in Quebec
ILLEGAL DUMPING
The reassuring speech of mining companies can hide impacts that are too often devastating for the affected territory and the surrounding population: illegal dumping, poorly maintained tailings sites, contaminated water, and more. Very weak fines or penalties are imposed on those at fault. Weak regulations and lack of oversight are causing concern in communities.
of the situation
On March 31, 2022, there were 222 abandoned mine sites in Quebec. Of this number, 38 are located in the Outaouais region; six of them have not been restored while only one is being restored. Illegal dumping is commonplace in the mining industry. For example, ArcelorMittal (iron mine at Mont Wright) accumulated nearly 90 convictions between 2011 and 2013, the mining company Cliffs Natural Resources (Lac Bloom) received fines totaling 7.5 million for more than 100 violations.
Since 2008, in Quebec, there have been approximately 12 spills totaling 300 million litres of mine tailings into lakes and rivers, due to a lack of regulation and monitoring.
Closer to home, in the Laurentides south of Mont-Laurier, since 2012 there have been multiple discharges of contaminants into the environment at the Imerys Graphite & Carbon Canada mine. They have received several notices of non-compliance from the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC) in Quebec. In addition, there was a report of a tailings site that leaked contaminated water for 10 months in 2012. The cause: poor maintenance of the tailings site. The consequence: a small fine of $11,250.-, despite a Ministry inspector reporting this discharge of contaminants.
Source:
Mining Watch, December 18, 2021
Le Devoir, Mining spills, 2014
Article info on La Lièvre
IS THERE ANY DANGER OF CONTAMINATION OF SURFACE WATER AND OUR LAKES?
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