Guidelines for preparing mine closure plans in Québec

Guidelines for preparing mine closure plans in Québec  (the Guide), is a tool designed to help mining companies draw up the rehabilitation and restoration plan (subsequently referred to as “closure plan”) required by the Mining Act .

The purpose of the Guide is to provide information on specific aspects of the plan, including its technical content, and on the general requirements for the reclamation of mining sites in Québec. It is divided into three sections.

Chapter I – General information. This chapter briefly describes the individuals and organizations, work and mineral substances to which the reclamation-related provisions of the Mining Act (chapter M-13.1) and the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2) apply.

Chapter II – General reclamation requirements. This chapter lists the main reclamation requirements for sites damaged by mining operation.

Chapter III – Content of the closure plan. This chapter describes the elements that a rehabilitation and closure plan must contain.

The Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles and the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques have recently revised the Guide. The new version reflects recent amendments to the legislation governing mining operation in Québec.

The changes have a direct impact on the preparation of closure plan, which must now address new requirements for mining sites.