Written by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on 12 November 2013
A Timmins mining company has been fined $60,000 for contraventions of the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act.
The Ministry of Natural Resources laid the charges against Liberty Mines, now known as Northern Sun Mining, after mining officials reported a minor breech in their tailings dam in 2010. The mine and tailings dam are located about 20 kilometres south of South Porcupine.
The court heard that after receiving approval to build a tailings impoundment dam in 2006, Liberty Mines failed to meet conditions of that approval. MNR engineers found that the dam was built outside the specifications of the engineered structure and that the company neglected to build a control spillway as designed.
Justice of the Peace Sylvie-Émanuelle Bourbonnais heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Timmins, on October 31, 2013.
The ministry administers the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act which applies to all dams in or near lakes and rivers, including tailings dams. Ministry approval must be obtained before constructing, modifying or repairing any applicable dam, and these dams must meet stringent design rules.
To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local MNR district office during regular business hours. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Tags: constructing dam, crime stoppers, engineered dam structure, Improper Tailings Construction, Justice Peace Sylvie-Émanuelle Bourbonnais, lake superior newspaper, lakes, Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, Liberty Mines, mine, mining officials, Ministry Natural Resources Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources, MNR engineers, mnr news, MNR Ontario, modifying dam, natural resources, natural resources violation, northeastern ontario daily news, northeastern ontario news, northeastern ontario newspaper, northern ontario, northern ontario daily, northern ontario daily newspaper, northern ontario newspaper, Northern Sun Mining, northshore daily news, northshore daily newspaper, northshore news, Northshore newspaper, Ontario Court of Justice, ontario daily newspaper, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario MNR news, Ontario natural resources violation, repairing dam, rivers, South Porcupine, spillway, Tailings Construction, tailings dam, tailings dam minor breech, tailings dams, tailings impoundment dam, Timmins, Timmins daily news, Timmins Mining Company, Timmins Mining Company Fined, Timmins Mining Company Fined $60000 Improper Tailings Construction, Timmins Mining Company Fined Improper Tailings Construction, timmins news, Timmins Ontario Court of Justice
Posted in Environment, Law Enforcement, Mining news, Northern Ontario Headlines, Provincial, Regional, Timmins | Comments Off on Timmins Mining Company Fined $60,000 for Improper Tailings Construction
