Overview

Closure is the process of rehabilitating a mine site after mining activities have ceased.

The closure phase contains one area:

  1. Mine Closure - the completion of mineral extraction, processing and transportation activities and the removal of the site facilities and infrastructure which supported these activities

Mine closure

Mine closure involves the completion of mineral extraction, processing and transportation activities and the removal of the site facilities and infrastructure which supported these activities. No additional approvals are required at this stage. An application for the reduction of financial assurance must be submitted to the Director of Mine Rehabilitation which documents how the rehabilitation work has complied with the requirements of the closure plan and confirm the amount consistent with the financial requirements of the rehabilitation measures left to be completed.

Land restoration

After site facilities and infrastructure have been removed, all soil cover materials, vegetation and surface water features modified during the life of the mine must be restored to a quality, quantity and appearance that is as close as possible to pre-development conditions or the baseline environmental conditions measured and described during the beginning of mine development.

Return of Financial Assurance

The financial guarantee, held by the ministry as part of financial assurance, will be returned after evidence is submitted to the ministry which proves that all rehabilitation work outlined in the closure plan has been performed and meets the minister's satisfaction following an inspection of the site.

Returning land

Any mining leases used during the lifecycle of the mine may be returned to the crown by submitting an application to the minister.

Progressive rehabilitation

Proponents must take all reasonable steps to progressively rehabilitate a site, whether or not actual closure has commenced. The purpose is to have proponents rehabilitate mine hazards over the life of the project, instead of waiting until closure. Proponents are required to describe the progressive rehabilitation measures that they anticipate will be undertaken as part of the certified closure plan they submit to the Director. The requirement to progressively rehabilitate applies even if a project is not subject to a closure plan. In this case, the proponent shall complete the progressive rehabilitation work to the appropriate prescribed standard and must submit to the Director a report prepared in the prescribed form within 60 days of the completion of the progressive rehabilitation work.

  • Section 139.1(1) of the Mining Act sets out this requirement to progressively rehabilitate
  • Section 9 of O. Reg. 240/00 sets out the details with respect to the progressive rehabilitation report

Resources

  • Regulatory Requirements Outside of the minstry (PDF) provides a listing and descriptions of some of the regulatory permits and other requirements for common activities related to mineral exploration and development activities. The PDF document contains a left side navigation pane. If your browser does not show this pane, save the PDF file to your computer and view with Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • For more information regarding immediate and long-term mine operation activities, contact the Mineral Exploration and Development Section or one of their local offices