Letters to the Editor Mining Association’s environmental policy

Although we would certainly have preferred to receive an A or an A+ for our initiative, we appreciate the degree of support you have given the policy.

Your readers should know that Canadian mining is at the forefront of the world mining industry in embarking on an industry-wide environmental policy. More significantly, this policy is only the first step. It is designed to provide a framework for the preparation of a more detailed code of practice. This code will cover mineral industry activities including exploration, mining, processing and decommissioning.

The whole exercise is intended to give operational meaning to the concept of sustainable development — a concept resulting from the work of the Brundtland Commission and endorsed by the National Task Force on Environment and Economy.

We believe that the leadership of the MAC board of directors in attaching priority to the Environmental Policy will lay a basis for heightened awareness and responsiveness to environmental issues by the mining industry. While this policy applies primarily to MAC members, we believe that the beneficial impact will be felt throughout our industry. C. George Miller President Mining Association of Canada

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