Environmental Excellence Awards Presented at NWMA's Annual Meeting
December 06, 2000

Spokane, Washington — Two inaugural Awards for Environmental Excellence in the mining industry were presented at Northwest Mining Association’s 106^th Annual Meeting & Exposition Tuesday, Dec. 5, in Spokane Washington. The awards are presented to those whose mining and reclamation activities have demonstrated a high-level commitment to the principles embodied in NWMA’s “Statement of Environmental Principles.” Winners of the awards were the Asamera Minerals’ Cannon Mine at Wenatchee Washington, and the Nevada Abandoned Mine Backfill Program.

The Cannon Mine’s selection was in recognition for its gaining community and regulatory support, addressing environmental issues, and performing state-of-the-art reclamation. The Cannon Mine’s environmental record over the life of the mine, from exploration to closure, proves that environmental protection is an essential element of modern mining.

During its 10-year operating life, the Cannon gold mine employed more than 250 full-time employees and produced 1.4 million ounces of gold and 3 million ounces of silver. Mine closure was completed in a record five years and the reclamation bond has been released. As part of Cannon’s closure, Asamera 1) developed a fully cash-funded closure program, 2) created five wetlands and restored 1.5 miles of riparian stream habitat, 3) converted the mine’s tailings impoundment into Wenatchee Valley’s largest flood-control system, and 4) constructed a permanent, backup, passive, wetland metals-treatment system. These efforts were rewarded with reasonable permit termination and bond-release.

The Nevada Abandoned Mine Backfill Program involves both industry and government agencies that have closed abandon mines near Las Vegas in a timely and environmentally acceptable manner to protect the public living in the area.

After it was contacted by the Clark County government, the Nevada Mining Association (NvMA) enlisted the assistance of the Nevada Division of Minerals and the US Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Nevada State Office, to plan a closure program for the estimated 1,450 abandoned mine openings in the county. Some of the abandoned mines were on private land and some were on state or federal land, thus creating the involvement of several levels of government approvals necessary to close the sites.

The Division of Minerals worked with the BLM to ensure there were no legal mining claim holders for the initial seven sites. The BLM then conducted biological and cultural analyses to ensure the protection of biological and cultural resources. Additionally, the BLM recently finalized a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for securing mine sites on a statewide basis. This program will streamline the permitting process and change the required procedures for archeological studies, thereby saving time and resources while ensuring that biological and cultural resources are appropriately protected.

Finally, NvMA enlisted several of their corporate members to provide the manpower and equipment to close those sites in December  1999. A second group of sites were closed in September 2000. Currently, 25 sites are being prepared for closure.