Mining Sector of Atlantic Canada

Minerals and metals are indispensable in our modern world as they play an essential role in virtually every aspect of our daily lives. Canada is a world leader in the production of many minerals and metals commodities. The mining industry generates substantial employment for Canadians, not only in mineral production and processing but also in related sectors such as environmental services, transportation, manufacturing, construction and others.

There is a large variety of mineral resources in Atlantic Canada and the metal mining sector is an important contributor to the economy of this region. Major products include (or will soon include) the following: zinc, copper, lead, nickel, iron, cobalt, gold, antimony and tin. The industrial minerals sector products include, for example, coal, gypsum, potash, barite, salt, limestone, sand and gravel.

The impact of mining projects on the environment is an area of major concern to the public, governmental agencies and mining companies. The type of water pollution problems originating from mining, milling and further processing vary considerably from site to site. The main sources of water pollution are: mine de-watering, liquid effluents from the milling process (tailings) and surface water drainage and seepages from waste rock storage areas and inactive mines.

The largest environmental problem facing the mining industry is acidic drainage. Acid generation is a process consisting essentially of the oxidation of sulphide-containing materials and mineral ores which are frequently found at mines in Canada. This acidity may make the effluent unsuitable for fish. It can also cause metals to dissolve from the ore, mill tailings or surrounding rock. At higher concentrations, some of those metals can kill fish directly. Some metals can also bioaccumulate up the food chain.

Governments have implemented legislation to control environmental impacts of mining, from the exploration phase to close-out. The primary legislative authority available to Environment Canada to control water pollution, including effluents from mining sites, is the Fisheries Act. The pollution provisions of the Fisheries Act and in particular, s. 36(3) prohibits the deposit of deleterious substances into waters frequented by fish unless authorized by regulations. In the specific case of metal mining, Environment Canada updated earlier legislation and promulgated the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) under the Fisheries Act on June 19th, 2002 (as revised from time to time). MMER requirements and provincial standards are included as conditions to be met in provincial licenses or approvals that are required for metal mining projects.

The aim of the MMER is to ensure that metal mines operating in Canada control their liquid effluents to meet prescribed standards. These regulations apply to all metal mines and

• prescribe effluent limits for certain metals, total suspended solids and pH;
• require the production of non-acutely lethal effluent;
• specify minimum effluent monitoring and reporting requirements;
• require the preparation of Habitat Compensation Plans for any water bodies proposed to be used as Tailings Impoundment Areas; and
• require the conduct of Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) programs, in accordance with prescribed requirements.

Environment Canada administers and monitors compliance with the MMER for metal mines and with the pollution provisions of the Fisheries Act for both metal and non-metal mines. Inspections are regularly conducted at mining sites in the region. This is done in cooperation with other regulatory agencies in order to minimize duplication of effort.

Much work has been done in Atlantic Canada over the last few years to reduce the impact of mining on the environment. For instance, all major base metal mines in North-eastern NB and coal mines in Cape Breton have made or are in the process of making major improvements to their water management and treatment systems. Also extensive site rehabilitation programs are underway at mining sites throughout the region and many mining operators in Atlantic Canada participate actively in national programs such as the Mine Environmental Neutral Drainage (or MEND) program which coordinates research on the prediction, prevention and control of acid mine drainage.

Environment Canada MMER Regional Contact

Regional Director
Environmental Protection Operations Directorate
Environment Canada (Atlantic)
45 Alderney Drive, Queen Square (16th Floor)
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2N6

Phone: (902) 426-8679
Fax: (902) 426-4352
E-mail: 15th.reception@ec.gc.ca

Atlantic Provincial Governments

New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/

Newfoundland and Labrador: http://www.gov.nf.ca/

Nova Scotia: http://www.gov.ns.ca/

Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/