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Between
1967 and 1985, 11 mine sites, covering a
total area of more than 500 hectares, were
transferred back to the government by the mining
industry. They are located:
- in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (East Sullivan,
Sullivan, Terrains Aurifères A, Canadian
Malartic, Wood Cadillac, Preissac, Stadaconna
and Lorraine);
- in Mauricie-Bois-Francs (Somex);
- in Gaspésie (Candego and Les Mines
Madeleine).
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In view of the extensive environmental problems
caused by these mining sites, the Department launched
a rehabilitation program for State-owned mining
sites in 1987. Since 1991, over $20 million
has been invested in the program.
A great deal of energy has been
directed at the development of efficient, economical
restoration methods. Many different experts from
the university and engineering consultancy fields
have contributed to the work undertaken by the
Department. In several cases, an exhaustive characterization
of the site concerned has led to the development
of innovative technological approaches using various
residual materials, such as forest residue, sludge
from sewage treatment plants, septic tanks or
paper mills, and ash from co-generation power
plants. These technologies have reduced costs
and offered a solution to the problem of stockpiling
at least some of the residues concerned. Various
studies have also been carried out to develop
passive treatment systems adapted to the specific
parameters of mine effluents (biofilters, wetlands,
limestone drains, organic barriers, etc.).
Results of some of these mine
rehabilitation projects
Recognized expertise
The rehabilitation of State-owned
sites has led to the development, within Québec,
of recognized expertise in site characterization,
the understanding of mine tailings alteration
processes, and the development of effective and
economical technologies. In addition, the use
and revalorization of various types of waste,
the design of passive treatment systems and the
integration of wildlife habitat creation as part
of the mine site rehabilitation process are entirely
in keeping with a concept of sustainable development.
The Department must now work
to promote technology transfers and the dissiminetion
of the stakeholders to ensure that
its expertise is put to good use, while continuing
to focus on research and technological innovation.
Although the restoration of the sites transferred
back to the State has now been practically completed,
many other sites that have been abandoned over
the years still await restoration.
Rehabilitation of abandoned mining
sites
Among the mine waste (1) storage facilities(2) in Québec’s territory:
- 365 are active (i.e. are being used or could be used in the short term) and are governed by sections 232.1 to 232.10 of the Mining Act, under which the holder must submit a rehabilitation plan along with a description of the financial guarantee;
- 167 are inactive and governed by section 232.11 of the Act, under which, for facilities that were inactive when the provisions regarding mine rehabilitation came into force in 1995, the Minister can enjoin the person who produced the mine waste to submit a rehabilitation plan and carry it out;
- The following storage facilities are the State’s responsibility:
- those on mine sites that have been the subject of an instrument of retrocession. Twenty of these facilities required rehabilitation work that was carried out starting in 1991, at a cost of $20 million;
- those where the person responsible has been released from obligations under section 232.10 of the Act because the rehabilitation and restoration work has been carried out in accordance with the rehabilitation and restoration plan approved by Minister and which, if applicable, pose no risk of acid mine drainage (22 facilities on 10 sites);
- those considered abandoned because the person responsible is unknown or insolvent. In 2008, there are 140 abandoned storage facilities covering an area of more than 1,900 hectares. Characterization and rehabilitation work has been deemed necessary for 74 of these facilities distributed over 45 mine sites. The cost of the work has been estimated at approximately $100 million. The sites targeted for work in the short term are located mainly in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Manitou, Aldermac and Barvue), Mauricie–Bois-Francs (Montauban) and Estrie (Eustis) regions.
Example of project in progress
- Manitou-Goldex project >>
(1) Mine waste (tailings): mineral substances, sludge and water, except the final effluent, discharged from extraction operations and ore processing and slag from pyrometallurgy operations (Mining Act).
(2) Storage facility (accumulation area): land on which mineral substances, overburden, concentrates or tailings have been, are or will be piled or accumulated (Regulation on mineral substances other than petroleum, natural gas, and brine).
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