Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

Act: Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-14, Sections 34(2), 36(5) and 38(9)
Regulation: Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, SOR/2002-222, published in Canada Gazette Part II, Ottawa, June 19, 2002

To Whom Does This Apply?

All operating metal mines in Canada.

Eligible Activities

Mining.

Summary

The Metal Mining Effluent Regulations adopted under the Fisheries Act replace the Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations (MMLER) that have been in place since 1977 and repeal the Alice Arm Tailings Deposit Regulations, which were promulgated in 1979. The Regulations apply to all operating metal mines in Canada (approximately 100), while the 1977 MMLER only applied to about one third of Canada's metal mines - those that began operation after 1977, and those which do not use cyanide in the milling process.

The Regulations impose limits on releases of cyanide, metals, and suspended solids, and prohibit the discharge of effluent that is acutely lethal to fish. The Regulations also require metal mines to conduct Environmental Effects Monitoring programs to identify any adverse effects of their effluent on fish, fish habitat, and the use of fisheries resources.

• Environmental Acts, Regulations and Agreements
• Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

• New Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Service in English:
Mr. Chris Doiron
Senior Specialist, Standards Development
National Office of Pollution Prevention
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
Telephone: (819) 953-1105
Fax: (819) 953-5053
E-mail: chris.doiron@ec.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html

Mr. Paul Rochon
Senior Engineer of Programs
National Office of Pollution Prevention
Environment Canada
13th Floor
Place Vincent Massey
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
Telephone: (819) 997-2271
Fax: (819) 953-5053
E-mail: Paul.Rochon@ec.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html