An independent task force commissioned by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has submitted a final report with 29 recommendations for enhancing tailings management.
The Mining Association of Canada board directed its Towards Sustainable Mining sub-committee to expeditiously identify how best to implement the recommendations of the report.
“It is imperative that the industry continuously improves how it works to ensure the safe operation of its tailings facilities,” said Doug Horswill, a retired senior executive with Teck Resources and chair of the task force.
"The Task Force's recommendations were developed with the objective of assisting the mining industry in its drive to the goal of zero failures," added Horswill. "It is our hope as task force members that this report sets out measures which, when incorporated into the tailings management component of TSM, will promote continual improvement in company performance and help restore public confidence through the knowledge that MAC's member companies are doing all that they can to protect public safety and the environment."
In January 2015, the Mount Polley independent expert panel, which examined the cause of the Mount Polley tailings dam failure in British Columbia, recommended that all mining companies in the province be required to subscribe to the TSM tailings management system. In view of the Mount Polley failure, the MAC board decided to undertake an independent review of its guidelines and identify opportunities for further improvements.
The final report is available on the MAC website at mining.ca
