Two Northern B.C. mines have been recognized for outstanding achievements in reclamation.
The British Columbia Jake McDonald Annual Mine Reclamation Award was presented Wednesday night to Northgate Minerals Corporation for outstanding reclamation achievements at the Kemess South Mine.
Some 250 hectares of about 600 that has been disturbed, is in the final stages of reclamation.
Activities have included decommissioning of mine infrastructure, re-grading and re-sloping surfaces into adjacent land forms, controlling drainage, applying growth medium, and using native species for re-vegetation.
Reclamation activities are continuing at the site, which ended mine production in March 2011.
Thompson Creek Mining Ltd.'s Endako Mine was awarded for excellent reclamation in the category of metal mining.
Reclamation work at this site has shown impressive re-vegetation results on parts of the tailings management facilities.
The Kemess Mine is 550 kilometres north of Prince George and the Endako Mine is 170 kilometres west of Prince George.
The British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation established the awards 35 years ago to recognize outstanding achievement in mine reclamation in the province.
The committee includes members from industry, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Environment, the Mining Association of B.C., the Association of Mineral Exploration B.C., and B.C. universities and colleges.
"The ability to complete sustainable reclamation is an important part of the mine planning process and it is great to see these sites setting an example for solid reclamation practices," said B.C. Mining Association president Karina Brino in a statement.
