Province assessing Atlantic Mining’s submission for cleanup of former gold mine site

Officials with the provincial government are assessing a submission from Atlantic Mining that outlines how the company would cover the balance of costs related to reclamation work at a former gold mine.

A statement from the company says the documents were submitted to the Natural Resources Department on Sept. 27 and followed funding arrangements between Atlantic Mining and its parent company, St Barbara.

“This reclamation security bond underscores Atlantic Mining’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices,” the statement said.

The company has already paid the province $41.2 million toward reclamation costs of the Touquoy gold mine in Moose River, N.S. The balance of $38.7 million was first due on Sept. 3, but the company was granted an extension until the end of the month.

Environment Minister Tim Halman told reporters on Thursday that officials from his department, Natural Resources and a Justice Department lawyer are now reviewing the company’s submission.

“It’s a big legal document that we received,” he said following a cabinet meeting in Halifax. “We need to ensure we’ve done our due diligence of accounting what’s contained in that.”

One of the reasons the company requested the extension was based on concerns that the government had yet to agree to a progressive release of the bond. The company wants to be compensated for work as it is completed.

Halman said his department is still talking with company officials about that request.

The company’s statement says that $7 million has been spent to date on reclamation work, including “major civil works, rehabilitation of already available work areas and water quality modelling.”