Minimizing the land area impacted by mining activities is a goal of regulators and stakeholders and of mining companies. Every mine development is unique and will affect the environment in different ways. The Arctic region will have particular environmental challenges due to mining because of:
the lengthy recovery and repair time needed by the impacted environment due to the cold weather;
lack of infrastructure may slow down some mitigation and rehabilitation activities; permafrost, unique to the North, is easily disturbed;
dependence of local and northern inhabitants on subsistence activities which may be affected by mining; and,
many climate change impacts are being felt first in the Arctic, which could result in environmental impacts such as variances of water supply.
Environmental impact assessments address how the development will affect the environment during mine development, operations and mine closure. Studies, including baseline studies, can start as early as the advanced exploration stage and include the development of a detailed description of the
environment. They enable the comparison of the environment before, during and after development and make it possible to track changes in condition.
42 The following are surveys that may be needed due to the possible effects that may occur in an area of study:
Archaeological
Vegetation (tundra-shrubs, mosses) Fish/Wildlife Social Cultural Economic Environmental Air quality Water quality
Surface and ground water Noise Permafrost Subsistence Cumulative impacts Geochemistry Geotechnical stability Noise
Human health impacts: exposure to dust, toxic chemicals or radioactivity.
Modern technologies, open communication with communities, sound planning, rigorous impact monitoring, and appropriate personnel can help to reduce and eliminate impacts.
Effects that could occur in the Arctic and possible mitigation measures taken are noted in the table below.
Table 2.2 Environmental Effects during Mine Development and Construction
Type Condition Mitigation
Land Use Possible disturbance from uncontrolled access to mine site
Installation of security gates Possible disturbance from
construction of access roads, buildings, workshops, processing plant, and permanent camp
Use community feedback in design and layout of buildings. Community feedback at mine closure is also crucial to ensure that the closure plan fits the long term local use for the area. Plan to minimize land disturbance due to road construction. Possible disturbance from bulk
sampling and extensive drilling programs
Detailed planning to minimize land disturbance
Possible pollution and contamination Fuel storage standards
Facts and Figures
Habitat fragmentation is caused by linear developments such as roads and pipelines and can inhibit animal movements, particularly for
migratory species, such as caribou. Efficient use of roads and raised pipelines are examples of mitigation measures.
(Source: Arctic Oil and Gas 2007, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme)
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Type Condition Mitigation
from fuel and chemical storage Spill plans
Fuel management programs Melting of permafrost None identified
Water quality Chemicals in water discharge, mud or dirt getting into water bodies; sedimentation / erosion; water contamination.
Control drainage
Proper collection and treatment Ensure discharge criteria are met Segregation of reactive rock Divert surface waters and precipitation around site Possible pollutant releases from
melting of multi-year ice
None identified Wildlife Animals attracted to garbage and
food waste
Waste management programs Migratory patterns affected by
presence of humans, noise from aircraft, noise from blasting
Use environmental baseline work to understand activity in the area Educate employees and contractors to understand their responsibilities towards wildlife
Disturbance of destruction of fragile plant communities. Vegetation monitoring will help ensure that disturbance is minimized.
Identify fragile plant communities and develop mitigation measures specific to the plant community. Planning Dam safety Site location and hazard potential
including seismicity, hydrology, and slope stability, seepage control, operations and maintenance, and emergency contingency planning
Design and construction quality Monitoring of structural integrity Operations and maintenance Emergency contingency planning Acid Rock Drainage Possible pollution and contamination
generated when metal sulfide minerals are exposed to air and water
ARD causes metals to dissolve from ore, waste rock, tailings
It is very important to understand the potential for ARD and metal
leaching and the site wide water balance in order to design the mining operations and control measures to prevent contamination. Design, manage and maintain a facility that can effectively prevent ground water and surface water contamination and install at the time the waste and process units are constructed.
Minimize the amount of
contaminated water by minimizing contact between reactive mine wastes and water and maximizing the reuse of contaminated water.
Test mine waste rock and tailings for ARD and metal leaching
Understand baseline environmental conditions
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Type Condition Mitigation
Chemicals are added to cyanide containing wastewater to destroy cyanide: Inco sulfur dioxide process, Noranda copper and ferrous sulfate process; Alkaline
chlorination; hydrogen peroxide.
Or cyanide can be
recovered through an AVR recovery process.
Soil and Land Use Impacts Direct impacts:
Physical alteration/loss of habitat and vegetation
Soil contamination (particles, contained metals) Indirect impacts: Wildlife Subsistence users
Prevention and control measures
Minimize footprint
Backfill tailings
Backfill waste rock
Consolidate wastes
Reclaim/revegetate