Environmental Science & Engineering - www.esemag.com - September 2005
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Federal Government will invest more than $150 million in 2005 - 2006 for remediation
The Government of Canada is
investing $138.7 million in
measures to help remediate
97 priority contaminated sites
under federal responsibility across
Canada. An additional $14.3 million
has been earmarked for the assessment
of an estimated 500 sites, which will
determine the next steps and the scientific
support that is necessary.
The funding is part of the Budget
2004 long-term commitment of $3.5
billion to remediate contaminated sites
under federal responsibility.
Environment Minister Stéphane
Dion made the announcement in
Yellowknife, at the site of the former
Giant Mine which is among the higher
risk sites in the Canadian North designated
under the Action Plan for Federal
Contaminated Sites. The Government
of Canada is trying to reduce the dangers
that contaminants pose to human
health and the environment.
“The Government of Canada takes
seriously its responsibility to protect
this heritage and the health of the
Canadian public by remediating sites
under federal responsibility,” said
Minister Dion. “We are taking action
to undo the harmful effects of past
practices, while ensuring that from
now on environmentally-friendly values
necessary to health are applied on
the human, environmental and economic
levels in Canada.”
Yellowknife's Giant Mine began
operations in 1948 and has a long and
impressive history as one of Canada's
earliest and richest gold mines. Over
its lifespan, Giant Mine produced
more than 7 million ounces of gold and
played a significant role as a major
employer and economic engine for
Canada's North. The mine reverted
back to the Crown in 1999 when the
mine's owner at the time, Royal Oak
Mines Inc., went into receivership.
The main issue at Giant is the
237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide dust
stored underground at the site. The
dust was created during the gold production
process. The Government of
Canada and the Government of the
Northwest Territories are working in
collaboration to develop long-term
remediation solutions. In the interim,
Giant Mine is currently under care and
maintenance. Activities at the site this
year will involve additional site investigations,
assessments and surface
remediation activities.
"Canada's North includes some of
the country's most complex clean ups;
that's what makes our commitment to
remediation so important," said Andy
Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development and Federal
Interlocutor for Metis and Non status
Indians.
“One of our objectives when remediating
contaminated sites in the North
is to promote social and economic benefits
for local First Nations, Metis,
Inuit and Northerners," remarked the
Honourable Ethel Blondin Andrew,
Member of Parliament for the Western
Arctic and Minister of State (Northern
Development). "From contracting
opportunities, advanced training and
job creation, clean ups at contaminated
sites like Giant Mine will leave a positive
lasting legacy in terms of the local
economy and a skilled workforce."
To ensure the remediation of contaminated
sites is carried out in a wellcoordinated
matter, the Government of
Canada will develop a strategic longterm
plan and will report on progress
to Canadians each year. The Federal
Contaminated Sites Action Plan supports
the Government of Canada’s
Project Green, which incorporates
immediate, short-term, medium-term
and long-term goals and initiatives for
promoting a clean and healthy environment.
View the federal contaminated
sites inventory at:
www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dfrp-rbif/cs-sc
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