AETE Reports
| Metals
and the Environment at CANMET-MMSL |
Introduction
Canada’s Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations (MMLER) were promulgated
in 1977 as part of the Fisheries Act. These regulations were developed
on the basis of effluent treatment technologies available at that
time. The MMLER regulates the maximum effluent concentrations of
seven “detrimental” substances: As, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, 226Ra, and Total
Suspended Matter, as well as the acceptable pH range. The regulations
apply to metal mines opening, re-opening or expanding since 1977.
The regulations do not apply to older metal mines, or to gold mines
using cyanide treatment of ore.
Included in Canada’s Green Plan (1990) was a commitment by Environment Canada
to re-examine the MMLER. In 1992 Environment Canada sponsored a workshop to discuss
the MMLER revision process, and to seek guidance on this process from representatives
of all groups with a stake in mining and the environment. A key recommendation
of participants in this workshop was that prior to revising the MMLER, the effectiveness
of the current regulations should be evaluated through an assessment of the impacts
of mining on aquatic ecosystems in Canada. The workshop led to the initiation
of two separate but parallel initiatives: the Assessment of the Aquatic
Effects of Mining in Canada (AQUAMIN); and the Aquatic Effects Technology
Evaluation (AETE) Program.
Background on AETE
Objective:
The mandate of the AETE Program was to evaluate environmental monitoring
technologies to be used by the mining industry and regulatory agencies
in assessing the impacts of mine effluents on the aquatic environment
and to recommend specific methods or groups of methods that will
permit accurate characterization of environmental impacts in the
receiving waters in as cost-effective a manner as possible. The
Program included three main areas: acute and chronic toxicity testing,
biological monitoring in receiving waters, and water and sediment
monitoring.
The program had two main objectives:
- to assist the Canadian mining industry meeting its environmental
effects monitoring and related requirements in as cost-effective
a manner as possible; and
- to benefit the Canadian environment by evaluating new and existing
monitoring technologies for the assessment of environmental impacts,
and indicating the benefits and weaknesses of each technology.
Partners
AETE was a cooperative program between:·
- industry
through the Mining Association of Canada;
- four Federal
Government departments: Environment Canada, Department of Fisheries
and Oceans, Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and
Natural Resources Canada; and
- Provincial
Governments: British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario,
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Quebec (first part
of the program).
Natural Resources
Canada through CANMET Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories coordinated
the program through provision of a secretariat responsible for facilitating
and coordinating the work of the participants.
Timeline and Budget
AETE started on April 1, 1994 and concluded on December 31, 1998.
The program cost was $3.4 million, with CANMET-MMSL contributing
$2.2 M & MAC, $1.2 M.
Deliverables
AETE results are summarized in a series of reports on appropriate,
cost-effective methods of determining the biological and non-biological
impacts of mine effluents on Canada’s lakes, rivers and streams:
The recommendations of the AETE program are presented in a report
titled "AETE Synthesis Report of Selected Technologies for Cost
Effective Environmental Monitoring of Mine Effluent Impacts in Canada.
The deliverables also included annual workshops during the program
to ensure adequate dissemination of the information obtained to
the participant organizations and to the public.
*
Internal Report (1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, and 1.2.3.)
