelting industry has a dual role to play in recycling. Smelters andrefineries process industrial and post-consumer recyclable materials that wouldotherwise be waste, and maximize the value extracted from complex recyclable

materials. At the same time, mining and metallurgical operations, which use a rangeof materials and products, have active programs to divert recyclable materials fromthe waste stream.

In 2000 Noranda’s CCR refinery in eastMontreal produced more than 44 milliontroy ounces of silver, 15 percent of whichcame from recyclable material, including

photographic paper from Kodak.

This year, the third for collecting data on MAC member recycling, theEnvironmental Progress Report distin-guishes between metal-bearing materialsrecycled by smelters and refineries as partof their business, and those materialsused by member operations and thenrecycled. Table 1 lists metal-bearing

items, such as lead-acid batteries, recy-cled by smelters and refineries as abusiness activity. Table 2 lists itemscommonly used in the course ofmembers’ operations and then recycled.

A more detailed separate bulletin is available on this topic (see back pocket or www.mining.ca). Detailed data by companyand by facility is also available at www.mining.ca.

S E C T I O N � R e c y c l i n g — A G r o w i n g B u s i n e s s O p p o r t u n i t y

TABLE 1: Metal-bearing ItemsRecycled at MAC Smelters andRefineries in 2000

Item QuantityA

Batteries (tonnes) 18,723

Catalyst (tonnes) 1,531

Foundry Sands (tonnes) 14,995

Lead/Silver Residue (tonnes) 22,426

Lead/Silver Skimmings n. m/eB

Mill Washers (tonnes) 4,400

Refinery Slimes (tonnes) 130

Scrap CopperC (tonnes) 21,404

Scrap Zinc (tonnes) 86

Secondary Copper Feed (tonnes) 4,915

Zinc Residue (tonnes) 59

Item QuantityA

Scrap aluminum, copper,C lead, metal,D

steel, zinc (tonnes) 59,835

Antifreeze (litres) 672,183

Batteries (tonnes) 436

Cable reels (number) 680

Drums (plastic & metal) (number) 6,659

Fluorescent tubes (number) 14,486

Paper & cardboard (tonnes) 1,105

Shotcrete bags (number) 26,109

Solvents (litres) 287,296

Tires (number) 4,746

Waste grease (tonnes) 273

Waste & hydraulic oil (cubic metres) 6,054

Waste oil filters (tonnes) 148

Wood pallets (tonnes) 577

TABLE 2: Items Commonly Used by MAC Members and Recycled in 2000

A The numbers in the table have been rounded for presentation purposes.B The code “n. m/e” means that the item was recycled, but the quantity was not measured or estimated.C The scrap copper category includes electrical wire cable.D Scrap metal can represent a mixture of scrap aluminum, copper, steel, lead and zinc.

Although mining companies are makinggood progress toward implementing anddocumenting tailings managementsystems, there must be more collabora-tive effort to push overall managementthrough to the operations level. Inparticular, there is a need for guidance inpreparing site-specific protocols andmanuals for the safe operation, mainte-nance and surveillance (OMS) of tailingsand water management facilities.

MAC’s tailings management guiderecommends implementing a frameworkto integrate environmental and safetyconsiderations with continuous improve-ment in tailings operations. This integra-tion results from adopting comprehen-sive tailings management systems,customized for every site and appliedthrough the full life cycle of a tailingsfacility. An OMS manual is specificallygeared toward maintaining system safetyand integrity, and ensuring that both the

engineering criteria integral to facilitydesign and the management principlesintegral to a management system areincorporated into operations.

During the summer of 2000, MAC’sTailings Working Group took the firststeps toward creating a guide to prepar-ing OMS manuals for mining companies.Designed to cover site-specific condi-tions and to be used by mine personneland their advisors, the guide will supporttailings management systems currently inplace. It will also ensure continuousimprovement in environmental andsafety performance at tailings facilitiesthroughout the operating, decommis-sioning and closure phases. Building onMAC’s tailings management guide, thenew OMS guide will help miningcompanies manage their facilities moresafely and responsibly, and will allowthem to demonstrate this to regulatorsand the public.

Environmental Progress Report Mining Association of Canada Improving Responsible Mine Management

14

Responsible mine management means much more than controlling and reducing

releases to the environment. Every aspect of mining must be well managed to protect

the health and safety of employees, the public and the environment. The management

of tailings facilities, where mine waste is deposited, treated and stored, is a critical issue

for mining companies. In the mid-1990s, following some significant tailings dam

failures, MAC members got together to take a hard look at tailings management

practices. They developed A Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities to help

companies manage their facilities to the highest professional standards, from site

selection and design through operations and decommissioning. Work continues on this

important activity, with the focus on mine site operations, maintenance and surveillance

for tailings and water management facilities. At the same time, the Canadian mining

industry, along with other stakeholders, is taking some important steps to address a

major legacy—orphaned and abandoned mine sites.

Another MAC guide for continuous improvement

MAC published A Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities in 1998. The guideis now used in managing these facilities in Canada and abroad. Published inEnglish, French and Spanish, it is available in hard copy or on MAC’s web site

(www.mining.ca).

M a n a g e m e n t o f T a i l i n g s F a c i l i t i e s

S E C T I O N � I m p r o v i n g R e s p o n s i b l e M i n eM a n a g e m e n t

15

Currently in draft form, A Guide toPreparing an Operations, Maintenance andSurveillance Manual for Tailings and WaterManagement Facilities outlines what anOMS manual should contain so thatimportant information can be passed onto future facility operators. A well-prepared OMS manual is an integral partof a tailings and water managementsystem that meets or exceeds corporatepolicy and legislative requirements.

The new OMS guide will be finalizedand published after a two-day multi-stakeholder workshop scheduled forFebruary 2002. It will be availableelectronically and in hard copy, inEnglish, French and Spanish.

A more detailed separate bulletin is available on this topic(see back pocket or www.mining.ca).

Improving Responsible Mine Management Mining Association of Canada Environmental Progress Report

Mill expansion and #1 shaft.

Mill complex and #1 shaft.

A g n i c o - E a g l e L a r o n d e :A M o d e r n M i n e

A Modern Mine

New ways of improving environmental performance

Since 1988 Agnico-Eagle Mines has operated the Laronde mine, a gold and silvermine with copper, and recently zinc, by-products. Located near Cadillac, Quebec,Laronde is an example of an operating mine that has seen continuous environmentalimprovement. Over the years, with increases in its ore reserves and production rate,the mine has needed new facilities to extract and process the new resources. Each new facility has been designed with the intention of reducing future impact on the environment.

For example, with the mill expansion of 5,000 tonnes per day that took place in 2000,the company introduced a fully enclosed concentrate handling system that virtuallyeliminates pathways to the environment and allows recycling of any concentrate lostduring loading operations. Also, a paste backfill system has been installed with its owncyanide destruction unit, reducing the amount of tailings to be impounded. Replacingthe existing carbon-in-leach (CIL) technology with a Merrill Crow process, whichreduces cyanide consumption and ammonia generation, has brought further improve-ments. Finally, by switching to bulk purchasing for mill reagents, Laronde signifi-cantly reduced the amount of packaging material sent to landfill.

Water management at the Laronde site has also improved over the years. The following are the most important modifications:

■ installation of a peroxide-silica water treatment plant to complement naturalcyanide degradation

■ construction of additional sedimentation ponds to improve final effluent quality

■ stability improvements to tailings facility dams to reduce the risk associated with heavy precipitation

■ complete recirculation of water used in the grinding and flotation circuits,yielding an overall recirculation rate of 90–95 percent in the mill

Given the polymetallic nature of the ore, the Laronde mill combines a flotationprocess for base metal recovery with a cyanidation process for gold recovery. Thisapproach has created a challenge in treating the final tailing effluent. The mine doesoperate in full compliance with the existing norms and regulations, but a new watertreatment plant is nonetheless scheduled to be designed, constructed and in operationby the end of 2002. This new plant will enable the company to meet all current andfuture regulatory requirements.

16

Workshop Steering Committee

Scott Clausen, Natural Resources Canada

Dick Cowan, Province of Ontario

Wayne Fraser, Hudson Bay Mining and

Smelting

Elizabeth Gardiner, The Mining Association

of Canada

Gerald Harper, Gamah International

Christine Kaszycki, Province of Manitoba

Joan Kuyek, MiningWatch Canada

Patrick Reid, Ontario Mining Association

Gregg Stewart, Province of British Columbia

Gilles Tremblay, Natural Resources Canada,

MEND Secretariat


O r p h a n e d / A b a n d o n e d M i n e s i n C a n a d a

Pursuing multi-stakeholder solutions

A critical issue confronting industry, government and the public is that of orphanedor abandoned mine sites and their legacy. There is broad acknowledgment thatthe health, safety and environmental risks posed by some of these properties must

be addressed.

