Our Objective: We are committed to responsible mining and minimizing our environmental impact.
Copper Mountain Mine Trolley Assist
We are committed to achieving “A” ratings on the remaining TSM (Towards Sustainable Mining) standards by the end of 2021
| TSM Protocol | Target Rating | Target Date/Achievement | Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tailings Management | AA | (AA) | ✓ |
| Safety and Health | AA | (AA) | ✓ |
| Aboriginal and Community Outreach | AA | (AAA) | ✓ |
| Child and Forced Labour Free Certification | Yes | Yes | ✓ |
| Biodiversity Conservation Management | A | 2021 | |
| Crisis Management Planning | A | 2021 | |
| Energy Use and GHG Management | A | 2021 | |
| Water Stewardship | A | 2021 |
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation believes managing environmental responsibilities is an integral component in our operations. We endeavour to carry out all our activities in a conscientious and respectful manner and encourage judicious environmental stewardship. We believe that being a good neighbour begins by effectively minimizing our environmental footprint. This is achieved by on going engagement and monitoring process that is maintained throughout the entire life-cycle of our mine.
In 2020, the mine continued to focus on ensuring the Tailings Management Facility (TMF) is designed, constructed, and operated to a high industry standard to ensure long-term stability and to minimize potential risks to the environment. This is confirmed through annual dam safety inspection and as-built reports completed by Klohn Crippen and Berger (Annual DSI Reports Available for PDF Download: 2018, 2019 and 2020). This continued to be achieved through the following activities undertaken in 2019 and 2020:
- The Engineer of Record conducted the annual Dam Safety Inspection as well as regular site visits, audits and quality control checks.
- The Independent Tailings Review Board (ITRB) was further strengthened with the addition of another member during the year. The IRTB conducted site visits and reviews of the TMF design, operation and risks and provided suggestions to continue to implement industry best practices. In March 2021, ITRB concurred with the Engineer on Record’s opinion that there are no dam safety concerns. (Copy of ITRB Terms of Reference)
- A designated Tailings Qualified Person continued to oversee the TMF operations.
- Copper Mountain’s Chief Operating Officer is the Tailings Accountable Executive, attending ITRB meetings and completing regular site inspections.
- Additional geotechnical investigations were conducted and additional instrumentation was installed in the TMF to continue to support effective monitoring.
- A Feasibility level design was completed to increase the TMF capacity, while minimizing impact (TMF Expansion Report PDF)
Details on our Tailings Management Facility are available here.
At the Copper Mountain mine, routine environmental monitoring programs conducted in 2019 continued to report favourable conditions in the surrounding receiving environment. A Best Achievable Technology (BAT) Assessment was completed on water discharges, recommending actions to continue to mitigate environmental impacts during operation and after closure.
Energy conservation and minimizing emissions is another key focus at the Copper Mountain mine. The mine has embedded energy efficiency into its corporate strategy and as a result our projects have demonstrated significant achievements in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship within Canada’s industrial sector. We are well aligned with the Government of Canada’s commitment to advancing its clean-growth agenda. As a result of Copper Mountain’s commitment, the Copper Mountain Mine was the recipient of the 2018 Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Industry Partnership for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) Leadership Award for Corporate Stewardship.
In addition, Copper Mountain is currently planning to trial trolley assist which connects a haul truck to an electricity supply and replaces diesel consumption with electricity, thereby reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Company is partnered with Komatsu, SMS, and the BC government to advance this trial. A video depicting trolley assist is shown above. Through electrification and capacity increases, Copper Mountain will reduce its carbon intensity by over 50% in five to seven years. Our target is to be at zero by 2035.
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation is committed to returning the land to productive traditional use after mining has ceased. As part of this commitment, consultation with community groups is carried out during the development stage of rehabilitation plans to ensure that the needs of all stakeholders are taken into account. This is reflected in our Environmental Policy.
Successful Reclamation
Copper Mountain Video of Progressive Reclamation
The result of successful reclamation of Copper Mountain’s rock dump.
