Case Study: Faro Mine Environmental Remediation and Cleanup Project

This case study examines the Faro Mine in Yukon, focusing on its history as a lead and zinc mining site, its closure in 1998, and the ongoing remediation efforts. The assignment details the environmental threats posed by the mine, including heavy metal contamination from waste rock and tailings ponds, which affects water quality and human health. The study explores the lifespan of the mine compared to the required remediation period, the responsibilities for cleanup costs (estimated at $1 billion), and the associated risks to human health, such as lead, arsenic, and mercury exposure. The case study also discusses actions taken for remediation, including water treatment and monitoring, and emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment and human health. The assignment uses references to support the assertions made about the environmental issues and cleanup strategies associated with the Faro Mine.

PART- A
Site name
Faro Mine in Yukon
Site location
Southcentral Yukon
Type(s) of mining-
related process(es)
(e.g., refining, mining,
processing, etc.)
Primary Activity is Lead and Zinc Mining
Desired mineral
resource(s) Lead and Zinc
Contaminant(s)
of concern
The heavy metals and acid waste can probably drain into the
surrounding water and land—the Leaching mixture of Lead,
mercury, radioactive wastelands.
Brief
description/summary
of environmental,
health, and
safety threats
Contaminated seepage with a high level of Zinc drains from rocks
near the main old waste rock dump, affecting some area of the North
Fork of Rose Creek. It will harm the water quality and marine
habitat.
The loss of hydraulic capacity leads to the loss of tailing
downstream environment and dam failure.
A brief summary of
actions taken to
Actions taken for faro mine redemption project is to protect the
health and safety of people living there, protecting and restoring the

access and/or clean
up so far
environment, increasing the benefit of Yukon socio-economic. It
includes collecting and treating the Contaminated water so that
downstream environment can be prevented from contaminants. It
must be ensured that clean water must be kept separated from
contaminated water by polishing ponds. Regular monitoring of the
site so that proper action can be implemented and taken against the
unavoidable level of contaminants.
PART- B
Q: Remember that all mines have a lifespan. The Faro mine began production in 1969 and
closed in 1998. Remediation and monitoring began immediately upon closure and is ongoing.
Please reflect on the lifespan of this mine as compared to the lifespan of the remediation required
in this area.
Answer: Faro mine was a massive open-pit Zinc-Lead mining site now it is one of the
abandoned redemption mine project in Canada which is situated in the territory of 3 Kaska
Nation that is Ross River Dean council, Kaska Dean council and Liard First Nation. Minerals
processing were left behind the finely crushed particles of waste rock. Later, when the owner of
Faro mine was declared bankrupt, the mine was abandoned. The responsibility of devaluating
Faro mine was divided between the government of Canada and the Government of Yukon
(Collins & Kumral, 2019). Contractors were hired to work on the remediation design plan. As
concerned to the health safety, the previous water treatment plant was closed down. Temporary
measures were taken to reduce the level of Zinc from water. The Canadian government took the
responsibility of maintenance and care of the site. The process of environmental assessment is
enhanced (Anderson, 2019).

Q: One of the questions commonly asked when referring to mining disasters, mine closures and
monitoring is, who is responsible, what are their responsibilities and for how long? The Faro
mine has an estimated clean up and monitoring bill expected to be close to 1 billion dollars at
completion. The Federal government and taxpayers will be responsible for it.
Who do you think should have to pay for the cleanup and restoration of this mine? Keep in mind
that three companies in total ran and profited from this mine. If a company declares bankruptcy,
how can they still be held responsible for the cleanup? Should they be?
Answer: The government occupies most of the abandoned remediating mines sites which are
associated with cost. Development of mine proposal was permitted by YTWB, which involve the
tremendous amount of security money and environmental trusted sinking fund accumulated the
amount of reclamation fund. Curragh was declared as bankrupt, and the mine was seized by
DIAND and again re-opened by the Anvil Range, but later the company’s cash flow did not
permit to pay the balance and still being closed (Aghakazemjourabbaf & Insley, 2018). ). The
YTWB and both the company should be responsible for the cleanup. The fees and royalties
should be collected from the BYG Company should be accountable to pay for the cleanup
because the company walked away from its responsibility, leaving the maintenance alone with
huge redemption bill.
Q: What are some of the risks associated with the waste rock and tailings pond to human health?
Answer: The risk associated with the waste rocks and tailing ponds are:
 The various Body system is affected by Lead as it is accumulated toxic, especially it has
an adverse impact on young children (Hodge, 2017).

 High level of toxic Lead’s exposure to pregnant women causes premature birth,
miscarriage and stillbirth.
 In adults, Lead has an adverse harmful effect on the body like an increase in the risk of
kidney failure, high blood pressure and many more.
 Arsenic is the heavy metal that possesses a significant threat to the environment as well
as individual health. It is a protoplastic poison which enhances malfunctioning of cell
enzymes, and it kills the living cells in the human body.
 Mercury is an acute heavy poising metal which enhances neurological disorder and the
adverse change in human behaviour can be noticed (Graham, 2018).
 Accidental intake of mercury targets the brain, and it can easily impair the organs in the
body leads to malfunctioning of muscles, kidneys, nerves and other organs.
 Cancer-related risk is associated with waste rock and tailing ponds.
 The toxic tailing ponds may disturb the physiological system in the human body like the
malfunctioning of respiratory, skeletal, digestive, nervous system and many more.

Reference
Aghakazemjourabbaf, S., & Insley, M. (2018). Optimal timing of hazardous waste cleanup
under an environmental bond and a strict liability rule (No. 1803).
Anderson, D. (2019). Junk in the woods: Yukoners' troubled relationship to the land.
Collins, B. C., & Kumral, M. (2019). How should we make decisions and prioritize
environmental sustainability in the Canadian North?. In 9th International Conference on
Sustainable Development in the Minerals Industry (SDIMI (p. 36).
Graham, N. (2018). Metal-based coagulant effect on sediment slurry for the Lake Combie
Reservoir Sediment and Mercury Removal Project, Grass Valley, CA.
Hodge, R. A. (2017). Towards contribution analysis. Extractive Industries, 369.