Before acid mine drainage emerged as the gravest effect of tailings deposits, pockets of the north were afflicted by tailings dust storms. Come a dry spell, a good blow sent up clouds of choking grit.
Erocon Environmental Services, A timmins-based mine reclamation company, got its start revegetating tailings. The Dome mine was one of its first clients. Erocon graded, sloped, and seeded the Dome tailings ponds back in 1968.
At the time, it was thought revegetating tailings was virtually impossible. But, says Erocon’s Jean Claude Leroy, leguminous plant cover proves self-sustaining. “This simple, modest step starts the whole process of re-colonization.” And recolonization does not restrict “volunteer” species from migrating onto the tailings.
Leroy, who has seen the level of environmental concerns fluctuate over the past two decades and more, sees plenty of work for firms such as his. But it comes down to a question of money. “Where will that come from?” he wonders.
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