At a June 2001 workshop, representa-tives from government (federal, provin-cial and territorial), industry, non-governmental organizations, FirstNations, communities and the consult-ing and academic sectors reachedconsensus on a set of guiding principlesand recommendations for dealing withorphaned or abandoned mines:

■ Remediation of orphaned/aban-doned mine sites must be based onconcern for public health and safety,respect for ecological integrity, andsustainable development.

■ All ongoing work on inventoryingand remediation must continue,based on sound science and goodcommunication among all parties.

■ Work must continue towardeliminating future abandonment,including tightening regulatoryapproaches.

■ The “polluter pay” principle mustbe implemented.

■ Targeted end-use and reclamationstandards must be acceptable tolocal communities.

■ Although the objective must becomprehensive reclamation of allsites, the approach must be cost-effective and based on an acceptablemethod of prioritizing sites.

■ There must be transparency anddisclosure in all decision-makingprocesses.

■ All endeavours must encompass thenotion of fairness.

Vegetation near spillway.

R e c l a m a t i o na t R i o A l g o m ’ s P o i r i e r M i n e

Reclamation

Excellent example of industry-government cooperation

Poirier was an underground copper and zinc mine operated by a division of RioAlgom between 1965 and 1975. The Poirier site is located in northern Quebec, in theHarricana River basin.

In July 1985 Rio Algom sold the mine to Explorations Minières Solbec Ltée. Theoffer required the new owner to restore the site in a manner acceptable to the QuebecMinistries of Natural Resources and Environment. However, following the initial sale,the property’s ownership changed several times. In 1994 the owner, who could notcarry out the necessary remediation work, sought to abandon the site. Taking respon-sibility as the original mine operator, Rio Algom met with the Quebec Ministry ofNatural Resources in June 1995 to discuss reclamation of the Poirier site.

Over the years roughly 5.5 million tonnes of tailings were deposited in the 46-hectarePoirier tailings area. The disturbance also included a 7-hectare pond. A thin layer ofspilled and deposited tailings covered an additional combined area of nearly 28hectares. Waste rock covered a further 15 hectares of the plant site.

In 1996 Rio Algom assessed the property and prepared a closure plan, designed toreduce releases and minimize contaminated seepage. Another key objective of the planwas to minimize or eliminate the need for long-term care and maintenance, such aswater treatment and sludge disposal, at the site.

The company identified and considered five reclamation options. In the end it

17

The workshop’s overarching recommen-dation was that a national multi-stake-holder advisory committee be formedand funded to focus on specific issuesand report back to the federal, provincialand territorial mines ministers in 2002.The issues are as follows:

■ developing capacity for a nationalinventory of active, closed andorphaned/abandoned mine sitesbased on compatible inventories ineach province and territory, includ-ing a nationally acceptable systemfor categorizing and priority ranking

■ engaging other relevant federal,provincial and territorial depart-ments and ministries

■ developing a plan both to fostercommunity involvement in decisionsabout closure and reclamationstandards, and to ensure thattargeted end-use and reclamationstandards are acceptable to localcommunities

■ developing a plan to promotetransparency and disclosure in allprocesses

■ developing a plan for shared respon-sibility and stewardship whenownership cannot be established

■ evaluating the efficacy of variousapproaches, including “goodSamaritan” legislation, permitblocking, non-compliance registries,and allocative versus joint andseveral liability

■ evaluating models and mechanismsto pay for the remediation oforphaned/abandoned sites, includinginsurance options and contingencyfunds

■ securing appropriate funding for theabove, at a level to be determined bythe Intergovernmental WorkingGroup and other stakeholders, byNovember 2001

All groups at the workshop emphasizedthe need for timely action and the hopethat the workshop would be a catalyst forchange.

A more detailed separate bulletin is available on this topic (seeback pocket or www.mining.ca).


decided the best approach was to install a geomembrane liner and a 1-metre-thicksoil cover over the main tailings deposit. This decision, made in consultation withprovincial regulators, was based on estimates of annual releases to the receiving water.The geomembrane liner is intended to stop precipitation from infiltrating throughthe tailings. In addition, it acts as an oxygen barrier to prevent further oxidation ofthe tailings. Porewater will drain from the tailings impoundment for many years.This porewater seepage, combined with surface runoff, is collected in a perimeterditch and discharged to the receiving water.

Reclamation at the Poirier site has proceeded as follows:

■ placing spilled tailings and other reactive material into the tailings basin

■ grading the perimeter slopes of the main tailings deposit to a stable 5:1 (horizontalto vertical) configuration (around the periphery of the tailings basin, a 0.5-metre-thick layer of clean rock provides drainage and functions as a service road)

■ installing a textured, high-density polyethylene geomembrane liner over the entirebasin and slope, and placing a protective till cover over the membrane

■ treating the former tailings pond water with lime

■ general grading and grass seeding of disturbed areas

■ monitoring the site and streams to evaluate the recovery program

From the project’s outset, regular consultation with the Quebec Ministries of NaturalResources and Environment was required. This review process guided the project’sdevelopment and assisted with getting timely permits for construction season.Restoration of the Poirier site is an excellent example of industry and governmentworking together to develop a closure scheme appropriate to site-specific conditions.

Top of tailings area and spillway.

18

E K A T I T M D i a m o n d M i n e Challenges of development in a fragile, harsh landscape

Opened in October 1998, the EKATI™ Diamond Mine is located

approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest

Territories, and 150 kilometres north of the treeline, in an area

known as the barren lands. As Canada’s first diamond mine, it faces

the challenges associated with pioneering and operating a new

mine in the harsh subarctic environment. EKATI™ is adapting

proven reclamation practices and developing unique methods to

suit the needs specific to reclaiming a tundra environment.


R e c l a m a t i o n i n t h e S u b a r c t i c

ReclamThe tundra terrain is characterizedby boulder fields and numerouslakes with shallow interconnecting

streams. There are more than 8,000lakes within the 3,400-square-kilometre claim block associated withthe EKATI™ Diamond Mine, an areaof continuous permafrost with only ashallow active surface layer during thebrief summer. The summers are shortand cool, while the winters, up toeight months long, are long and cold.Daily temperatures can reach 25°C insummer, but are often below -40°Cduring the winter. Precipitation(mostly snow) is low, averaging lessthan 300 millimetres annually.Because evaporation usually exceedsprecipitation, the conditions arecomparable to those of a desertenvironment.

Initial surface operations at EKATI™include mining of four kimberlitepipes as open pits, two of which willlater expand to underground. Anotherthree pipes await regulatory approvals.The kimberlite pipes at EKATI™ aremostly found beneath small lakes.This requires removal of fish and lakedewatering prior to mining. Whenpossible, the surrounding riparian andterrestrial vegetation and topsoil aresalvaged for future use. The reclama-tion of open pits will involve floodingthe pits and returning them to

productive lakes with shallow littoralzones, including areas for spawning and shelter.

Reclamation research commencedprior to the start-up of operations,and focused on studies of plantgrowth on the various substrates thatwill eventually cover most of the sitesto be reclaimed. The substrates testedinclude lake-bed sediments, glacialtill, esker sands and organic soils.Some of these substrates will be usedin reclaiming eskers quarried for sand,selected waste rock storage areas,camp pads of crushed granite andsand, and the Long Lake containmentfacility, which holds most of theprocessed kimberlite.

The largest sources of potentialsubstrate for revegetation are the lakesediments and glacial till that cap thekimberlite pipes. Research indicatesthat successful revegetation of eskersand and lake-bed material can beachieved only with nutrient additionand surface manipulation to encour-age moisture capture.

Soil development and associatedmicrobial activity on the tundra areminimal as a result of the shortgrowing season, the desert environ-ment and the cold winters. In thispost-glacial landscape the tundra ismarked by large boulder fields. Thismakes the retrieval of organics and

soil difficult, reduces the amount thatcan be salvaged, and very oftennecessitates the collection of bouldersalong with the desired organic-richsoil. To encourage nutrient cycling ofvaluable stored topsoil, salvage pilesshould be kept at a maximum depth oftwo metres to preserve soil biologicalactivity and reduce the loss of buriedmaterial to permafrost growth.

