New Horizons: CVRD Inco Helping to Rehabilitate Mines in Ontario

CVRD Inco’s Ontario operation is contributing $50,000 annually for the next three years to the Ontario Mining Association/Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) Mines Rehabilitation Partnership Project. The industry-government partnership has made significant progress in cleaning up the legacy of abandoned mine sites on Crown land.

“I am personally committed to this initiative because of the many benefits it provides for our stakeholders, our sector and the natural environment,” said Fred Stanford, president of Ontario Operations for CVRD Inco. “It will be a very visible symbol of our values related to our shared concern for the safety and health in our communities.”

The agreement signed in 2003 sets out the terms of the partnership, which includes a 50-50 cost sharing arrangement, protection from liabilities and donation tax credits. Also, the agreement permits companies to make donations in kind such as doing work — providing manpower and equipment — at specific sites. This agreement between the OMA and the MNDM is considered a breakthrough in co-operation in dealing with this legacy issue.

The OMA Mines Rehabilitation Task Force, which is a subgroup of the OMA Environment Committee, and MNDM jointly select projects. The next project to receive reclamation treatment under the terms of this partnership is in the Timmins area at the former Kam Kotia site.

The Tailings Seeps Relocation Project aims to remove about 25,000 cubic metres of tailings from drainage spots near the Kamiskotia River and relocate and stabilize them in an impounded tailings area. This work needs to be done in winter to allow heavy equipment to reach the tailings.

With the momentum provided by CVRD Inco for this environmental project, the OMA wants to have funds from its member companies in place to cover half of the estimated $660,000 project cost.

— The preceding is from an information bulletin published by the Toronto-based Ontario Mining Association.