Responsible Mining in the Lake Superior Basin

Abstract

The Lake Superior Binational Forum drafted a statement on responsible mining, with recommendations for future mining projects, which are summarized in this document. The statement aims at a “zero discharge” principle. The Forum held three public meetings to gather input for the statement. Key excerpts are reproduced below: “Responsible Mining Should: A. Meet or exceed the provisions of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 2012 between Canada and the United States in: 1. Adopting the goal of zero discharge and zero emission of persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances in the basin, thereby preventing further degradation of the ecosystem. 2. Anticipating and preventing pollution and other threats to water quality in the Great Lakes to reduce overall risks to the environment and human health. 3. Incorporating the precautionary approach, as set forth in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, that “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” 4. Incorporating the “polluter pays” principle, as set forth in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, “that the polluter should bear the cost of pollution.” 5. Applying innovation – considering and applying advanced and environmentally-friendly ideas, methods and efforts to prevent environmental problems. 6. Considering social, economic and environmental factors, including assessment of full life cycle costs and benefits, and incorporating a multi-generational standard of care. B. Be clear and transparent with regulatory agencies, affected communities, and the public, while fostering cooperation with relevant agencies and the greater public. C. Carry out rigorous environmental assessment of all aspects and phases of the mining and milling process, including potential future expansion of mining activities. Public opinion and advice should be incorporated where possible, and the assessment process should explain why other public proposals were not incorporated into the final decision. D. Recognize that short-term mining operations can have long-term legacies, so approved plans should secure funding for staffing, monitoring, prevention, and repair of mining sites after closure. E. Contribute to the local, regional, and national economy through a fair wage, salary, and benefit structure, and in paying all taxes assessed by government agencies in each jurisdiction in which it operates F. Respect private and other land rights and where applicable compensate land owners for losses of value, and land users for losses of opportunity.” The document also contains nine recommendations for future mining operations, briefly summarized as follows: 1. Develop a common set of criteria for use by governments, NGOs and industry to guide the permitting process. Currently public agencies use different criteria in each state. 2. Avoid mining in places with high environmental or social/cultural value. 3. Improve public participation by stakeholders in the environmental assessment process through the collection of adequate baseline data; consideration of potential worst-case scenarios; and independent third-party review processes. 4. Water quality objectives that are consistent with the LAMP should be developed. 5. Overburden and tailings should be discharged into water bodies or wetlands; acid-generating materials should be segregated; and hazardous materials plans should be made public. 6. Companies should make atmospheric emission reports. Environmental assessments should consider greenhouse gas emissions from mining operations. 7. Companies should set aside financial resources for the exploration phase to cover clean-ups, reclamation and long-term monitoring. The public should have the right to comment on the adequacy of these resources and reclamation activities. 8. The public should have the right to access monitoring and periodic technical reports during the life of the mining operation; and to do independent third-party review of the process. 9. Companies should have a reclamation plan with resources set aside for each operation. Mined areas should be re-contoured and stabilized. 10. Citizen participation and oversight are important elements listed under “social impacts and decision making,” including the engagement of Tribal Nations, First Nations and Metis. 11. Research is needed on the cumulative and indirect effects of mining; climate change and mining impacts; and human health research, including impacts on people, fish and wild rice.