One of the largest areas wherevegetation will play a part in reclama-tion is over the processed kimberlitecontainment facility. Processedkimberlite exhibits geochemicalcharacteristics similar to serpentinesoils, and research thus far indicatesthat plant establishment and growthcan be achieved by adding calcium,peat moss, biosolids and lake sedi-ment. The success during the secondyear of field plot research, along withthe presence of natural colonizationalong the margins of the kimberlitecontainment area, is very encouraging.

The predominant landscape featuresthat will remain visible long aftermine cessation are waste rock storagesites. Even though continuingresearch has found that these storagesites have very low potential for acidrock drainage, growing vegetation onthese areas will be impossible due tothe lack of capping materials and thedry environment. Instead, research is

19


mationunderway to look at ways of encour-aging lichen growth and simulatingthe visual and physical features ofnatural boulder fields. Also, becauselarge caribou herds migrate throughthe site, both in spring on their wayto northern calving grounds and inmid-summer when they return, rampshave been incorporated into thestockpiles to allow the animals toretreat to higher ground for insectrelief on their return, thereby mimic-king the similar use of eskers.

The presence of permafrost has bothencumbered and aided reclamationwork at the mine site. On the nega-tive side, reworking stored topsoil andlake-bed overburden usually incursthe cost of blasting to free the frozenmaterial. In eskers, the process ofquarrying often means exposing ice

lenses, resulting in unstable land-forms. This is often exacerbated bysurface water flows during the briefbut intense spring melt. On thepositive side, permafrost growth intowaste rock storage areas andprocessed kimberlite containmentareas provides additional stability,both structurally and chemically.

Revegetating mine disturbances atEKATI™ is slow, given the harshgrowing environment and the limitedplant materials available. As a result,greenhouse studies are underway onthe propagation of native species, withparticular attention to plants that willlead to successional growth. Currentresearch is focusing on propagationmethods for birch and willow shrubs,legumes and the use of palatable and non-palatable plants for local

grazers. The last study is incorporat-ing traditional knowledge from localAboriginal land users.

After two and a half years of opera-tion, the EKATI™ Diamond Mine iswell into planning and preparing thefinal needs for progressive reclama-tion, and ultimately for the end ofmine life. With the help of graduatestudents from universities in southernCanada, botanists from the north andresearchers looking at the trials andsuccesses of past and present minesabove the treeline, new methods are being developed to maintain, asmuch as possible, the unique land-scape in which this mine is located.The research also serves to expandthe still limited knowledge of reclaiming tundra lands.

Environment staff collecting field data during the brief summer.

20

Aur Resources Inc.

Aur Resources operates the Louvicourtmine, a polymetallic deposit of copper,zinc, gold and silver located in Val d’Or,Quebec.

When production began at the site in1994, the Louvicourt mine becamerecognized for its new tailings manage-ment practice, which uses tailingsimpoundment to submerge the residues.A water cover is permanently maintainedover the tailings to prevent exposure tooxygen, which normally triggers theoxidation process. As well, the use ofpaste backfill enables over 50 percent of the residues to be returned under-ground, reducing the amount stocked on the surface.

Ever since operations began at theLouvicourt mine, Aur has implementedaction and investment plans that havebeen instrumental in maintaining andimproving the site’s overall environmen-tal performance. Emission results for2000 and previous years show that Aur’sobjectives have been met.

Through the tailings managementapproach at the Louvicourt mine,emissions of ARET substances in thesite’s final effluent have been kept at verylow levels for several years. Aur expectsto maintain this excellent performance inthe years to come. The company’stailings impoundment concept meets theexpectations of all stakeholders andprovides a model for the industry as a whole.

Barrick Gold Corporation

Barrick Gold Corporation is voluntarilyparticipating in two Canadian environ-mental initiatives: the AcceleratedReduction/Elimination of ToxicSubstances (ARET) and the VoluntaryChallenge and Registry (VCR). In 2000the company surpassed its targets forboth initiatives at its two Canadianoperations, the Bousquet Complex inQuebec and the Holt-McDermott minein Ontario. With respect to ARET,

releases of both copper and cyanide metand surpassed by a wide margin the settargets of achieving 50 percent reduc-tions relative to base year levels by theyear 2000 (both achieved greater than 95 percent reductions). For 2001,releases of both substances are expectedto remain at levels similar to thoseexperienced in 2000. With respect toVCR, total energy consumption,expressed on a per-tonne-milled basis,has been reduced by over 9 percentrelative to 1998 levels. Expressed on asimilar basis, total direct and indirectemissions of greenhouse gases have beenreduced by over 7 percent. For 2001, afurther 1 percent reduction in totalenergy consumption has been targeted.

During 2000 Barrick directed over $4 million toward environmental protection at its Canadian operations.The majority of this was directed to:

■ constructing a new polishing pondfor tailings effluent at Holt-McDermott

■ operating the Bousquet Complexcyanide destruction facility

■ performing water treatment at theBousquet Complex and the Holt-McDermott mine

■ establishing wetlands in and aroundtailings areas at the BousquetComplex

■ verifying the effectiveness of the LesTerrains Aurifères tailings areaengineered cover

As well, the Ontario Ministry ofNorthern Development and Minesapproved the revised closure plandeveloped by Holt-McDermott toaddress an increase in mill throughputfrom 2,500 to 3,000 tonnes per day andan expansion of its tailings facility.

In 2000 all of the permitted discharges atBarrick’s Canadian operations were infull conformance with applicabledischarge criteria and aquatic toxicityrequirements.

S E C T I O N � H i g h l i g h t s o f C o m p a n y A c t i o n s

Environmental Progress Report Mining Association of Canada Highlights of Company Actions

21

The Ontario Ministry of Environmentissued a violation notice to the Holt-McDermott mine in November 2000 fortransferring accumulated storm water tothe environment from its newlyconstructed polishing pond without aPermit to Take Water. At the time of theviolation, no tailings effluent had yetbeen routed to the polishing pond. Noadverse harm to the environment wasevidenced by the transfer. Later inNovember the Ministry issued therequired Permit to Take Water.

The only accidental release at Barrick’sCanadian operations during 2000occurred at the Bousquet No. 2 Minewhen approximately 200 litres of dieselfuel spilled at an underground fuellingstation. The released diesel fuel wasrecovered with no adverse harm to theenvironment.

Barrick’s environmental activities in 2000 included the expenditure of over $1 million directed to the rehabilitationof closed and historic mining propertiesin Ontario and Quebec.

Battle Mountain Canada Ltd. (nowNewmont Canada Limited)

In 2000 Battle Mountain Canada Ltd., a gold and silver producer, continued its strong commitment to the ARETprogram and voluntary emission reduc-tion. ARET substances can occur asconstituents of the ore and waste rockmined at Battle Mountain’s Canadianoperations, as well as in the materialsused to extract precious metals. Thesubstances can occur in point-sourceeffluent discharges as well as in emissionsto air via exhaust stacks.

Battle Mountain Canada operates twounderground gold mines in Ontario: theGolden Giant mine and the Hollowaymine. The Silidor Mine in Quebec,reported on in previous years, closedpermanently in 1997 and has had noemissions to air or water since. Itsreclamation and closure complete,

the site is now closed out, with onlysecurity inspections of the propertybeing conducted.

The Golden Giant mine employed 342 people in 2000, producing 3,000tonnes of ore per day. The Hollowaymine, with 144 employees, produces at arate of 1,500 tonnes per day. There areno milling or tailings disposal facilities at the Holloway mine; all of its ore isshipped to a custom mill.

H i g h l i g h t s o f C o m p a n y A c t i o n s

Dragon’s mouth orchid (arethusa bulbosa)in bog, near Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia.

Highlights of Company Actions Mining Association of Canada Environmental Progress Report

MIK

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MA

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Beginning in April 2000, Hollowaybegan transferring all its mine effluent toBarrick Gold Corporation’s nearby Holt-McDermott mine for use as processwater in milling operations. This watertransfer agreement is related to custom-milling agreements between the twomines, and is conditional on meetingcriteria for effluent quality and quantity.For the rest of 2000, the Holloway minedischarged no mine water effluent to theenvironment.

