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ONTARIO’S
ABANDONED MINES REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Presentation for IAEA/CNSC Workshop
Elliot Lake, ON
May 1, 2014
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Mining in Ontario…
Annual mineral production topping $5.5
billion/yr.
Creates an estimated 90,000 jobs.
Produces $1.8 billion in exports.
Typical base metal mine annually contributes
$50 million into Ontario’s economy.
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Ontario Mining Act
Rehabilitation of Mining Lands is addressed in Part
VII of the Mining Act
Proponents must file a Closure Plan before mining can
commence
Proponents must estimate the costs for mine closure
and provide Financial Assurance to implement the
closure plan
Requirements for Mine Closure are stipulated by
Ontario Regulation 240/00 and the Mine
Rehabilitation Code
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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Mine Rehabilitation Code Schedule 1
1. Protection of Mine Openings to Surface
2. Limit hazards of Open Pits
3. Stability of Crown Pillars (rock left above underground
workings)
4. Tailings Dams
5. Surface Water Monitoring
6. Ground Water Monitoring
7. Metal Leaching and Acid Rock Drainage
8. Physical Stability Monitoring
9. Revegetation
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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program Objectives/Goals
Ensure public safety.
Protect the environment.
Invest in the rehabilitation of abandoned mine sites on Crown held lands.
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Ontario’s Abandoned Mines
Approximately 5,700 known abandoned mine sites located
within Ontario containing more than 17,000 documented
mine features.
30 to 40% of all of Ontario’s abandoned mine sites are
estimated to be on Crown land.
Rehabilitation Costs of all Crown held abandoned mines will
likely cost several hundred million dollars.
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Abandoned Mines Rehabilitation Program (1999 – Present)
Funding to be primarily applied to the rehabilitation of
Crown-held abandoned mine sites.
The Abandoned Mines program continues to date with
current funding at $4 million per year.
To date, $138 million has been dedicated to the Program.
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Timminco Mine Site – Haley, ON
Magnesium producer 1943 - 2005
Implemented mine closure plan 2005-2011
Went into receivership, property abandoned in 2012
MNDM is implementing the closure plan using the Financial
Assurance
Issues:
Ongoing operation of the groundwater containment and treatment
system
Complete capping of the tailings
Removal/disposal of thorium contaminated building materials
Hydrocarbon contamination
Ground and surface water assessment and monitoring
Building demolition
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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Timminco Mine Site – Haley, ON
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Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
Questions?
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