Mining industry would help fund acid mine drainage research

A commitment by the Canadian mining industry to help fund a program of environmental research into the long-term management of waste rock and tailings has been announced by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC).

Cost of such a project, to be known as the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) program, would be $12.5 million over five years. MAC says its member firms have committed more than $4 million; matching funding is being sought from the federal government and from several provinces where acid mine drainage occurs.

The purpose of MEND is to discover effective and permanent solutions to acid mine drainage. “This is a major problem for the mining industry and also for the federal and provincial governments, who are the owners of many historic mine sites,” MAC chairman Norman Keevil Jr. said.

The Canadian mining industry produces in excess of 500 million tonnes of waste rock and tailings per year, the largest portion of which arises from sulphide ore operations. These sulphide-bearing wastes present a significant environmental problem in that, upon weathering, they produce sulphuric acid which in turn dissolves residual heavy metals. This leachate has been termed acid mine drainage. Past efforts

Management of acid-generating sulphide wastes, particularly at the close-out of a mining operation, is not a new concern of the mining industry. Efforts in the past decade have emphasized the use of vegetative covers for reactive tailings sites, which while improving the aesthetics and surface stability, have not stemmed the problem of acid rain drainage.

The result was a necessity to continue operating treatment facilities long after the cessation of mining activities. In some cases, mine sites became abandoned and the responsibility for care and maintenance fell to the province.

Studies conducted between 1984 and 1987 identified about 15 hectares of waste rock and tailings so affected. It is estimated rehabilitation of these sites could cost more than $1.5 billion during the next 15 years. It is also estimated existing mines could generate an equal amount of waste and tailings during the next 20 years, in the process at least doubling the above rehabilitation cost.

In addition to environmental improvements, MAC says MEND will offer economic benefits. New business opportunities will be created, including consulting assignments and the development of new technologies which can be exported to other countries. Mine rehabilitation costs should also be reduced.

Chosen to head MEND was Roy Aitken, executive vice-president of Inco Ltd. (TSE), who recently served as vice-chairman of the National Task Force on Environment and Economy.