| 1.0 |
TOXICITY
TESTING PROGRAM |
| 1.1.1
* |
Evaluation
of Standard Acute Toxicity Tests for Selected Mine Effluents
(Conduction of Rainbow Trout, Daphnia Magna and Daphnia Magna
IQ Tests for Selected Mine Effluents) |
| 1.1.2*
|
Evaluation
of Alternative Acute Toxicity Tests for Selected Mine Effluents
(Conduction of Microtox, Rotoxkit F, Thamnotoxkit F and Toxichromotest
Tests) |
| 1.1.3*
|
Chemical Analysis
of Selected Mine Effluents (Acute Toxicity Project) |
| 1.1.4 |
Comparison
of Results from Alternative Acute Toxicity Tests with Rainbow
Trout for Selected Mine Effluents |
| 1.2.1 |
Review
of Methods for Sublethal Aquatic Toxicity Tests Relevant to
the Canadian Metal-Mining Industry |
| 1.2.2 |
Laboratory
Screening of Sublethal Toxicity Tests for Selected Mine Effluents,
January, 1997 |
| 1.2.3
* |
Chemical Analysis
of Selected Mine Effluents (Sublethal Toxicity Project) |
| 1.2.4 |
Toxicity
Assessment of Highly Mineralized Waters from Potential Mine
Sites |
| 1.2.5 |
Evaluation
of Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) and Toxicity Identification
Evaluation (TIE) Application to the Canadian Mining Industry,
November, 1998 |
| 2.0 |
BIOLOGICAL
MONITORING PROGRAM |
| 2.1.1 |
Review
of Artificial Substrates for Benthos Sample Collection |
| 2.1.2 |
Optimization
of Field and Laboratory Methods for Benthic Invertebrate Biomonitoring |
| 2.1.3 |
Technical
Evaluation on Methods for Benthic Invertebrate Data Analysis
and Interpretation |
| 2.1.3a |
Development
of Potentially Applicable Approaches to Benthic Invertebrate
Data Analysis and Interpretation |
| 2.1.4 |
Development
of a Quality Assurance Program for Assessing Mine-Related Effects
Using Benthic Invertebrate Communities |
| 2.1.5 |
Technical
Evaluation of Determining Mining Related Impacts Utilizing Benthos
Macroinvertebrate Fitness Parameters |
| 2.2.1 |
Technical
Evaluation of Metallothionien as a Biomarker for the Mining
Industry |
| 2.2.2 |
Technical
Evaluation of Histopathology as an Environmental Monitoring
Tool for the Mining Industry in Canada. |
| 2.2.3 |
Technical
Evaluation on Fish Methods in Environmental Monitoring for the
Mining Industry in Canada |
| 2.3.1 |
Technical
Evaluation of Mollusc as a Biomonitoring Tool for the Mining
Industry in Canada |
| 2.3.2 |
Technical
Evaluation of Monitoring Methods Using Macrophyte, Phytoplankton
and Periphyton to Assess Impact of Mine Effluents on the Aquatic
Environment |
| 3.0 |
WATER
AND SEDIMENT MONITORING PROGRAM |
| 3.1.1 |
Technical
Evaluation on Water Sampling Design and Data Analysis |
| 3.1.2 |
Technical
Evaluation on Water Quality and Biological Effects |
| 3.1.3 |
Geological
Survey of Canada (GSC) Protocol for Handling Water Samples |
| 3.2.1 |
Literature
Review on the Techniques of Sonar Profiling and Grid Sampling,
Using a Grab Sampler for the Identification and Mapping of Lake
Sediment Facies for Environmental Effects Monitoring |
| 3.2.2 |
Technical
Evaluation on Pore Water, Sediment Digestion Methods, Background
Concentrations and Sediment Sample Handling |
| 3.2.2a |
Assessing
Aquatic Ecosystems Using Pore Watersand Sedimentary Chemistry |
| 4.0 |
INTEGRATED
STUDIES |
| 4.1.1 |
1995
Field Evaluation of Aquatic Effects Monitoring Methods - Pilot
Study |
| 4.1.2a |
Toxicity
Assessment of Mining Effluents Using Up-Stream or Reference
Site Waters and Test Organism Acclimation Techniques |
| 4.1.2 |
1996
Field Evaluation of Aquatic Effects Monitoring Methods |
| 4.1.3 |
1997
Field Evaluation of Aquatic Effects Monitoring Methods |
| 4.1.3sum |
Summary
and Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Aquatic Effects Monitoring
Technologies Applied in the 1997 AETE Field Evaluation Program |
| 4.1.4 |
AETE
Synthesis Report on Monitoring Methods |
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