Fact sheet : the Deloro mine site cleanup project

6 Pages·2001·1.6 MB·English

June 2001
Chronology – Deloro Mine Site Cleanup Project Moira River Study: 1999-2001
Ministry of the Environment activities and spending • Ministry begins detailed study of Moira River
system from below Deloro
Ministry of the Environment programs and initiatives
• Mine Site to Bay of Quinte to assess extent and
significance of contamination on aquatic life
Mine Site Cleanup Sealing Mine Shafts and Removing Sludge: and potential health risk for people living The Deloro Mine Site Cleanup Project
1992-95 along the river system
Ordering the company and taking control:
• Ministry locates and secures collapsing mine • Final report, released April 2001 finds no
1978-1979
workings in consultation with Ministry of adverse effect on aquatic life, and little or no
• Ministry of the Environment takes control of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM). health risk for people. Water quality has greatly For 100 years private mining and refining The gold mines closed in the early 1900s and
the mine site in 1979 when the private owners
• Mine openings are sealed with engineered rock improved over the last 35 years in response to Through its cleanup operations at the Deloro Mine Site contributed the site was used to process silver and cobalt ores
fail to comply with Environmental Protection
plugs and concrete shaft caps or backfilled the end of processing activities and the actions the Ministry of to the prosperity of Ontario. But that prosperity from mines in northern Ontario. In the 1930s,
Act cleanup orders and declare a lack of
according to MNDM specifications. ministry’s subsequent cleanup actions at the the Environment has came with a price — serious and extensive 1940s and 1950s, smelted ore was brought
sufficient funds.
• Sludge by-product from the arsenic treatment mine site. reduced the loadings of environmental degradation. The last owners fromEldorado Nuclear Limited in Port Hope for
plant is removed to hazardous waste landfills. arsenic to the Moira abandoned the site in 1979, leaving behind a further refinement to extract the cobalt. Deloro
Controlling arsenic loadings to the Moira
Total Spending to Date: $16 million River by more than complex blend of contamination. The Ministry of was the first plant in the world to produce cobalt
River: 1979-83 Proceeding with Final Remediation Estimated Future Spending: $18 million 80 percent. the Environment made every effort to force the commercially and was also a leading producer of
• Ministry takes action to deal with immediate
company to clean up the site, but when efforts stellite, a cobalt-chromium-tungsten alloy highly
issue of arsenic by engineering and constructing Stage 1 Field Work: 1996-2000
failed, the ministry stepped in to address the valued during the war years. Ores from all over
a collection, storage and treatment system that • Ministry hires Prime Consultant for project
problem. the world were processed in Deloro’s smelter.
removes arsenic and other heavy metals that management and consulting engineering.
Over the last 22 years, the ministry has made Pesticides were produced
are leaching from the site. • In depth investigation of the Industrial, Tailings,
significant progress at the site. As a result of from the arsenic byprod-
Mine, and Young’s Creek areas done to answer
cleanup work the ministry has reduced the amount ucts of the smelting
Demolishing contaminated outstanding questions and identify options for
of arsenic coming off the site by more than operations and contin-
buildings: 1984-86 cleanup of all contaminants.
80 per cent. The final phase of the cleanup will ued as a major activity at
• Contaminated industrial buildings
control and securely contain all types of contami- the site until those prod-
are demolished to remove other Stage 2 Construction: 2001 and ongoing
nation at the site — from arsenic to radioactivity. ucts were replaced by
significant sources of arsenic. • Technical reports are being finalized. Next step
organic pesticides in the
is to draft detailed final cleanup plan.
A century of contamination late 1950s.
Covering red mud tailings: • Consultation on draft plan is targeted for 2001.
