Ontario anticipates stiffer regulations for mine closure- Mining

The recent Equity Silver situation in British Columbia has no doubt raised concern abou th futur elsewher i th country Th Britis Columbi governmen wa reporte t b considerin closur bon twic th amoun Equit ha estimate o it own Mor governmen involvement in mine closure can be expected in Ontario next year. In Ontario, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) exercises wide-ranging powers, including approval and oversight of decommissioning activities. With th proclamation th Environmenta Protectio Statut La Amendmen Ac 1990 MO ma orde previou owners manager an occupier o min site t preven discharg o contaminant fro ol tailing areas t remov waste o t tak othe specifie actions.

A o las January MO wil no issu certificate o approva withou frequent detaile report o th functionin o tailing areas Thi ne regulator tightenin ca als requir financia assurance provisions.

MOE’ activitie ca indee mak i difficul t procee wit th busines o decommissionin largel becaus th rule ae s ill-defined Moreover ne regulation unde th authorit o th Ministr o Norther Developmen an Mine (MNDM wil b comin o strea i 1991 Man regulation ar base o th Minin Amendment Act of 1989.

Par I o th Act set ou th basi structur fo min developmen an min closure Closur plan an financia assurance wil hav t b submitte t th directo o min rehabilitation ne positio a MNDM Publi notic mus b give prio t startup Productio canno begi unti th director has accepted the closure plan.

Curren min operator mus als submi closur plan an financia assurances Eac minin compan mus specif t th directo th siz o th operation statu o lan tenure type of minerals produced, and mining methods used.

Th ministe wil the specif tim perio fo preparin an submittin closur pla tha mus includ financia assurance Sinc thi perio i t b se b th ministe a hi discretion hopefully a reasonable interval for compliance can be arranged.

Onc th closur pla an financia assuranc hav bee submitted th directo ma reques change i th closur pla o a increas i th financia assurance Shoul th operato disagre wit chang orders the ca b appeale t th Minin and Lands Commissioner.

Thes appeal thrus ne rol o th commissioner’ office whic ha successfull settle Ontari minin right issue throughout the entire century.

Th ne Ac wil becom la sometim nex year Par I wil b arme wit toug penalties Fine a hig a $30,00 pe da ca b mete fo non-compliance Th directo ca appl fo restaining orders.

I Britis Columbia th cabinet’ environmenta lan us committe make decision tha bin th collectio o ministrie responsibl fo mines Th Ontari governmen doe no hav thi arrangement.

Som clearl define rule woul encourag environmenta responsibl minin activit i Ontario Thi i goa w al share.

Thi serie o article ha bee compile b Erns Young’ minin industr grou directe b Rand Billing Thi articl wa contributed by David Hunter, a partner at Aird & Berlis.