At the Golden Giant mine, BattleMountain Canada followed a three-partstrategy to minimize ARET substancereleases:

■ operate effluent treatment systemsseasonally whenever possible to takeadvantage of natural contaminantdegradation (effluent typicallydischarged from May to November)

■ maximize use of recycled water tominimize volume of effluentdischarged (average recycled wateruse was 80 percent of total water usebetween 1997 and 2000)

■ reuse process tailings as under-ground backfill material to reducesurface tailings and effluentdischarge (tailings reused as under-ground backfill averaged 40 percent,or 80 percent of theoretical maxi-mum, between 1997 and 2000)

This strategy, coupled with the watertransfer agreement at Holloway, hasproven successful in reducing releases in2000. When compared to base yearreleases of ARET substances, the 2000data show significant reductions forBattle Mountain Canada’s operations:

■ 92 percent reduction in total copperreleases

■ 96 percent reduction in totalcyanides releases

■ 94 percent reduction in cyanides-to-water releases

■ 97 percent reduction in total nickelreleases

■ 72 percent reduction in total arsenicreleases

■ 61 percent reduction in mercury-to-water releases

■ 48 percent reduction in total zincreleases

The current federal Metal MiningLiquid Effluent Regulations/Guidelinesdo not apply to gold mines usingcyanidation. Nevertheless, in 2000 boththe Holloway mine and the GoldenGiant mine met all federally stipulatedcriteria for effluent parameters andrainbow trout toxicity tests. With nofurther effluent expected from theHolloway site, after reviewing effluentdata for the Golden Giant mine, BattleMountain Canada expects to meet theproposed requirements of the new MetalMining Effluent Regulations (May 2000draft) when they come into force.

Breakwater Resources Ltd.

Breakwater Resources Ltd. is a mineralresource company engaged in theacquisition, exploration, developmentand mining of base metal and preciousmetal deposits in the Americas andNorth Africa. Breakwater has twoproducing zinc mines in Canada: theBouchard-Hébert mine in Quebec andthe Nanisivik mine in Nunavut. Inaddition, Breakwater owns the Langloismine in Quebec and the Caribou mine inNew Brunswick, both of which arecurrently on care and maintenance.

Breakwater is firmly committed tooperating mines in a way that protectshuman health and the natural environ-ment. The company has established anenvironmental policy, which has beencommunicated to all employees, that setsoverarching goals against which perfor-mance can be continuously measured. Inthe spring of 2001, Breakwater enhancedits organizational structure to increasethe level of diligence in this regard. Aswell, the company is currently incorpo-rating changes to its environmentalmanagement that standardize andoptimize activities at all sites.



22

Breakwater looks forward to workingclosely with The Mining Association ofCanada and to increasing its participa-tion in MAC-supported programs in thecoming years.

Cambior Inc.

Canadian-based Cambior Inc. wasinvolved in four Quebec mining opera-tions in 2000: three gold mines (Doyon,Mouska and Géant Dormant) and oneniobium mine (Niobec), the latter apartnership operated by TeckCorporation. Cambior’s environmentalmanagement system is registered underthe ISO-14001 standard.

In 2000 Cambior’s compliance rate formonthly effluent discharge at its Quebecoperations was 99.8 percent, with onlyone monthly result above the allowedlimit. As well, having failed one of 14 tests, the company had a low water toxicity test compliance rate of 93 percent.

The company’s discharge concentrationsfor all substances are 10 times belowregulatory criteria, except for copper inone effluent, where the dischargeconcentration is half the criterion.Copper loads and cyanide (total)increased slightly this year. The copperincrease is due to greater flow andcopper concentration in the mine waterat Géant Dormant. In 2000 the amountof mine water released was 4 Mm3,compared to 2 Mm3 in 1999. Copperconcentration measured 0.04 mg/Lcompared to 0.02 mg/L the previousyear because of geological factors,including working stope mineralogy andfracturation. The increase in totalcyanide was caused by an above-averageautumn discharge at the Géant Dormanttailings impoundment, although theamount remained 10 times belowregulatory criteria.

In Quebec the main source of energy is hydroelectricity. Cambior usescompressed air (compressors work withhydroelectricity) for small undergroundequipment and diesel for large under-ground equipment. In 2000 hydroelec-tricity accounted for 78 percent of theenergy supply, natural gas for 12 percent,diesel for 7 percent and propane for 3 percent. Cambior’s Quebec operationsproduced 0.0052 tonnes of CO2 pertonne of milled ore.

From year to year, Cambior employeesat all sites have been collecting increas-ingly more waste oil, wood and scrapmetal from underground operations.Only wood uncontaminated by oil andscrap metal are sent for recycling; soiledwood is eliminated with hazardous waste.The waste oil collected is used by a localgreenhouse for energy. Wood and scrapmetal are sorted and collected by a localmerchant. Wood permeated with rockdust, unusable for construction because itmight damage tools, is burned forenergy. Ferrous and non-ferrous metalsare sorted and sold as is or smelted forother uses.

Cambior’s environmental report,published on the company’s web site(www.cambior.com), provides comprehen-sive data on environmental performance.

Cominco Ltd. (now Teck ComincoMetals Ltd.)

Cominco’s Canadian operations includetwo zinc and lead mines: Polaris inNunavut, in the high Arctic, and Sullivanin Kimberley, British Columbia. Thecompany also operates a large integratedmetals and chemicals productioncomplex in Trail, British Columbia,which produces zinc, lead and othermetals, as well as a range of chemicalproducts derived from emissions controland waste recycling operations. Inaddition, the company sold more than60,000 tonnes of final smelter slag to thecement industry in 2000.



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The company’s current performance inthe ARET program is summarized in thefollowing table.

Arsenic 91% 72%

Cadmium 96% 88%

Copper 49% 53%

Lead 97% 77%

Mercury 96% 84%

Zinc 71% 84%

* Base year is 1988 for all metals except copper, which is 1993.

Cominco exceeded the ARET target of50 percent reduction for all but onesubstance, copper. In addition, thecompany surpassed its own highertargets for four of the six metalsubstances, falling short only with copperand zinc.

In 2000 the Trail operation recordedzinc releases 2 percent higher than in1999 because of a new, more accuratemeasurement procedure. As well,mercury releases, while small, increasedfrom 0.09 tonnes to 0.199 tonnes (129percent).

Trail continued its admirable trackrecord of controlling sulphur dioxide in 2000, with emissions averaging 8.5 tonnes per day. This amount, basedon sulphur in feed concentrates, repre-sents a control efficiency of 99.1 percent.By comparison, in 1998 emissions were55 tonnes per day, at 96.5 percentcontrol efficiency. This improvement islargely the result of Kivcet smeltingtechnology introduced in 1997.

Trail is participating in the Canada-WideStandards process for dioxin and furanemissions from base metal productionoperations. Analysis of these substancesin emission control dusts has shown anestimated total of just 0.0004 TEQgrams per year.

The Trail Community Lead Task Forcehas concluded its 10-year program. Thegroup issued a number of pragmaticrecommendations for further action bygovernment, the City of Trail andCominco to continue the favourabletrend in children’s blood lead concentra-tions. Also, Cominco began a majorecological risk assessment in the Trailarea (see separate article on page 8).

In 2000 both of Cominco’s Canadianmines achieved 100 percent compliancewith federal effluent regulations andguidelines. Intensive reclamation work atthe Sullivan mine continued in prepara-tion for closure in December 2001. Atthe Polaris mine, closure-planningstudies were completed and reviews withfederal and Nunavut authorities began inanticipation of mine shutdown in 2002.

Under the Voluntary Challenge andRegistry program, Cominco’s greenhousegas emissions were 20.4 percent belowthe 1989 base year limits, and its rate of emissions to metal produced was 12.4 percent lower than in 1989. (Thenormal industry base year for greenhousegas emissions is 1990, but during thatyear Cominco’s Trail operation shutdown for four months. Emission valuesfor 1989 represent releases over a fullyear.) Both indicators were lessfavourable than in 1999 primarilybecause of the additional coal requiredfor a second slag-fuming furnace at Trail.However, this temporary source ofemissions will close down once stockpilesof Kivcet smelter slag are treated.

More information on Cominco and its environmental performance can befound on the company’s web site(www.teckcominco.com).

Cominco has an active program of care,

maintenance and, where appropriate, additional

remediation at formerly operational mine sites. In

2000 the company embarked on a major project

to improve environmental and public safety

conditions at the former Bluebell mine in Riondel,

British Columbia, which shut down in 1972 and

was reclaimed to the standards of the day.



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Reduction from baseyear to 2000*

Cominco targetfor reduction

Echo Bay Mines Ltd.

Echo Bay Mines owns the Lupin goldmine in Nunavut. The companysuspended operations in January 1998and resumed production in April 2000.

Because there were no process opera-tions during the facility’s care andmaintenance, process waters that hadaccumulated prior to shutdown wereheld within the facility. Figures for 2000reflect the release of these process watersas well as accumulated precipitation. Intotal, nearly three times the normalannual amount of water was releasedduring the year. Several of the substancesreported were considerably higher thananticipated because of this large waterrelease.