Situated where the Canadian Shield intersects the By the time the min-
1986-87 • Tendering for construction work is targeted
Great Lakes lowlands, some 200 kilometres south- ing and refining
• Eight hectares of red mud tailings for 2002.
west of Ottawa and 65 kilometres east of operations were shut
(arsenic contaminated by-product • Cleanup work anticipated to commence in
Peterborough, the Deloro area is rich in mineral down, nearly a century’s worth of hazardous
from smelting process) are 2002. Final cleanup is expected to take
deposits. In 1866, gold was discovered — the byproducts and residues — a complex blend of
covered with 76,000 tonnes of 2-3 years to complete.
name Deloro is based on the Spanish word for toxic compounds, heavy metals and low level
crushed limestone to reduce dust,
Interior of the arsenic gold — and within five years, numerous shafts radioactive wastes — remained on the property.
treatment plant. stabilize the material and reduce leaching of Addressing Off-Site Issues had been sunk and refining facilities had been- Early cleanup efforts also uncovered serious con-
arsenic and heavy metals.
Deloro Village Environmental Health Risk constructed. The extraction of gold was no easy tamination of the site’s soil, surface water and
Study: 1998-1999 task. The gold-bearing ore was bound up with groundwater.
Creating the Strategy for Final Cleanup:
• Ministry conducts a comprehensive environ- arsenic, a potentially dangerous byproduct.
1989-1992
mental health risk study in the village of Deloro
• Ministry finalizes a multi-phase rehabilitation
to assess potential health impact from any
strategy outlining steps necessary to complete
off-site contamination.
the site cleanup.
• Study is conducted in cooperation with the
• Rehabilitation Strategy identifies:
Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health,
- Areas to be remediated – Mine, Industrial,
Ministry of Labour and community
Tailings areas. (Note: Young’s Creek is added
representatives.
as another area for remediation in 1997).
• Final report is released July 1999.
- Information gaps need to be addressed to
Comprehensiveenvironmental sampling and
develop detailed cleanup plans for each area.
urine testing results find the Village of Deloro
- Two critical problems to be addressed
is a safe community.
immediately – establishsafe working conditions
by eliminating mine hazards; remove treatment
plant sludge.
Deloro Mine Site early 1900s. Staff photo at the Silver plant – Deloro, circa 1920s.
Ministry of the Environment 5 Ministry of the Environment GENERAL Printed Pibs: 3777E 01 - 526 2M - 07 - 01 6 Ministry of the Environment 1
©Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2001
The ministry takes control Creating the strategy for cleanup year. Problems that had been identified earlier
The Ministry of the Environment, formed in 1973, The cleanup at the Deloro Mine Site was a work were now studied in greater detail. This phase of
turned its attention to the Deloro Mine Site in the in progress — while there was success at the the work was completed in June 1998.
Ferric arsenate sludge:
late 1970s. In 1978, the ministry issued an order the byproduct of the arsenic treatment plant there was more work to The ministry’s consultants are now working on
under the Environmental Protection Act to force arsenic treatment plant. be done on the site. By 1992 a multi-phase reha- finalizing the technical reports to be used in the
the property’s owner, Erickson Construction bilitation strategy was developed. It provided a development of a final cleanup plan. Consultation
Company Limited, to take steps to control the strategy for the work needed to achieve final site on the final cleanup plan will begin in 2001. Major
discharge of arsenic to the nearby Moira River. remediation. cleanup work will get underway in 2002 subject
The company was operating a treatment plant that The strategy divided the site into the Mine, to the outcome of public consultation.
cut the acidity of wastewaters discharged off-site, Tailings, and Industrial areas and recommended In the final phase of the cleanup, upgrades will
but there was little action being taken to reduce that strategies be developed to address problems be made to the arsenic treatment plant and work
the amount of arsenic going into the river. unique to each area. It also identified information will proceed to stabilize and secure the red mud
Erickson Construction failed to comply with the gaps that had to be addressed in order to develop tailings area. On the west side of the river, the
terms of the ministry order and, in 1979, declared detailed cleanup plans for each area of the site. Surveying the mine site. infrastructure associated with the smelting and
a lack of operating funds. An order was issued Young’s Creek was added as another area for refining plant will be demolished. On-site haz-
against the company to cease operations that remediation based on the investigation work ardous waste disposal facilities will be established to
affected the environment. The company aban- which followed. securely contain contaminated materials currently Deloro Mine Site,
doned the site and the ministry took control of Before work could continue, two problems on the property. The process will take approxi- summer 1997.
the property as remediator of last resort. had to be addressed right away. First, the existing mately two to three years to complete at an
ferric arsenate sludge, a hazardous waste from the estimated cost of $18 million.
