MAC unveils a revised policy on the environment

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has released a revised environmental policy that will apply to the worldwide operations of its member companies.

The new policy, which was developed by the environmental managers of major mining companies and endorsed by their chief mining executives, replaces and updates the Association’s first environmental policy, published six years ago.

The industry association presented a copy of the document to federal and provincial mines ministers who had gathered in Saskatoon, Sask., for their annual conference of energy and mines ministers.

MAC President George Miller told the ministers and senior government officials that the policy reflects the outcome of discussions that led to last year’s signing of the Whitehorse Mining Initiative. These discussions involved industry, government, labor, environmental groups and native leaders, and were aimed at building “a strategic vision for the mining industry.”

Walter Segsworth, MAC’s vice-president, says the revised policy is based on six years of operating experience in implementing the Association’s initial environmental policy, unveiled in 1989.

With that policy, the member companies committed themselves to sustainable development “which embodies protection of human health, the natural environment and a prosperous economy.”

The revised policy requires companies to comply with legislative requirements in all jurisdictions and “diligently apply technically proven and economically feasible measures to advance protection of the environment throughout exploration, mining, processing, manufacturing and closure.”