Mining News: News Nuggets: 25 years of sustainability at Red Dog

Teck Resources Ltd. June 29 released its 2014 Sustainability Report. The 25th anniversary of Teck’s Red Dog mine, which operates under an innovative operating agreement with the Iñupiat people of Northwest Alaska, is among the highlights featured in the report. Situated roughly 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Red Dog is among the largest zinc mines in the world. In 1982, Cominco (now Teck) and Iñupiat-owned NANA Regional Corp. signed a landmark agreement that directs how the mine is operated and ensures sustainable benefits for the region and its people. A quarter century since operations began at Red Dog, the mine continues to be an economic engine and serves as a positive example of indigenous people and mining companies working together. Other sustainability highlights in the report include: the strengthening of endangered herd of 24 caribou in northeastern British Columbia due to the birth of nine calves through a maternal penning program supported by Teck; 170,000-metric-ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at Teck operations as a result of programs implemented since 2011; the recycling of 38,000 metric tons of waste at Teck operations; a 16 percent increase in the number of women in operational and technical roles; and an approval from the Government of British Columbia for Teck’s Elk Valley Water Quality Plan, which featured collaboration with indigenous peoples, local communities, environmental organizations and governments. “Teck’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in the actions of our employees, who are dedicated to doing the right thing for communities, the environment and future generations. Their actions and their commitment is the heart of our constant pursuit of responsible resource development and the key to our company’s success,” said Don Lindsay, Teck’s president and CEO. The company, which has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index in each of the past five years, has reported annually on its sustainability performance since 2001. Teck’s DJSI ranking places its sustainability practices among the top 10 percent of the world’s 2,500 largest public companies. Teck’s full sustainability report is available at www.tecksustainability.com.

- Shane Lasley