Addressing immediate concerns arsenic treatment plant, had to be dealt with. During the sealing of the
When the ministry took control of the site, the On-site storage was not an option because there abandoned mine shafts, Dealing with off-site concerns
an air track drill was used
most pressing concern was the arsenic leaching were no secure hazardous waste containment As part of the overall cleanup project, the ministry
to verify the location and
into the Moira River and the potential threat it systems in place. The material was transported to extent of any underground committed to defining the extent of any off-site
posed to the environment and to communities secure hazardous waste landfills in Quebec and stopes. environmental problems associated with the
downstream. The goal was to address the Ontario. Deloro Mine Site, including the potential for
immediate sources of contamination and to reduce The other major concern was worker safety. contamination in the former village of Deloro and The Moira River.
runoff to the Moira River. The ministry focused its Abandoned mine shafts and other mine hazards in the Moira River watershed. Soil samples taken
initial efforts on upgrading the existing wastewater were scattered over the site’s 242 hectares, with beyond the boundaries of the mine site in late report, released in April 2001 found that despite
plant. Plans were developed for the creation of a The Deloro Mine Site little information on their number or precise loca- 1997 showed the presence of arsenic, cobalt, the presence of historical contamination in the
new arsenic treatment plant, and by 1983 the about 1983, before the tion. Further environmental cleanup work over nickel, silver and other heavy metals. Airborne river system, there is no adverse effect on aquatic
collection, storage and treatment facility was in red mud tailings were much of the property could not proceed until the Seven major mine shafts pollutants released during nearly 100 years of life and little or no health concern for residents.
operation. Additional pumping stations were covered. mine workings were located and sealed. were fitted with reinforced mining and refining are the most likely cause of The ministry is maintaining contact and con-
installed in 1984 and 1985 to collect groundwater In 1992, in consultation with the Ministry of concrete shaft caps this contamination. sultation with those groups, agencies and people
according to the Ministry
from other contaminated areas. Containment and Northern Development and Mines, the ministry These preliminary findings were reviewed with who are potentially affected by their proximity to
of Northern Development
leachate collection facilities established by the undertook an in-depth review of local mining and Mine’s standard shaft the local Medical Officer of Health and, after the Deloro Mine Site. The ministry meets with
ministry are now operated on contract by the claims and historical data to locate and identify cap design. consultation, the ministry concluded there was a three project liaison committees to keep them
Covering the red mud tail-
Ontario Clean Water Agency. ings with crushed the collapsing mine shafts. Land surveys were need for further investigation. In 1998, the informed and to gather input and comments on
The ministry also tackled other major sources limestone. conducted and ground-penetrating radar was ministry, in cooperation with the Hastings and the cleanup.
of arsenic on the site. A number of contaminated used to pinpoint underground workings. By 1995, Prince Edward Counties Health Unit and the The ministry’s efforts to this point have signifi-
industrial buildings, used for collecting and pro- property are used to assess groundwater contami- all mine shafts had been located, secured, and Ministry of Health, launched the Deloro Village cantly decreased arsenic concentrations and
cessing arsenic in the smelting days were nation. Depending on the location of the sampling either fitted with reinforced concrete shaft caps, Environmental Health Risk Study. The study exam- loadings to the Moira River, but more work is
demolished. The areas where these structures station, samples are taken hourly, daily, weekly, or backfilled according to the specifications of the ined total exposure to contaminants through air, needed. The final cleanup plan will be designed
stood were regraded and seeded. Eight hectares monthly or quarterly. Water is also carefully moni- Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. soil, drinking water and food to determine if to result in the control and secure containment of
of red mud tailings, the arsenic contaminated tored as it enters and leaves the treatment plant. The project took three years to complete, with elevated levels of contaminants were present. It all types of contamination at the site — from
byproduct from the smelting process, were cov- Ongoing monitoring shows that arsenic funding assistance from Environment Canada and also examined the potential for health risks in the arsenic to radioactivity.
ered to a depth of 0.5 metres with approximately concentrations in the Moira River have been the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. community. The final report, released in July 1999,
76,000 tonnes of crushed limestone in order to substantially reduced since the ministry took found the village is a safe community– there is no For more information, please contact:
eliminate wind and surface water erosion, elevate control of the site. In 1979, the annual average of Finishing the cleanup significant link between contamination and health Ministry of the Environment
the pH of the tailings and stabilize the containment arsenic escaping into the river was 52.1 kilograms With the site safe for workers, the ministry could risk for the people living in Deloro. Public Information Centre
dams. a day. Since the arsenic treatment plant was put proceed with the necessary field work to fill in In December 1998, the ministry also launched 135 St. Clair Ave. W.
