LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — Ministry moving on closure plans

I would like to express my concern with some of the statements contained in “Green revolution spawns expensive red tape” (T.N.M., Aug. 30/93) by Jack Dupuis.

Ontario has moved a long way during the past few years to provide a co-ordinated and efficient process to enable new mines to come into production with a minimum of delay.

While the procedures for getting a mine started now are more involved than in the past, with the co-operation of mining companies and the Ontario Mining Association we believe the public, and the Ontario taxpayer in particular, will be better served. The cost of closing mines is now being addressed in a more equitable fashion.

On a positive note, the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) has negotiated memoranda of understanding with the Ontario Ministries of Environment and Energy, Natural Resources and Labour which specify that they will review closure plan documents within a specified period (in most instances 30 days) unless they have good reason not to do so. Dupuis is incorrect in stating that new small mines without a mill have to post a minimum $1-million bond for closure expenses. There is no required minimum level of financial assurance; indeed, several small mining operations have completed the closure plan review process in a timely fashion and have posted financial assurances in amounts of less than $100,000. There is also no specified requirement to have a third party audit any aspect of the closure process. Closure plans are reviewed by an inter-ministerial committee chaired by an MNDM member; public input is achieved through a public consultation process required by the Mining Act. We do, however, encourage buyers of projects or mining lands to have a third party environmental audit carried out prior to completing the purchase. Shelley Martel

Minister

Ministry of Northern

Development and Mines

Sudbury, Ont.