ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS BY THE MINING-INDUSTRY IN THE SUDBURY BASIN OF CANADA

Responsible mining companies have done much to redress the environment al damage of earlier technologies and continue to do more. In the Sudb ury Basin, one of the most important mining areas in the world, both I nco Limited and Falconbridge Limited, two of the largest nickel produc ers, have significantly decreased sulphur dioxide emissions in the las t 40 years from substantially 100% to about 10% or less of the sulphur in the ore; decreased water effluents by recycling; treated effluents to comply with government regulations; revegetated mine rock and surf ace tailings deposits and rehabilitated landscapes in the surrounding communities. Inco and Falconbridge continue to develop improved means for environmentally sound handling of all wastes including recycling a nd to reclaim land at abandoned mine sites. They have developed and im plemented environmental policies and codes of practice, not only to co mply with regulations, but to anticipate them. The mining industry rec ognizes the need for regulation to protect human health and the enviro nment. Existing regulations are based on a hazard assessment approach. A more realistic, pragmatic and cost-effective basis for regulation i s risk management. This relates any documented effects to measured exp osures and recognizes the need for exposure levels low enough that inc idence of adverse health effects is as low as in the surrounding ecosy stem.