An extensive sampling network is in place to in operation in 1983, the arsenic going into the information gaps, and determine the best options A diamond bit drill took a detailed study of the Moira River system to Toronto ON M4V 1P5
monitor surface and groundwater quality at the river has been reduced by more than 80 per cent, for the final cleanup, containment and manage- core samples that were examine the environmental impact of historical Tel: [phone]
used to assess the stability
Deloro site. A series of collection stations on the to an average amount of less than10 kilograms a ment of on-site contaminants. An engineering contamination from the abandoned mine site on Fax: [phone]
of the crown pillars
Moira River and Young’s Creek provide information day. consulting firm was hired in April 1997 and (i.e. ground above the old the Moira River. The draft report, released for Toll free number: 1-800-565-4923
on surface water, while monitoring wells on the in-depth field investigations began in June of that mining stopes). public consultation August 2000, and the final Internet: www.ene.gov.on.ca
Ministry of the Environment 2 Ministry of the Environment 3 Ministry of the Environment 4
The ministry takes control Creating the strategy for cleanup year. Problems that had been identified earlier
The Ministry of the Environment, formed in 1973, The cleanup at the Deloro Mine Site was a work were now studied in greater detail. This phase of
turned its attention to the Deloro Mine Site in the in progress — while there was success at the the work was completed in June 1998.
Ferric arsenate sludge:
late 1970s. In 1978, the ministry issued an order the byproduct of the arsenic treatment plant there was more work to The ministry’s consultants are now working on
under the Environmental Protection Act to force arsenic treatment plant. be done on the site. By 1992 a multi-phase reha- finalizing the technical reports to be used in the
the property’s owner, Erickson Construction bilitation strategy was developed. It provided a development of a final cleanup plan. Consultation
Company Limited, to take steps to control the strategy for the work needed to achieve final site on the final cleanup plan will begin in 2001. Major
discharge of arsenic to the nearby Moira River. remediation. cleanup work will get underway in 2002 subject
The company was operating a treatment plant that The strategy divided the site into the Mine, to the outcome of public consultation.
cut the acidity of wastewaters discharged off-site, Tailings, and Industrial areas and recommended In the final phase of the cleanup, upgrades will
but there was little action being taken to reduce that strategies be developed to address problems be made to the arsenic treatment plant and work
the amount of arsenic going into the river. unique to each area. It also identified information will proceed to stabilize and secure the red mud
Erickson Construction failed to comply with the gaps that had to be addressed in order to develop tailings area. On the west side of the river, the
terms of the ministry order and, in 1979, declared detailed cleanup plans for each area of the site. Surveying the mine site. infrastructure associated with the smelting and
a lack of operating funds. An order was issued Young’s Creek was added as another area for refining plant will be demolished. On-site haz-
against the company to cease operations that remediation based on the investigation work ardous waste disposal facilities will be established to
affected the environment. The company aban- which followed. securely contain contaminated materials currently Deloro Mine Site,
doned the site and the ministry took control of Before work could continue, two problems on the property. The process will take approxi- summer 1997.
the property as remediator of last resort. had to be addressed right away. First, the existing mately two to three years to complete at an
ferric arsenate sludge, a hazardous waste from the estimated cost of $18 million.
