Rehabilitation of closed mines. Some Quebec Partnership Cases

Transcription

1 Rehabilitation of closed mines Some Quebec Partnership Cases Louis Bienvenu, Eng. Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune October 27th, 2006 Winnipeg Workshop on Orphaned and Abandoned Mines Mining in Quebec Mineral extraction $3.6 billion (2005) 200 establishments (mines, quarries and sand and gravel operations) jobs 19 mines More than 30 substances produced Most important substances Ilmenite Titanium slag Magnesium Niobium Aluminium Zinc Nickel Iron Ore Gold Copper 2 2 1

2 Quebec Mining Act Art to : Since 1995, March 9th, the responsible must present a rehabilitation plan and a financial guaranty for all actual and future mining sites Art : Inactives sites in The Minister may enjoin a person to perform the rehabilitation and restoration work required (legal existence?). If the person fails to comply with the prescriptions of the Minister, the Minister may perform the work (budget?) at that person's expense (solvability?). No legal existence or no solvability : «abandoned» site 3 3 Abandoned Mine Sites in Quebec 11 mining sites retroceded to the government needed rehabilitation works (520 hectares) = $20 M (rehabilitation under completion) 55 abandoned sites (100 confinement areas hectares) need rehabilitation works = $100 M : 7 M$ Special funds : 5 M$ 4 4 2

3 Environment Quality Act - MDDEP No one may carry on an activity if it seems likely that this will result in an emission, deposit, issuance or discharge of contaminants into the environment or a change in the quality of the environment, unless he first obtains a certificate of authorization. 5 5 Some Quebec partnerships Partnership between ministries Partnership with mining industry Partnership with forest industry Partnership with local organizations Partnership with native peoples 6 6 3

4 Partnership between ministries Sullivan Mine 7 Retroceded Retrocededto to the thegovernment governmentin in Delta Delta :: ha, ha, km kmbeach Some Somehigh highmercury mercurycontamination contamination 7 Partnership between ministries Sullivan Mine 8 At Atthe thebeginning beginningof ofthe theprocess, MRNF MRNFand andmddep MDDEPsign signa a cooperative cooperativeagreement agreementto to facilitate facilitatedefinition definitionof ofreclamation works worksand andpermitting The The overall overall site site restoration restoration plan plan included included measures measures to to restore restore the the site s site s natural natural environment environment and and to to encourage encourage the the development development of of wildlife wildlife habitats habitats at at the the cost cost of of 1,5 1,5 M$. M$. 8 4

5 Partnership - Mining industry Terrains Aurifères, partnership with Barrick Gold Barrick tailings rehabilitation :: 5 M$ M$ Government tailings rehabilitated at atno nocost (~ (~ K$ K$ saving) Looking for for similar partnerships to to rehabilitate abandoned areas 60 ha 43 ha 9 9 Partnership - Forest industry East Sullivan East Sullivan rehabilitation plan proposed to cover tailings to stop acid mine drainage production Wood waste is adequate material Forest industry needs place to stock the wood waste products Tailings Tailings :: ha ha Spill Spill :: ha ha 5

6 Partnership - Forest industry East Sullivan 2 meters meterswood woodwaste wastecover 6 km kmimpervious imperviousdam dam cost costwith withno nopartnership :: M$ M$ final final government governmentcost cost :: 9,5 9,5 M$ M$ Partnership - Local organizations Owner Owner :: non non profit profit organization organization wants wantsto to develop developthe thesite as as an an historic, historic, education educationand andrecreation area area Paper Paperdeinking deinkingindustry industryneeds needs place place to to stock stock the theresidues Compost Compost industry industryneeds needssite site to to dispose dispose of ofthe theproducts Albert Mine 12 ± 4.5 ha Acid mine 12 drainage 6

7 Partnership - Local organizations Albert Mine --Partnership Partnershipwith withpaper paperindustry, compost compost industry, industry, non-profit non-profit organisation organisation --Estimated Estimatedcost cost :: M$ M$ --Government Governmentcost cost :: $ Partnership - Native peoples Blue Lake - mineral exploration site Abandoned exploration site 70 km north of Schefferville Rehabilitation work by Cree community $ given by MRNF On going inventory of all abandoned exploration sites with Environment Canada financial support

8 Native Partners for a sustainable development Native mining workforce: 150 workers (25% Troilus + Raglan) Crees Inuit Native mining funds: Crees, Inuit, Innu - To help their participation in exploration activities and create native companies - Up to $ 0,3M/yr/fund & technical support - 75 native prosp./yr (funds, companies) Crees: Paix des Braves (02/2002) A 50 yr partnership agreement for the economic and social development of James Bay area, notably to accelerate mining, hydroelectric and forestry development Inuit: Sanarrutik Agreement (04/2002) A 25 yr partnership agreement for the economic and social development of Nunavik, notably to accelerate mining, hydroelectric and forestry development Conclusion Partnership is the key for a success story. Involve partners soon. Looking for a more important partnership with federal government