MONTAGUE GOLD MINES, N.S. — The site of a former gold mine that operated approximately 100 years ago will be remediated with help from $33.4 million from the federal and provincial governments.
According to a release, an environmental site assessment confirmed the soil at Montague Mines, which was mined for gold from 1865 to 1940, is contaminated with mercury and arsenic.
It’s mostly in an area about 363 acres in size where mine tailings were disposed. The goal of the project is to return the land and wetlands to a productive habitat similar to what it was before mining activities.
The cleanup will include excavating contaminated soils to a depth of two metres and placing the soil in impermeable containment cells that will be constructed onsite.
The estimated volume of material expected to be contained within the cells is 120,000 m3, the release adds. A treatment system will also be required to collect and treat any leachate from the constructed containment cells. Clean backfill will replace removed soil.
A low-permeability cover will be placed on areas with lower levels of contamination to keep precipitation from creating contaminated runoff. These areas will also be covered with clean backfill.
The federal government is investing $15 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Nova Scotia is investing $18.48 million.
Since 1991, provincial legislation requires mining companies to provide funds for reclamation before mining begins to cover full reclamation costs. This ensures sites can be effectively reclaimed even if a company defaults, preventing an abandoned or contaminated site, the release adds.
