Mine Reclamation and Indigenous Participation at Sudbury INO
In July 2023, our Sudbury INO team carried out a site visit to its Nickel Rim North Mine tailings area with Wahnapitae First Nation (WFN) to witness first-hand the progress of the Tailings Removal Project, which is part of overall reclamation efforts at the site.
Nickel Rim North Mine operated from 1953 to 1958 and its tailings were deposited in five areas. The Tailings Removal Project involves excavating a portion of one of the five tailings areas and depositing it as backfill at Sudbury INO’s active Nickel Rim South (NRS) Mine.
The Tailings Removal Project has a two-fold benefit:
- Reduces source levels of sulfide tailings that contribute to low pH/high dissolved metal concentrations in surface/groundwater; and,
- Provides cost-effective backfill in areas where mining has been completed at Nickel Rim South Mine (NRS).
Work on the ground began in July 2022 and by the end of the year, approximately 30,000 tonnes of material was excavated and screened with 25,000 tonnes sent to NRS as backfill. This most recent site visit coincided with work picking up on site once again.
The maintenance general foreman at Sudbury INO stands in front of the tire cleaning tool, which is designed to help prevent the spread of tailings to roadways.
The tailings stock pile has been removed at Nickel Rim North as part of reclamation efforts at the site.
Indigenous participation
Sudbury INO and Wahnapitae First Nation (WFN) conduct site visits like this as part of their efforts on the Joint Environmental Working Group (EWG), which was established in 2008 and serves as a commitment beneath the umbrella of the Participation Agreement signed between the two parties earlier that same year.
The EWG forms a framework for an ongoing and mutually beneficial relationship for Sudbury INO and WFN, inclusive of environmental stewardship, education and training, and community development.
“Our work on the Joint Environmental Working Group involves developing different action items focused on sustainability and environmental management. The reclamation work in the tailings area is one of those action items. Site visits give us great context and allow us to bring back information to the community, ensuring all members and Chief and Council know what is happening and understand the work that is taking place.”
Sara Lehman - Environmental Coordinator, Wahnapitae First Nation
Informing and inspiring the next generation
The site visit also afforded an opportunity to inform and inspire the next generation of talent as two students attended on behalf of WFN while one attended on behalf of Sudbury INO.
Students participate in the site visit as part of their summer employment with Wahnapitae First Nation and Sudbury INO, respectively.
“People have ideas as to what the mining closure process is, but we wanted to get the students on the ground so they could see it first-hand. We hope they have a better understanding of what mine reclamation looks like and are inspired by the cool work being done because of community consultation and collaboration.”
Sara Lehman - Environmental Coordinator, Wahnapitae First Nation