Year 2000 emission targets were not metin most cases because of the additionalwater released and the higher thanaverage annual contaminant concentra-tions of some parameters. All releaseswere well within the company’s operatingwater licence parameters.

All of Echo Bay Mines’ emissions in2000 were related to planned dischargesfrom the camp sewage treatment systemand the tailings containment area, whichmaintains the proper sequential controlover water to promote natural degrada-tion of contaminants. As well, dykeconstruction expanded the facility’savailable storage, allowing continuedholding time for treatment.

During the shutdown in 1998 and 1999,no process chemicals containing ARETsubstances were used. When the facilityis operating, the ARET substancescyanide, lead and zinc are added withinthe mill recovery circuit to leach goldfrom the ore. Three additional ARETsubstances, arsenic, copper and nickel,are present in the ore and are leachedconcurrently during the process.

Falconbridge Limited

Falconbridge is a leading low-costproducer of nickel, copper, cobalt andplatinum group metals. It is also a largerecycler of metal-bearing materials. With6,500 employees in 15 countries, thecompany has Canadian operations at theSudbury Mines, Mill and SmelterBusiness Units in Sudbury, Ontario; theKidd Mining and Metallurgical Divisionsin Timmins, Ontario; and the Raglanoperation in northern Quebec.

In 1999 Falconbridge set an energy-intensity improvement target of 1 percent per year for the period1990–2005. It set a carbon-intensityreduction target of 7.5 percent for thesame period. At the Canadian divisions,the difference in energy intensity(MWh/tonnes produced metal) between1990 and 2000 shows a 9.8 percentimprovement. The Canadian divisions’CO2 equivalent emissions are increasingat a rate of 2.1 percent per year as aresult of fuel switching from electricityto natural gas and the need for dieselgeneration at Raglan.

Falconbridge has adopted the ISO-14001standard for environmental managementsystems and expects all of its Canadianoperations to comply with this standardby the end of 2002. Meeting the ISO-14001 international standard is not aregulatory requirement, but it doesensure that all the company’s operationsworldwide have an effective and consis-tent approach to managing environmen-tal issues.

Since 1988 Falconbridge has decreasedsulphur dioxide emissions at its Canadiandivisions by 40 percent. The OntarioMinistry of Environment will issue newcontrol orders in 2001 to Falconbridgein Sudbury to decrease annual sulphurdioxide emissions and ground-levelconcentrations. The Sudbury smelter hasbeen steadily reducing its SO2 and otheremissions under a continuous improve-ment program. As a result, while



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Falconbridge’s permitted annual limit atSudbury is currently 100,000 tonnes peryear, its 2000 emissions of SO2 were27,650 tonnes.

Extended stack monitoring at theSudbury smelter in 2000 revealed thepresence of dioxins and furans at a levelof 2.4 grams per year of TCDD (tetra-chlorodibenzo-para-dioxin) equivalents.The company has reviewed its dust-capture system for dioxin emissions andhas introduced procedures to maximizeoperational efficiency. According to ahealth impact study, there is a very lowhealth risk to surrounding communities.Nevertheless, programs will be put inplace to further reduce emissions.

Since 1988 the Kidd MetallurgicalDivision has reduced the amount of SO2 released by 32 percent, whileincreasing production by 23 percent.Sulphur dioxide emissions per tonne ofmetal produced were reduced by 25percent in 2000. A polishing pond will be constructed to accommodate high meteorological water surges, and to alleviate the potential for highconcentrations of suspended solidsduring such events.

The Kidd Mine Division achieved 100percent compliance with provincialeffluent limits for all metals in 2000, dueto expansion of treatment ponds andsettling basins. To reduce fresh waterconsumption, the process water supplypump will be relocated to an internalreservoir in 2001. This change willrestrict fresh water consumption topotable water only.

In 2000 the Raglan mine site receivedapproval to begin a 100 percent milleffluent recycling project. This projectwill be completed in 2001.

Falconbridge’s annual sustainabledevelopment report highlights thecompany’s ongoing commitment tosustainable mining. Information onFalconbridge publications and operationscan be found on the company’s web site(www.falconbridge.com).

Homestake Canada Inc.

HCI is a wholly owned subsidiary ofHomestake Mining Company, SanFrancisco. All of HCI’s mining opera-tions participate in the ARET program.

HCI reports its emissions as an aggre-gate total of all its properties; therefore,numbers fluctuate as operations open,close, expand or change processingmethods. Gold mines operating in 2000were Eskay Creek in British Columbiaand the Hemlo mines (Williams andDavid Bell) in Ontario, a fifty-fifty jointventure operation with TeckCorporation.

The Nickel Plate mine in BritishColumbia ceased operation in 1986 butcontinues to collect and treat seepagefrom the reclaimed tailings impound-ment. Data from that operation areincluded in the total release numbers.

In 2000 the Eskay Creek mine had fiveminor instances of exceeding provincialwater quality limits: two involvingantimony, two involving total suspendedsolids and one (biological oxygendemand) at the sewage treatment plant.In every case corrective action was taken and the site was back in compli-ance within 24 hours. As well, HCI hastaken action to prevent future occur-rences. No limits were exceeded at theHemlo mines.

All HCI operations have active recyclingprograms. Data on recycled materials canbe found on page 13 of this report.

For full details of Homestake MiningCompany’s environmental managementprograms, see the company’s web site(www.homestake.com) or its annualenvironment, health and safety report.



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Hudson Bay Mining and SmeltingCo., Limited

HBMS, a wholly owned subsidiary ofAnglo American plc, is a zinc and copperproducer based in northern Manitobaand Saskatchewan. The metallurgicalcomplex in Flin Flon, Manitoba, hasprocessed ore and concentrate from localmines since 1929.

During a scheduled shutdown of thecopper smelter in the fall of 2000,HBMS completed a $25 million upgradeto its gas-handling system. The environ-mentally driven project includedinstalling new water-cooled converterhoods and a high-velocity flue system, aswell as constructing a new electrostaticprecipitator. To date the project hasresulted in a 90 percent reduction in thefrequency of SO2 fugitive emissions, buthas failed to meet the metal reductiontargets of the ARET program and theStrategic Options Process. The newelectrostatic precipitator, which has beenoperating below design efficiency, willundergo a $1.5 million retrofit in 2001to improve its particulate and metalcollection.

As part of the smelter shutdown, HBMSconverted its copper roasters from coal-fired to propane-fired burners. Thiscompleted the ongoing work of eliminat-ing coal from all HBMS operations. Byswitching to cleaner fuels and moreefficient processes, HBMS reduced CO2

emissions by 35 percent (115,000 tonnes)between 1990 and 1999. Over the sameperiod its zinc and copper productionrose by 32 percent.

SO2 emissions from HBMS operationsdropped by 29 percent (75,000 tonnes)between 1988 and 1999. The decreasewas primarily due to converting the zincprocess from conventional roast andleach techniques to pressure leaching, ata cost of over $200 million.

For more information on HBMS’senvironmental programs, consult Anglo American’s Safety, Health

and Environment Report—2000, available on the company’s web site(www.angloamerican.co.uk).

Inco Limited

Inco, a major producer of nickel andcopper, operates mining, milling,smelting and refining facilities in Ontarioand Manitoba. Inco is committed to theconcept of sustainable development andactively seeks ways to bring together theenvironmental, economic and commu-nity aspects of its activities.

In 2000, under the voluntary ARETinitiative, Inco reduced its overall releaseof metals (arsenic, copper, lead andnickel) for its Canadian operations byover 50 percent compared to 1988release levels. This was due to a substan-tial reduction—over 75 percent—innickel levels in both air emissions andwater effluent.

At the same time, levels of arsenicincreased from 46 tonnes in 1988 to 63 tonnes in 2000. This was due toincreased arsenic emissions from OntarioDivision operations. Efforts are under-way to determine the best technologiesfor reducing these arsenic releases.These efforts include looking at ways tocapture further gaseous emissions andremove additional quantities of arsenicfrom concentrate prior to smelting.

Through energy conservation initiatives,Inco reduced its emissions of greenhousegases by 7 percent between 1990 and2000. As a result, the VoluntaryChallenge and Registry program hasrecognized the company’s efforts with an award of a gold medal.

