LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (August 19, 1991)

The Odds `n’ Sods column “Revisiting Quebec’s north in the 1950s” (T.N.M., July 29/91) is an offensive and provocative article which The Northern Miner, with its long experience of the North country, should have known better than to publish at this sensitive time.

I have known the writer of that column personally for a number of years and, although I have respect for him in many ways, I do not remember him as being more perfect than the people whom he is trying to ridicule and who have toiled hard to open up the North so that he, among others, could benefit from their efforts.

Leo Brossard

St. Lambert, Que.

Regarding the article “Enforcement of mine reclamation regulations weakest in Sask., Que.” (T.N.M., July 22/91), I wish to set the record straight on how the Mining Act in Quebec deals with tailings management.

On June 17, 1991, the National Assembly passed the Act to amend the Mining Act (Bill 130). This legislation amends the Mining Act to ensure mine reclamation.

Any person who engages in exploration or mining activities, who operates a concentration plant where certain mineral substances are treated or who engages in mining operations having to do with tailings, is required to submit a rehabilitation and restoration plan of the affected land to the minister for approval, meet the requirements of the plan and provide a guarantee to that effect.

Under the amending legislation, mining companies must submit to the provincial government a financial guarantee to ensure that mine reclamation work is performed.

This guarantee, which may be a property or a sum of money, shall be determined by government regulation at a later date.

Luce Asselin

Press Attache

Quebec Ministry of

Energy and Resources

Charlesbourg, Que.

Writer David Scott (T.N.M., July 29/91) presented a good summary of the logic of full-face shaft sinking, but he missed the key item in the development of the system in Canada.

The first application of this system was at the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) underground research laboratory at Pinawa, Man., in 1987. The geotechnical objectives of this program required a circular shaft, with highly controlled blasting.

AECL had previously developed effective techniques of controlled blasting in lateral headings, and was able to apply some of this background to the shaft sinking situation. AECL and its consultants decided that full-face sinking provided the best approach to their objectives.

The tender documents for this job specified full-face blasting and use of a burn cut, and included a preliminary blasting pattern. There had been discussions with an equipment manufacturer in regard to design of an electro-hydraulic sinking jumbo.

J.S. Redpath Ltd., which was the successful bidder, did a commendable job of developing the technique. However, AECL must be given a great deal of credit for providing the initial impetus for the innovation, as well as providing blasting consulting services during the development phase.

Technical papers have been published by both AECL and Redpath describing this shaft-deepening program and the development of the full-face burn cut technique.

J.R. Morris

Consulting Engineer

V.B. Cook Co. Ltd.

Thunder Bay, Ont.

While in general I find the Odds `n’ Sods column informative and amusing, the one titled “Revisiting Quebec’s north in the 1950s” (T.N.M., July 29/91) I found offensive and patronizing.

This is not the first time that an article portraying the early Quebec mining scene in an unflattering manner has appeared in your paper. I felt you should be informed that not all of your readers find such allusions humorous.

John Sullivan

Rouyn-Noranda, Que.