Mining News: Modern mining offers win-win scenarios

Alaska and British Columbia have built responsible industry legacies that prove case for co-existence of today’s mines with nature

Ronald W. Thiessen

Reprinted with permission

Jurisdictions such as Alaska and British Columbia have long mining histories dating back more than 100 years. Throughout this time the industry has seen tremendous changes and advancements, in particular implementation of modern environmental and reclamation practices that are a far cry from those of historic operations. Today, overwhelming proof exists that land reclaimed from a mine can go on to once again support natural wildlife habitat.

It’s true that historic mining’s legacy is not always viewed in a positive light, but is important to note that such mines were not covered by laws comparable to current existing ones. In fact, historic mining bears almost no resemblance to the highly regulated and thoroughly modernized industry we see today – there are crucial differences between the two. Just as today we do not live like we did 50 years ago, mines today do not operate like they did 50 or more years ago. Alaska and BC provide good examples of how the industry has advanced and improved – both are subject to some of the world’s most stringent standards and environmental and reclamation permitting regulations, and both locations feature reclamation success stories.

Reclamation is defined as the work undertaken to return a mine site to a natural state once mineral extraction activities have been completed. Before a modern mine can complete the permitting process and begin construction, an approved reclamation plan and financial assurances to cover all post closure activities must be provided. In many cases those financial assurances are insurance policies - monetary bonds or funds held in trust by the government, and not returned until the site has been reclaimed to a satisfactory level. They also provide funding for ongoing site monitoring or maintenance requirements. Today’s mining companies focus on best management practices throughout all phases of the mining cycle – including reclamation – and there are many examples of reclamation success stories at large-scale operations.

BC’s Highland Valley – one of the world’s largest copper mines – is a good example. Though still in operation almost 30 years after start-up, more than one-third of site disturbance has already been reclaimed and re-vegetated. To date more than 1.7 million native trees and shrubs have been replanted. Also, aquatic habitat reclamation initiatives have improved water quality, leading to the establishment of a successful sport fishery featuring trophy sized Rainbow trout raised in the tailings pond and former open pits. Successful creation of open country grasslands and wetland habitats has attracted bird species as well, leading to sightings of more than 192 varieties within the greater mine operating area.

Another BC example is the Kemess South mine, which prior to final closure has conducted progressive reclamation work through a number of innovative techniques. More than 10,000 seedlings have been planted at the site since 2004, and it is expected that upon closure the area will be suitable for wildlife habitat; in fact the wildlife has not left the greater mine operating area and there are still many bear, ungulates (deer, moose, caribou) and other animals in the region. Kemess also has seen success with its long-term fisheries enhancement program, in which fish ladders have been constructed to improve and increase available habitat and populations in both the site and surrounding areas.

At BC’s Huckleberry open-pit copper-molybdenum porphyry mine reclamation work is ongoing, with the ultimate goal to return the site to its original, pre-mining state - forests and wildlife habitat. Particular care has been taken to monitor acid rock drainage, ensuring that only non-ARD rock, which can be safely exposed, is used in the construction of tailings dams and other construction. Post closure, all waste rock dumps will be submerged in a lake located where the main pit existed, and therefore invisible.

The State of Alaska, location of Northern Dynasty’s Pebble Project, is home to reclamation success stories as well. Prior to construction, Fort Knox, a large-scale open pit gold mine, initiated a fisheries project in which studies were conducted to determine fish species present in several small creeks and ponds in an area disturbed by historical placer mining prior to Fort Knox’s involvement. The company proposed to rehabilitate much of the disturbed habitat and create a new and sustainable fish reservoir. Since reservoir construction, populations of Arctic grayling and burbot have been closely monitored, the result being creation of viable Arctic grayling spawning habitat and high-value wetlands in historically mined areas. Population monitoring remains ongoing and eventually the freshwater reservoir area will be turned over to the state at mine closure.

Those familiar with BC might be surprised to learn that two of the province’s best known parks, Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park Quarry Gardens and Victoria’s Butchart Gardens, were respectively former basalt and limestone quarries. In fact, the basalt quarry at Queen Elizabeth Park was the source for many of Vancouver’s early roads. However, today both are recognized for their natural beauty.

Alaska and BC have world-class legislation and environmental protection processes in place ensuring that once mine operations cease, land must be returned to a useful and productive state. Mining companies expend hundreds of millions of dollars to study effective methods of environmental protection and conservation before permits are issued. These points, combined with the aforementioned examples, provide proof that responsible, modern mining and nature can co-exist.

Ronald W. Thiessen is president and CEO of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., a 50-50 partner with Anglo American plc in The Pebble Limited Partnership, which is working to develop the mammoth Pebble Prospect in Southwest Alaska. The Pebble deposit hosts one of the largest concentrations of copper, gold, molybdenum and silver in the world with estimated resources of 80.6 billion pounds of copper, 5.6 billion lbs. of molybdenum, 107.4 million ounces of gold and commercially significant amounts of silver, rhenium and palladium.