OntarioThe Ontario Division continues tooperate under an Ontario governmentSO2 emission limit of 265 kilotonnes peryear. The limit was imposed in 1994 andthe company has not exceeded it in anyyear since. Inco spent over $600 millionto reduce its SO2 emissions—almost

Overhead view of #1, #2, and #3converters, high-velocity flue and

electrostatic precipitator (HBMS).

New converter #3 hood, July 28, 2000 (HBMS).



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700 kilotonnes in 1985—to meet the1994 limit. In 2000 SO2 emissions were216 kilotonnes, well below the estab-lished limit. As an added benefit of thecompany’s emission abatement program,NOx emissions fell to less than 2 kilo-tonnes in 2000, a decrease of over 95 percent from the release levels prior to 1994.

As well, the Ontario Division continuedto improve its facilities’ air emissions.During 2000 extensive repairs totalling$3 million were made to the flue systemsand to the inlets and outlets of thecottrells in the smelter complex, reduc-ing fugitive gas and particulates. Anadditional $1.8 million went to upgrad-ing dust collection from the converters,further decreasing metal releases.

Historic air emissions from the PortColborne refinery have contributed tometal concentrations in the community’ssoils that exceed Ontario’s current soilguidelines. A community-based riskassessment is underway to determineacceptable soil metal levels and remedia-tion techniques that may apply to thearea. Inco, the Ontario Ministry ofEnvironment, the City of Port Colborneand a public liaison committee areparticipating in this project.

At the Ontario Division’s effluenttreatment facilities, the number ofinstances of exceeding effluent chemicalcriteria has dropped by approximately 80percent since 1997. In 2000 there wereeight reported instances from six facili-ties. Further initiatives are underway toachieve full compliance. Research intothe causes of effluent toxicity has allowedthe Ontario Division to take actions thathave resulted in full compliance withtoxicity requirements since 1998 for theSudbury operations, and more recentlyfor Port Colborne. A $2.5 millionproject has increased the surge capacityof water retention areas at tailings

seepage stations, thus eliminating thissource of potential effluent spills. Therewill be further work in 2001 to constructa surge pond for the Copper Clifftailings area effluent treatment plant.

Inco has conducted environmentaleffects monitoring downstream of severaleffluent discharge points to assess thepotential environmental impact of thesedischarges. This monitoring will berequired in the future, as a result ofimpending changes to federal regulationsfor effluent discharges from mines.

After favourable results from an exten-sive drilling program near Inco’s Tottenmine, located west of Sudbury, thecompany developed a plan to reactivatethe mine, which ceased operation in theearly 1970s. A comprehensive biologicaland hydrological study was conducted atthe site to satisfy the information needsof Ontario’s Ministry of Environment,Environment Canada and Fisheries andOceans Canada. The use of an existingpond on the property as part of awastewater treatment plant necessitateddevelopment of a compensation packageto address the resulting fisheries habitat loss.

ManitobaInco’s Manitoba Division operated in2000 under a provincial regulationlimiting its SO2 emissions to 23 kilo-tonnes per month and 220 kilotonnes percalendar year. Inco met both limitsduring 2000, with total SO2 emissions of215 kilotonnes for 2000, compared to139 kilotonnes in 1999 and 217 kilo-tonnes in 1998.

Early in 2000 three monthly compositemeasurements of the tailings effluentdischarge exceeded the Manitobastandard for nickel in effluent. Thisexceedance, the first recorded at thisdischarge point since 1994, was due to adecrease in mill tailings, causing a

Reclamation at Inco

Inco sees reclamation as a vital aspect of its

ongoing efforts to achieve sustainability. To this

end, the company is continuing its program of

progressive decommissioning and closure of

mines. Here are some recent reclamation

efforts:

■ In 2000 the Shebandowan tailingsrelocation project, intended to mitigateacid generation, was completed at acost of $4.5 million.

■ Closure of the Whistle mine began in2000. Infilling of the open pit withwaste rock and lime will continuethrough 2001 at a total cost of $11.5 million. Tests are underway to identify the most effective cover to minimize acid generation from the facility.

■ The Frood airfield drainage abatementproject, which cost $3 million, involvedexcavating a trench and tunnel systemto direct acidic drainage to the Froodmine effluent treatment plant.

■ Upgrade of the Levack runoffcontainment area, completed in 2000at a cost of $1.7 million, provides forthe capture of acidic drainage fromthe former Levack mine site and theactive Coleman ore load-out area.



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decrease in buffering in the effluent. Theproblem was corrected and compliancewas achieved for the remainder of 2000.The company made improvements to thewater treatment system, upgrading thetailings water pipeline and tailings watermixing by redirecting the flow streams.

During the fall of 2000, Inco submittedreclamation plans for the Soab mines tothe Manitoba government. Reclamationwork at these mines will begin in thesummer of 2001.

INMET Mining Corporation

INMET Mining Corporation is commit-ted to responsible environmental, healthand safety practices throughout thebusiness life cycle. INMET participatesin the ARET program through itsWinston Lake property near Schreiber,Ontario, which closed permanently inJanuary 1999. When the ARET programbegan, Winston Lake was INMET’s soleoperating mine in Canada.

Winston Lake has focused on reducingzinc released to the local watershed ineffluent from a nearby abandoned minesite and from storm-water runoff.Winston Lake’s actions have resulted in areduction in zinc discharges by morethan 50 percent in 2000. The permitteddischarge of zinc-bearing effluent ceasedin 2000 because lime-treated effluent wasdiverted to flood the underground mineworkings. This action has had a positiveimpact on the downstream watershed.

Zinc releases from effluent are projectedto remain at zero for the next three tofour years while the site continues to usetreated water to flood the undergroundworkings.

Iron Ore Company of Canada

IOC, which operates an iron ore mineand primary processing plants in westernLabrador, began several improvementand expansion projects in 2000. Amongthem were an upgrade of mine mainte-nance facilities and improvements to theconcentrator iron recovery flowsheet.

This past year IOC worked diligently onits tailings management project, designedto address the requirements of the newMetal Mining Effluent Regulations. Theproject, a large capital undertaking forthe company, will not only lead tocompliance with the MMER but will alsogreatly improve the environmental andrecreational values of Wabush Lake. IOChas worked closely with the localcommunity and has completed theCanadian Environmental Assessment Actprocess to ensure a mutually beneficialsolution to long-term tailings manage-ment. The company was an activemember of the multi-stakeholderAmendment Working Group for the new MMER.

IOC recorded no increase in chromiumreleases in 2000. In 2001 the companyplans to monitor stack emissions andplant effluent to better quantify thereleases.

A number of environmental initiativesare in the works for IOC in 2001. Theyinclude involvement in MAC’s TowardsSustainable Mining initiative and furthercommunity consultation. As well, thecompany will conduct a review of energyefficiency and greenhouse gas emissions,part of it in partnership with MAC’sinitiative on mining energy efficiency.



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Kinross Gold Corporation

The Macassa facility, run by KinrossGold Corporation, is the last operatingmine of seven adjoining mines that oncemade up the 5.6-kilometre gold-produc-ing strip in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.

Kinross currently owns five of theseseven historic mines, which beganproduction in the years indicated: theMacassa site (1933), the Kirkland Lakemine (1919), the Teck-Hughes mine(1917), the Lakeshore mine (1918) andthe Wright-Hargreaves mine (1921).

Even though the mining and millingoperations at Macassa have beentemporarily suspended (as of the thirdquarter of 2001), Kinross continues to fulfill its reclamation obligationsassociated with the closed properties at Kirkland Lake. Kinross spent $9.6 million company-wide on reclama-tion and site closure activities in 2000.

For more information on Kinross GoldCorporation’s commitment to responsi-ble mining and the environment, visitthe company’s web site (www.kinross.com).

Noranda Inc.

Noranda’s pollution prevention initia-tives have reduced the company’s releasesof several ARET substances. Since 1988Noranda has significantly lowered itsreleases of four high-volume ARETsubstances:

■ 90 percent reduction in cadmium

■ 58 percent reduction in arsenic

■ 88 percent reduction in lead

■ 84 percent reduction in zinc

At the Horne copper smelter, Noranda’scontinuous converter processed a greaterproportion of the reactor matte, thusreducing sulphur dioxide and metalemissions, while a baghouse forsecondary ventilation gases reduced dustemissions containing copper, lead andzinc. Reductions of mercury emissions atthe Gaspé copper smelter were offset by

an increase in reported emissions fromHorne because that operation quantifiedthe effect of reactor deviations onmercury emissions.

Noranda anticipates further reductionsin its releases of arsenic, copper, lead,zinc and sulphur dioxide over the nextthree years as a result of several ongoinginitiatives. The company has establishedsite-specific targets for each substance.

