OTTAWA – On Nov. 7 the
Mining Association of Canada released its third edition of its
A Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities. The release coincides with the Tailings and Mine Waste Conference in Banff, Alta.
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Elements of the Tailings Management Framework. (Image from A Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities)[/caption]
Canadian tailings management guidance is recognized as globally leading. Following the inquiry into the tailings release at the Mount Polley mine in British Columbia, that province said all mines must adhere to MAC guidelines or their equivalent. After the tailings failure at the Samarco mine in Brazil, the guidelines were examined and found to be the most comprehensive of any national framework.
The third edition of the Tailings Guide is another step in the continual improvement process for tailings management, moving towards the goal of minimizing harm: zero catastrophic failures of tailings facilities, and no significant adverse effects on the environment and human health. It contains new technical components, including those critical to the physical and chemical stability of tailings facilities. It also strengthens key management components throughout the tailings facility’s life cycle, such as change management, critical controls for risk management, and performance evaluation.
Click here to download a free copy of the Tailings Guide.
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