Editorial What’s in a name?

The Mining Association of Canada’s initiative in calling for a major research program to improve the management of mines’ tailings is an important one. Raising the issue and offering to pay a major part of the cost demonstrates the industry’s genuine concern about the problem and its commitment to find a resolution. It is also an indication of how the mining industry can be proactive in facing environmental problems rather than constantly being on the defensive by merely reacting to issues as they arise. Furthermore, it could provide to other industries an example of the principle of environmentally sound and sustainable development.

But it’s also clear that the association is concerned about how the public views its efforts. That could only explain why it took such care in selecting a name for the program. The new program, called Mine Environment Neutral Drainage, takes over where a program of preliminary study, the Reactive Acid Tailings Stabilization program, left off.

Aware that these programs soon become known by their acronyms, someone at the association clearly saw the potential for a better image emerging from a program known as MEND compared to one known as RATS.