As well, Noranda is reviewing its optionsfor further reductions to 2008 andbeyond. One new project is expected tolower short-term arsenic emissions fromthe Horne smelter, which accounts fornearly 75 percent of the company’sarsenic releases. Using Six-Sigmamethodology, Noranda expects tominimize the frequency and duration ofreactor deviations and upgrade engineer-ing controls in the pyrorefining area.The project should cut the smelter’sarsenic emissions to about 25 percent of2000 levels.

Placer Dome Canada Ltd.

In 2000 Placer Dome Canada Ltd.reported on three operating gold minesin Ontario—the Campbell mine inBalmertown, the Dome mine inTimmins and the Musselwhite minenorth of Pickle Lake—and one closedmine in British Columbia, near Houston.

As shown in the following table, thecompany has seen substantial reductionsin all six ARET substances compared tothe 1988 base year.

Arsenic 99.7% reduction

Cadmium 80.0% reduction

Copper 99.0% reduction

Cyanides 99.0% reduction

Lead 99.8% reduction

Zinc 98.5% reduction



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The company met all targets for 2000.Its reductions are largely the result ofincreased effluent recycling andimproved treatment of the effluent priorto discharge to the environment, thoughthe reduction from 1999 to 2000 waspartly due to the 1999 closure of theDetour Lake mine.

Placer Dome has a minor reportable airemission for one ARET substance,arsenic. All releases to water are seasonal,with no discharge during the wintermonths.

Placer Dome Canada is continuing tolook for ways to reduce air and waterreleases to the environment. Completedetails are available in the sustainabilitysection of the Placer Dome web site(www.placerdome.com).

Quebec Cartier Mining Company

QCM is a leading producer of iron oreproducts in North America. Thecompany operates an open pit mine anda crusher/concentrator facility at Mont-Wright in northern Quebec, capable ofproducing 18 million tonnes of iron oreconcentrates annually. It also operates apellet plant, with annual productioncapacity of some 9 million tonnes of ironore pellets, at Port-Cartier, Quebec, onthe north shore of the Gulf of St.Lawrence. The deep harbour at Port-Cartier operates year-round and canaccommodate ships up to 188,000 dry tonnes, depending on vessel charac-teristics. The Cartier Railway Company,a QCM subsidiary, links the mine to the port.

When Environment Canada introducedthe Metal Mining Liquid EffluentRegulations in 1977 to regulate effluentdischarge from most mining operations,existing mines like QCM were notsubject to the regulations. Nonetheless,in 2000 the company’s effluents compliedwith MMLER guidelines, except for oneresult that exceeded the suspendedmatter standard (25 mg/L) in one of thethree final effluents at the Mont-Wright

mine. This overrun was due to naturalspring runoff and was not related tomine activities. All other results werewell below the standards.

QCM produced a total of 1.1 milliontonnes of CO2 in 2000, which included220,000 tonnes related to calcination ofcarbonate additives needed for the ironore pellet induration process.

During the year more than 4,200 tonnesof steel scrap were recuperated and sentto a steel mill refinery. Also, 13 tonnes ofpaper and cardboard were recycled and37,820 railroad ties salvaged for reuse ina lighter-duty railroad.

Last year the company reported achromium release to water. Chromium isa constituent of the grinding balls usedin regrinding iron ore concentrate forthe fabrication of iron ore pellets. In2000 the company reported to theNational Pollutant Release Inventory a0.28 tonne release of chromium to water.Data are not available on potential airemissions of chromium, but the electro-static precipitators that clean the plant’sair releases assure minimum emissions.

The amount of SO2 released in 2000from the pellet plant’s induration processwas 5,800 tonnes.

QCM has begun implementation of theISO-14001 standard for environmentalmanagement systems at one of its severaloperating sectors at Port-Cartier.

Rio Algom Limited

Rio Algom is an international miningand metal distribution company withcorporate offices in Toronto. In late 2000 Billiton plc of London, England,acquired controlling interest in RioAlgom Limited.

The company has completed reclamationwork at its sites in Elliot Lake, Ontario;East Kemptville, Nova Scotia; andPoirier, Quebec. Metal discharges atthese sites are the source of thecompany’s annual releases.



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In Elliot Lake, Rio Algom operates fivetreatment plants to reduce metal and saltloadings to the environment. Thetailings areas at the former mines—Stanleigh, Quirke and Panel—all havewater covers. Eventually the water fromthese sites should be of acceptablequality for direct discharge to theenvironment without treatment.

In Nova Scotia, the Rio Kemptville minesite has been reclaimed. Operation of thewater treatment facilities will likely berequired for several more decades.

The tailings site at the Poirier mine has been reclaimed using a dry cover consisting of a composite liner of geomembrane and soil. Revegeta-tion was completed during 2000 (see separate article on page 16).

Suncor Energy Inc., Oil SandsDivision

Suncor Energy Oil Sands produces andmarkets custom-blended refineryfeedstocks and transportation fuel fromits oil sands mine and upgrading facilityat Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Suncor is expected to grow significantlyover the next year, with productiondoubling to about 225,000 barrels ofsynthetic crude oil per day by 2002.Suncor recognizes the need to reduce theenvironmental impacts associated with itsongoing development and use of hydro-carbon energy. To this end, the companyworks closely with regional stakeholders,including Aboriginal and environmentalgroups and all levels of government.

Suncor joined the ARET program in1999, reporting releases of benzene,hydrogen sulphide and nickel. In 2000,compared to the 1995 base year, Suncorreduced these releases significantly:

■ 69 percent reduction in benzene

■ 63 percent reduction in hydrogensulphide

■ 44 percent reduction in nickel

Historically Suncor has had a number ofbenzene and hydrogen sulphide sources,including tanks, vents, fugitive sourcesand tailings. Over the last five years, themajority of tank and vent sources havebeen captured. Suncor is now focusingon emissions of benzene and hydrogensulphide from the tailings impound-ments. The company has conducted anumber of studies to identify andquantify fugitive emissions of reducedsulphur compounds, including hydrogensulphide and volatile organic compounds(VOCs).

The company’s reductions in nickel andsulphur dioxide emissions are due to aflue gas desulphurization (FGD) unitcommissioned in July 1996. When theFGD is on-line, the products of combus-tion (sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide andparticulates) from the three coke-firedboilers are sent through its stack to scrubout sulphur dioxide from the flue gas.The company has recorded efficienciesof over 95 percent in sulphur dioxideremoval. Since 1988 Suncor has reduced sulphur dioxide by approxi-mately 80 percent.

Suncor has adopted programs to antici-pate and reduce pollutant emissions andwaste generation in its operations. Thecompany is lowering its emissions on aproduction basis through ongoing plantmodifications and operational changes.

Syncrude Canada Limited

Syncrude Canada produces syntheticcrude oil at its integrated oil sandsmining, utilities, extraction and upgrad-ing facilities at Mildred Lake in north-eastern Alberta. In 2000 Syncrudeexpanded its operations, commissioningthe new Aurora North mine facilities.

Since its base year of 1992, Syncrude canhighlight certain success in reducingreleases of ARET-listed substances. Thecompany has registered a 30 percentdecrease in particulate emissions from



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fixed plant stacks at the Mildred Lakesite, despite a 14 percent increase inSyncrude Sweet Blend production. Thisdecrease was achieved through ongoingplant modifications and improved plantoperating practices.

Syncrude has significantly loweredemissions of cadmium (ARET List A-2substance), with an estimated 92 percentdrop in 2000 from base year levels. The company also met its 50 percentshort-term reduction target for List B-2substances for the year 2000 for lead and copper (estimated reductions of 80 percent and 59 percent respectivelyfrom base year levels). As well,chromium emissions have decreased by 39 percent since 1992.

Some metal releases were higher in 2000than in 1999. This was due to both fluidbed cokers operating at end-of-runconditions, resulting in increased stackparticulates and diverting events thataccounted for the incremental metalreleases.

Since 1992 Syncrude has reduced itsreleases of List B-3 substances H2S and benzene by an estimated 77 and 91

percent respectively. The company isalso developing strict codes of practiceto reduce personnel exposure bypromoting safe handling, storage and disposal of benzene, hydrogensulphide and lead.

In addition to decreasing its ARETsubstance releases, Syncrude has alsoreduced its fixed plant sulphur dioxideemissions by 13.4 percent since the base year.

