LIBS1135 Environmental Case Study: Faro Mine Cleanup and Restoration

This case study examines the Faro Mine in the Yukon, focusing on the environmental, health, and safety threats resulting from lead-zinc processing. The mine's operations from 1969 to 1998 left behind significant waste rock and tailings, leading to water contamination with zinc and potential dam failures. The assignment details remediation efforts, including waste rock and tailings management, soil covers, and water treatment upgrades. It explores the responsibilities for the cleanup, the health impacts of contaminants like lead and zinc, and the long-term environmental and socio-economic considerations of the project. The study highlights the importance of addressing the legacy of mining operations and ensuring environmental protection and human health through remediation and restoration efforts. The study references the CBC News, World Health Organization, and Government of Canada documents for supporting information.

Case Study- Faro Mine in the Yukon

Site name
Faro Mine
Site location 415C-300 Main Street,
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 2B5
1-800-661-0451
Type(s) of mining-
related process(es)
(e.g., refining, mining,
processing, etc.)
Processing
Desired mineral
resource(s) lead-zinc
Contaminant(s)
of concern
Tailings and Waste rock plies
Brief
description/summary
of environmental,
health, and/or
safety threats
Valuable mineral processing at the mines left million tons of waste rock
and tailings. Mines waste affects the land and water quality. Increase the
amount of Contaminated seepage increase the level of the zinc which is
draining from the rock. These rock dumps damage the quality of water,
which impact on habitant and the fish ("Faro Mine | Yukon Conservation
Society", 2017). Tailings are a residue that remains the same after the
metal extracted from the rock. In the tailing dams and the Rose Creek,
Diversion Channel currently has no hydraulic capacity so that maximum
tailing flood can pass through it. That could lead to dam failure and affect

the environment.
Brief summary of
actions taken to access
and/or clean up so far
Selected Key features for the site remediation include ("Massive Faro
mine clean-up will begin in 2022, two decades after closure | CBC News",
2017):-
 Fix tailing at a place upgrade the dams
 Re-sloping of the Waste rock piles
 Installation of soil covers for the waste rock and the tailings.
 Diversions for the up-gradation of Stream.
 Upgrade the treatment system and the contaminated water
collection
Part-B

1. The production of Faro mine was began in 1969, after monitoring it analyzed that minerals processing
left behind crushed particles and waste rock of tailings ("Remediating Faro Mine in the Yukon",
2019.)Mine was closed in 1998 when mines owner declared bankruptcy.
2. Responsible for mine closures and monitoring:-
 Water Management of mines include:-
 Acid Rock Drainage Runoff/ Seepage
 Up-gradation of surface water
 Tailing and waste Rock comprises:-
 Re-grade Cover Tailings
 Cover Waste Rock
The Faro Mine Remediation Project team established some critical objectives for the remediation plan,
in partnership with the Government of Yukon, Kaska First Nation, Selkirk First Nation and other affected
and interested groups:
 Safety and human health Protection
 Protect and restore the environment such as water, land, air, wildlife and fish.
 Management of site risk in a cost-effective manner for long-term
 Maximize socio-economic and local benefits
The last owner of the mine went bankrupt and was responsible for that.
When the mine assets were sold in 2003, then the estimated cost of clean-up was around a million. The
federal government was paying this cost for the cleaning of water in the site. In 2009, cost varies with

the tailings and waste rock that were staying in the site ("Background on the Faro Mine Remediation
Project", 2017). No, the federal government was not responsible for taxpayers in the site, the
government provided the care and maintenance cost of mines.
3. Yes, I think we have to pay clean up the mine and for restoration. Three companies that ran profit
from these mines are Liard First Nation, Ross River Dena Council, Kaska Dena Council and Selkirk First
Nation. After company declares bankruptcy in 1998 after 30 years of the mining, then government of
Canada provided the fund to keep the site safe and government of Yukon and Canada are working
together for maintenance and regular care of mines.
4. Tailings particles such as stripping leaded paint, during smelting, recycling containing lead, gasoline or
aviation fuel that is containing lead affected the most on human health after inhalation. It affects the
body organ such as kidneys, liver, bones and brain ("Lead poisoning and health", 2019). Ingestion of Zinc
that is draining from the rocks destroys the quality of water. It might cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea,
stomach and kidney damage (2017).
References:-

Massive Faro mine clean-up will begin in 2022, two decades after closure | CBC News. (2017). Retrieved
26 February 2020, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/faro-mine-remediation-
1.4179016.
Lead poisoning and health. (2019). Retrieved 26 February 2020, from https://www.who.int/news-
room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health
Faro Mine | Yukon Conservation Society. (2017). Retrieved 26 February 2020, from
http://yukonconservation.org/programs/mining/current/faro-mine/
Remediating Faro Mine in the Yukon. (2019). Retrieved 26 February 2020, from https://www.rcaanc-
cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1480019546952/1537554989037
Background on the Faro Mine Remediation Project. (2017). Retrieved 26 February 2020, from
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1497875747120/1537555534918