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October 19, 2006 PROVINCE TO HOST NATIONAL ABANDONED MINES CONFERENCEOfficials from Canada, the United States and Britain will convene in Winnipeg next week to share best practices on managing orphaned and abandoned mines, Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau announced today.
Manitoba will welcome more than 100 delegates to the National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative (NOAMI) best practices workshop Oct. 26 and 27, uniting provincial, territorial and federal government officials, non-governmental organizations, Aboriginal communities, mining industry officials and others.
“Manitoba is a leader when it comes to taking steps to ensure former mines are rehabilitated to protect the environment and public health,” said Rondeau. “Mining plays a significant role in the economic well-being of our local and Aboriginal communities in the north and we are committed to finding the best solutions to mine closures.”
Orphaned or abandoned mines are mines for which the owner either cannot be found or is financially unable or unwilling to carry out site rehabilitation. Many of these sites were developed decades ago, before environmental impacts were fully understood and modern operating standards were developed. Some of the sites pose environmental, health, safety and economic risks. Orphaned and abandoned mines exist within all mining jurisdictions in Canada.
The two-day NOAMI workshop will address key priorities including:
· site and risk/hazard assessment, monitoring and reclamation;
· community and Aboriginal involvement;
· funding options, regulatory structures and opportunities for collaboration; and
· applying best practices
Planned objectives include a report of proceedings capturing presentations and resulting discussions as well as a listing of possible elements that may constitute a tool kit of best practices to address the legacy issues of orphaned/abandoned mine sites.
Manitoba is a natural choice for a conference on rehabilitating orphaned and abandoned mines, Rondeau said. The province last month committed $70 million to rehabilitate abandoned mines in 149 sites throughout the province. This year the province is spending $4 million for rehabilitation projects at Lynn Lake, Ruttan, Sherridon and Snow Lake.
In 1999, Manitoba adopted mine-closure regulations which require that environmental liabilities incurred during mining operations be financially secured to cover future remediation costs. Mine closure plans and financial security must be filed and approved prior to a permit being granted for a new mine operation. In 2000, Manitoba established the Orphaned/Abandoned Mine Site Rehabilitation Program to address the public safety and environmental health concerns associated with orphaned/abandoned mine sites.
Mining is Manitoba’s second-largest primary resources industry, employing 3,800 people directly and another 13,000 through related businesses. Last year mineral production totalled $1.56 billion.
More information about orphaned and abandoned mines and next week’s workshop is available at http://www.gov.mb.ca/iedm/mrd/mines/oa_rehabilitation.html.
The workshop will be held at Winnipeg’s Viscount Gort Hotel.
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