Mining industry addresses environmental concerns

The mining industry in Ontario continues to demonstrate its leadership in the area of environmental protection, the Ontario Mining Association (OMA) says. While providing the products demanded by society at competitive costs, the industry has shown a willingness to make a strong commitment to the environment.

Money and manpower dedicated to environmental affairs have increased and continue to expand. The industry and the OMA, while building on their record, maintain a strong spirit of co-operation with governments in environmental protection, it says.

The OMA, which has allocated 30% of its budget to environmental projects, has issued an Environmental Policy Statement which supports the concept and goal of environmentally sustainable economic development.

In order to emphasize the level of commitment of the industry, one should look at the Sudbury Basin, the OMA says. In that region, Inco has spent and earmarked $500 million over a 5-year period for the abatement of sulphur dioxide emissions. Falconbridge Ltd. has spent about $235 million to reduce acid gas emissions over the past decade.

It is estimated that the cost of acid rain control in Canada including capital expenditures and additional operating costs will be in the order of $1.4-1.8 billion.

In Timmins, at Falconbridge’s Kidd Creek operations, 98% of the sulphur dioxide from the roasting and smelting processes is captured and converted into sulphuric acid.

In the Hemlo gold camp in northwestern Ontario, all three mines are reported to be bettering the required environmental standards.

The industry is generally following a policy of anticipating and preventing problems rather than reacting and curing them, the OMA says. The association and its members are involved in several environmental programs including MISA (Municipal/Industrial Strategy for Abatement) which is designed to virtually eliminate the discharge of toxic contaminants in Ontario’s waterways.

Mining companies are also involved in a number of research projects on the environmental front.

One example is the Mine Environment Neural Drainage (MEND) program which is a co-operative research project directed toward long-term management of acid drainage in mine wastes and tailings. The program is expected to cost more than $12 million and 40-plus individual projects are to be carried out. Funding is to be provided by mining companies and governments.