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The Project
Giant Mine is a gold mining operation located within the limits of the City
of Yellowknife. Since the first gold brick was poured in 1948, the mine
has played a significant role as a major employer and economic engine
for Canada's North. Now, more than 50 years later, it is time to remediate
the site in a responsible and effective manner.
In 1999, the owner of Giant Mine, Royal Oak Mines, went into receivership.
The court assigned the site to the Department of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development (DIAND). The department sold the mine to Miramar
Giant Mine Ltd. The sale was conducted to ensure the maximum number
of jobs would continue at the mine and that a knowledgeable, experienced
operator would oversee the care and maintenance of the site. The sale
did not include the pre-existing environmental conditions at Giant
Mine,
including
the
237,000 tonnes
of arsenic trioxide
stored underground at the site.
To ensure that Giant Mine was managed safely, DIAND created the Giant
Mine Remediation Project (GMRP). This project has two main tasks; working
on a long-term remediation plan for securing the arsenic trioxide dust
stored underground at the site, as well as ensuring that the entire
site is managed safely to protect northerners and the environment.
DIAND is
committed to communicating with the public regarding this project.
This website is an important part of those efforts. We also
work with the project's community advisory group, the Giant
Mine Community Alliance. Other communications efforts include ongoing
public information sessions, technical workshops, a display in a Yellowknife
shopping mall, educational materials and an extensive public reference
library.
• Project Update |
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