For more than 15 years, Syncrude hasbeen recycling nickel, copper and zincfrom spent catalyst and scrap metal. In1999 the company was ranked the thirdlargest recycler of nickel in Canada (234 tonnes) and the second largestrecycler of copper in Alberta (90.5tonnes) by Environment Canada’sNational Pollutant Release Inventory. In 2000 Syncrude increased the amountof copper and nickel recycled to 297tonnes and 321 tonnes respectively.

For more detailed information on Syncrude Canada’s operations and environmental performance, please visit the company’s web site(www.syncrude.ca).



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Agnico-Eagle Mines LimitedAnton AdamcikVice President, Exploration401 Bay Street, Suite 2302P.O. Box 102Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y4Tel: (416) 947-1212Fax: (416) [email protected]

Aur Resources Inc. �Yanick LétourneauEnvironmental Engineer5999, 3e Avenue EstC.P. 2117, Val-d’Or, QuébecJ9P 6V2Tel: (819) 736-3551 ext. 2606Fax: (819) [email protected]

Barrick Gold Corporation �John MartschukDirector, Environmental

Services—CanadaRoute 117, P.O. Box 1660Malartic, Québec J0Y 1Z0Tel: (819) 757-3691 ext. 221Fax: (819) [email protected]

Battle Mountain Canada Ltd. (now Newmont CanadaLimited) �

László GötzEnvironmental EngineerGolden Giant MineP.O. Box 40 Marathon, Ontario P0T 2E0Tel: (807) 238-1121 ext. 3388Fax: (807) [email protected]

BHP Billiton Ltd./Les Mines Selbaie �

Denis CoutureMill and Environment ManagerVillebois, Québec J0Z 3V0Tel: (819) 756-2491 ext. 342Fax: (819) [email protected]

BHP Diamonds Inc. �Scott WilliamsManager, Environment and Resource

Planning4920 52nd Street, Suite 1102Yellowknife, N.W.T. X1A 3T1Tel: (867) 880-2058Fax: (867) [email protected]

Breakwater Resources Ltd.Robert CarreauManager, Environmental AffairsP.O. Box 26Bathurst, New Brunswick E2A 3Z1Tel: (506) 546-1999 ext. 2263Fax: (506) [email protected]

Cambior Inc.1 �

Serge VézinaVice President, Industrial Engineering

and Environment1111 St-Charles Blvd. East Tower, Suite 750Longueuil, Québec J4K 5G4Tel: (450) 677-0040Fax: (450) [email protected]

Cominco Ltd. (now Teck Cominco Metals Ltd.) �

Walter J. KuitDirector, Environmental Affairs200 Burrard Street, Suite 600Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L7Tel: (604) 685-3011Fax: (604) [email protected]

De Beers Canada Exploration Inc. �

Johnathan FowlerChief Geologist, ProjectsOne William Morgan DriveToronto, Ontario M4H 1N6Tel: (416) 423-5811Fax: (416) [email protected]

Denison Mines Limited �Ian LudgateManager8 Kilborn WayElliot Lake, Ontario P5A 2T1Tel: (705) 848-9191Fax: (705) [email protected]

Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. �Murray Swyripa5007-50 Avenue, Suite 205P.O. Box 2498Yellowknife, N.W.T. X1A 2P8Tel: (867) 669-6500Fax: (867) [email protected]

Dynatec Corporation �Bob DenglerPresident and CEO9555 Yonge Street, Suite 200Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 9M5Tel: (905) 780-1980Fax: (905) [email protected]

Echo Bay Mines Limited �Hugh DucasseManager, Loss Control and

Environmental AffairsLupin Operations9818 International AirportEdmonton, Alberta T5J 2T2Tel: (780) 890-8779Fax: (780) [email protected]

Falconbridge Limited �Robert TelewiakVice President, Environment95 Wellington Street West, Suite 1200Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V4Tel: (416) 956-5830Fax: (416) [email protected]

Homestake Canada Inc. �Vernon BettsManager, Environment, Health and SafetyP.O. Box 111151055 West Georgia Street, Suite 1100Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3P3Tel: (604) 895-4410Fax: (604) [email protected]

C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n

Environmental Progress Report Mining Association of Canada Contact Information

35

Hudson Bay Mining and SmeltingCompany, Limited �

Joel NilsenEnvironmental EngineerP.O. Box 1500Flin Flon, Manitoba R8A 1N9Tel: (204) 687-2074Fax: (204) [email protected]

Inco Limited �William A. NapierVice President, Environment and

Health145 King St. West, Suite 1500Toronto, Ontario M5H 4B7Tel: (416) 361-7678Fax: (416) [email protected]

INMET Mining Corporation �Matthew BlissSite ManagerP.O. Bag No. 2Schreiber, Ontario P0T 2S0Tel: (807) 824-1487Fax: (807) [email protected]

Iron Ore Company of CanadaLee PreziosiEnvironment SpecialistP.O. Box 1000Labrador City, NewfoundlandA2V 2L8Tel: (709) 944-8654Fax: (709) [email protected]

Kinross Gold Corporation1

Ted RomanEnvironmental ManagerMacassa MineP.O. Box 550Kirkland Lake, Ontario P2N 3J7Tel: (705) 567-5208 ext. 3124Fax: (705) [email protected]

Contact Information Mining Association of Canada Environmental Progress Report

1 Cambior Inc. and Kinross Gold Corporation are notcurrently members of The Mining Association ofCanada.

2 Homestake Canada Inc. reports the ARET releases from twomines owned jointly with Teck. Cambior Inc. reports theARET releases from a mine owned jointly with Teck.

� Companies with ARET action plans.

� Companies with nil or negligible releases.

Mushrooms and moss at Tilton Lake, Sudbury, Ontario.

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N

Noranda Inc. �Dave RodierSenior Vice President, Environment,

Safety and Health181 Bay Street, Suite 4100P.O. Box 755, BCE PlaceToronto, Ontario M5J 2T3Tel: (416) 982-7347Fax: (416) [email protected]

Northgate Exploration Limited �Terry LyonsChairman1632-1055 West Georgia StreetP.O. Box 11179 Royal CentreVancouver, British Columbia V6E 3R5Tel: (604) 669-3141Fax: (604) [email protected]

Outokumpu Mines Inc. �Ingmar HagaPresidentP.O. Box 3601 First Canadian Place, Suite 4650Toronto, Ontario M5X 1E1Tel: (416) 364-3110Fax: (416) [email protected]

Placer Dome Canada Ltd. �Keith D. FergusonManager, Environmental AffairsP.O. Box 49305, Bentall StationVancouver, British Columbia V7X 1L3Tel: (604) 661-1916Fax: (604) [email protected]

Quebec Cartier Mining CompanyGilles CoutureEnvironmental ManagerRoute 138, C.P. 13000Port-Cartier, Québec G5B 2H3Tel: (418) 768-2281Fax: (418) [email protected]

Rio Algom Limited �Maxine WiberVice President, Environment120 Adelaide St. W.Toronto, Ontario M5H 1W5Tel: (416) 365-6923Fax: (416) [email protected]

Suncor Energy Inc, Oil SandsDivision �

Sheila ChernysEnvironmental SpecialistP.O. Box 4001Fort McMurray, Alberta T9H 3E3Tel: (780) 743-6998Fax: (780) [email protected]

Syncrude Canada Limited �Gail BuchananAssociate Engineer, Environmental

ServicesP.O. Bag 4009, MD 3065Fort McMurray, Alberta T9H 3L1Tel: (780) 790-8363Fax: (780) [email protected]

Teck Corporation (now TeckCominco Limited)2

Mike FilionVice President, EnvironmentSuite 600, 200 Burrard StreetVancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L9Tel: (604) 687-1117Fax: (604) [email protected]

WMC International Limited �Robert FinlayProject Accountant22 Gurdwara RoadOttawa, Ontario K2E 8A2Tel: (613) 727-3937 ext. 24Fax: (613) [email protected]

36

Environmental Progress Report Mining Association of Canada Contact Information

is the national organization of the Canadian mining industry. It comprises companies

engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication.

Member companies account for the vast majority of Canada’s output of metals.

The Association’s functions are to promote the interests of the industry nationally

and internationally, to work with governments on policies affecting minerals, to

inform the public and to promote cooperation between member firms to solve

common problems. MAC works closely with provincial and territorial mining

associations, and other industry groups across Canada and internationally.


Suite 1105, 350 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8

Telephone: (613) 233-9392 Facsimile: (613) 233-8897 Web site: www.mining.ca

This publication is printed on paper containing recycled fibre.

Published in December 2001

Printed in Canada


CorporateRegister.com 05/04/2006

the mining association of canada

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