NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2010EMPR0037-001147 Sept. 27, 2010

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

 

AWARD HONOURS SECHELT MINE RECLAMATION

 

VICTORIA – Lehigh Materials was a winner at this year’s Mine Reclamation Awards for the leadership shown at its Sechelt mine, announced Randy Hawes, Minister of State for Mining.

 

Lehigh Materials won this year’s B.C. Jake McDonald Annual Mine Reclamation Award at the 34^th Annual Reclamation Awards ceremony in Courtenay. The Sechelt mine was recognized for its innovative and sustainable approach to reclamation, which includes building strong and lasting partnerships with local communities and First Nations.

 

“I congratulate the leadership shown by the winners of this year’s Mine Reclamation Awards as they restore formerly mined land to other useful purposes,” said Hawes.  “B.C. is a world leader when it comes to mine reclamation, the global mining industry learns from best practices developed here and I am proud of that.”

 

Additional award recipients recognized this year were:

 

·         Metal Mining Reclamation Citation awarded to Northgate Minerals Corporation, Kemess South mine

·         Coal Mining Reclamation Citation awarded to Teck Coal Limited, Elkview Operations

·         Mineral Exploration Reclamation Citation awarded to Alpha Gold Corporation, Lustdust

·         Quarry Reclamation Citation awarded to CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc., Windermere Mining Operation 

 

“As the current renaissance in B.C. mining takes hold, the significance of reclamation cannot be overstated,” said Pierre Gratton, president and CEO of the Mining Association of BC. “The ability to open new mines is not only based on economic feasibility but also the size of the footprint, the impact on water quality and the reclamation design.”

 

B.C.’s mining sector is a key economic driver, contributing $5.7 billion to the provincial economy and employing 7,688 people in 2009; however, mining uses less than 0.045 per cent of B.C.’s land base, a very small footprint. About 18,190 hectares of former mines have been reclaimed back to productive use.

 

The award recipients were chosen by a committee that includes a representative from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Environment, Mining Association of BC, and Thompson Rivers University, all of whom serve on the British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation who hosted the Awards.

 

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Media Contact:

Jake Jacobs Media Relations Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)

 

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