Toward Greener Footprints 2006

The Ontario Mining Association is proud to present its second Environmental Progress Report - "Toward Greener Footprints 2006" (59 MB, PDF).  Environmental performance in Ontario's mining industry has shown continuous improvement, reflecting enhanced understanding of our interaction with the environment, improvements in available technology and the development and adoption of state of the art environmental management systems.

"Mining is a solution provider to so many things that most people don't event think twice about," said OMA President Chris Hodgson.  "Those who make their living from mining do so with the highest regard for the environment in which they operate.  They recognize and learn from the ways of the past, strive for excellence in what they do today and lay the groundwork for an even brighter future.  The Environment Committee of the OMA is a key player in seeking out, promoting and sharing best practices and technologies across the industry."

The OMA Environment Committee was established in 1972.  "Toward Greener Footprints 2006" builds on the information and accomplishments featured in the OMA's first environmental report, which was published in 2004.  

Highlights in the new report include ongoing contributions of the OMA Environment Committee to environmental responsibility and enhancement of OMA member sites, OMA member sites investing more than $85 million annually on environmental protection and improvement and pollution prevention and the hosting of workshops on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and a mine rehabilitation conference.

Also featured is the completion of a successful tailings dam remediation project at the Kam Kotia site near Timmins through the Memorandum of Understanding between the OMA and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.   The publication demonstrates an overall decrease in the industry's emission of greenhouse gases, water quality improvement and compliance records.  In addition, there are examples of greater engagement with First Nations communities in environmental protection and wildlife management.

The OMA salutes the work of the Environment Committee members and site personnel responsible for providing and ensuring the accuracy of the data presented in "Toward Greener Footprints 2006."