The winners of the 2010 Mining and Sustainability Awards are a pair of northern B.C. enterprises.
Presented by the Mining Association of B.C. and the province, the winners for 2010 are Northgate Minerals' Kemess South Mine and the Northwest Community College's school of exploration and mining.
The annual sustainability award recognizes the best the B.C. mining industry has to offer in responsible mining practices and is designed to encourage continuous improvement in key aspects of the industry that are important to all B.C. residents, said the province.
Northgate's Kemess South Mine just ceased operations, but the Toronto-based company is examining resurrecting an underground Northern Kemess project nearby.
"B.C.'s mining industry is recognized as a world leader in environmental protection and the winners of this award are strong examples of our excellence," said B.C. Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman. "My congratulations and thanks to (the winners) for their diligence in ensuring the sustainable development of our natural resources."
