The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Gold mine tailings photo debated
According to Atlantic Gold, an aerial photo that has raised concerns about its Torquoy Mine in Moose River actually shows surface water being pumped into its tailings facility.
The photo taken last Friday by an anonymous photographer had led to worries by environmental advocates that it showed tailings leaking out of the large tailings pond associated with the open pit gold mine.
“St Barbara Atlantic Operations is required to collect surface water (rain, etc) that falls on site and that water is channeled to the Tailings Management Facility,” said Dustin O'leary, spokesman for Atlantic Gold parent St. Barbara in a written response.
“The orange discoloration that you are seeing is naturally occurring in the surface water and due to ground conditions in that area. We have had third-party experts review this and there is nothing that would cause harm to the environment around the mine site as the containment system is working exactly as it should. Because surface water is pumped into the tailings facility, it may appear that the material is leaking out of the Tailings Management Facility into the containment area, when it is in fact water being collected and managed in our normal water management process.”
As he waited for a report from the Department of Environment, which sent inspectors to the site as a result of the photo, Raymond Plourde of the Ecology Action Centre countered that the large earth- and rock-moving project involved in creating the massive tailings pond was what created the “ground conditions in the area” that resulted in the discoloured water.
“The single greatest ground condition in that area is a gigantic open pit gold mine and its facilities, including this tailings facility,” said Plourde.
“That coppery colour is not normal. The surrounding area prior to the mine probably never would have produced surface water that looks like that ... it's not just rain, we all know what a mud puddle looks like.”
Hydrogeologist Peter Lund said the picture appears to show acid rock drainage.
“Acid rock drainage usually starts a few years after operations begin and it can be fine so long as the mine is operating, but the concern is after the mining companies leave town then who is going to be responsible for it 30-40 years from now,” said Lund.
The latest flare-up comes as Atlantic Gold works toward getting permits for planned open pit mines at Fifteen Mile Stream, Beaver Dam and Cochrane Hill. While the company touts the job benefits, many are concerned with the environmental impact of the mines.
St. Mary's Salmon Association president Scott Beaver is leading a campaign against the proposed Cochrane Hill mine, which would include an over one-kilometre-long tailings pond near the St. Mary's River that would stay in place long after the anticipated life of the mine.
“The proposed tailings dam for Cochrane Hill is a disaster waiting to happen,” said Beaver in a written statement after seeing the aerial photo of the Torquoy mine tailings pond.
“The dam proposed at Cochrane Hill is 70 meters high, running along the Nine Mile Woods Road for about three kilometres, compared to a 40 metre high dam at B.C.S Mount Polley mine disaster site. Let's not continue to repeat our mistakes over and over again.”
The Department of Environment confirmed they sent staff to the Torquoy mine on Monday to inspect the tailings pond and take samples of the discoloured water that will be sent away for testing.
They also confirmed Atlantic Gold's statement that the facility was operating properly.
“No evidence that material was discharged to the environment,” read a statement from spokeswoman Tracy Barron.
“Discoloured liquid was found in the seepage containment pool and was being pumped back into the main tailings management facility, which is how the facility was designed to operate.”