Addressing immediate concerns arsenic treatment plant, had to be dealt with. During the sealing of the
When the ministry took control of the site, the On-site storage was not an option because there abandoned mine shafts, Dealing with off-site concerns
an air track drill was used
most pressing concern was the arsenic leaching were no secure hazardous waste containment As part of the overall cleanup project, the ministry
to verify the location and
into the Moira River and the potential threat it systems in place. The material was transported to extent of any underground committed to defining the extent of any off-site
posed to the environment and to communities secure hazardous waste landfills in Quebec and stopes. environmental problems associated with the
downstream. The goal was to address the Ontario. Deloro Mine Site, including the potential for
immediate sources of contamination and to reduce The other major concern was worker safety. contamination in the former village of Deloro and The Moira River.
runoff to the Moira River. The ministry focused its Abandoned mine shafts and other mine hazards in the Moira River watershed. Soil samples taken
initial efforts on upgrading the existing wastewater were scattered over the site’s 242 hectares, with beyond the boundaries of the mine site in late report, released in April 2001 found that despite
plant. Plans were developed for the creation of a The Deloro Mine Site little information on their number or precise loca- 1997 showed the presence of arsenic, cobalt, the presence of historical contamination in the
new arsenic treatment plant, and by 1983 the about 1983, before the tion. Further environmental cleanup work over nickel, silver and other heavy metals. Airborne river system, there is no adverse effect on aquatic
collection, storage and treatment facility was in red mud tailings were much of the property could not proceed until the Seven major mine shafts pollutants released during nearly 100 years of life and little or no health concern for residents.
operation. Additional pumping stations were covered. mine workings were located and sealed. were fitted with reinforced mining and refining are the most likely cause of The ministry is maintaining contact and con-
installed in 1984 and 1985 to collect groundwater In 1992, in consultation with the Ministry of concrete shaft caps this contamination. sultation with those groups, agencies and people
according to the Ministry
from other contaminated areas. Containment and Northern Development and Mines, the ministry These preliminary findings were reviewed with who are potentially affected by their proximity to
of Northern Development
leachate collection facilities established by the undertook an in-depth review of local mining and Mine’s standard shaft the local Medical Officer of Health and, after the Deloro Mine Site. The ministry meets with
ministry are now operated on contract by the claims and historical data to locate and identify cap design. consultation, the ministry concluded there was a three project liaison committees to keep them
Covering the red mud tail-
Ontario Clean Water Agency. ings with crushed the collapsing mine shafts. Land surveys were need for further investigation. In 1998, the informed and to gather input and comments on
The ministry also tackled other major sources limestone. conducted and ground-penetrating radar was ministry, in cooperation with the Hastings and the cleanup.
of arsenic on the site. A number of contaminated used to pinpoint underground workings. By 1995, Prince Edward Counties Health Unit and the The ministry’s efforts to this point have signifi-
industrial buildings, used for collecting and pro- property are used to assess groundwater contami- all mine shafts had been located, secured, and Ministry of Health, launched the Deloro Village cantly decreased arsenic concentrations and
cessing arsenic in the smelting days were nation. Depending on the location of the sampling either fitted with reinforced concrete shaft caps, Environmental Health Risk Study. The study exam- loadings to the Moira River, but more work is
demolished. The areas where these structures station, samples are taken hourly, daily, weekly, or backfilled according to the specifications of the ined total exposure to contaminants through air, needed. The final cleanup plan will be designed
stood were regraded and seeded. Eight hectares monthly or quarterly. Water is also carefully moni- Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. soil, drinking water and food to determine if to result in the control and secure containment of
of red mud tailings, the arsenic contaminated tored as it enters and leaves the treatment plant. The project took three years to complete, with elevated levels of contaminants were present. It all types of contamination at the site — from
byproduct from the smelting process, were cov- Ongoing monitoring shows that arsenic funding assistance from Environment Canada and also examined the potential for health risks in the arsenic to radioactivity.
ered to a depth of 0.5 metres with approximately concentrations in the Moira River have been the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. community. The final report, released in July 1999,
76,000 tonnes of crushed limestone in order to substantially reduced since the ministry took found the village is a safe community– there is no For more information, please contact:
eliminate wind and surface water erosion, elevate control of the site. In 1979, the annual average of Finishing the cleanup significant link between contamination and health Ministry of the Environment
the pH of the tailings and stabilize the containment arsenic escaping into the river was 52.1 kilograms With the site safe for workers, the ministry could risk for the people living in Deloro. Public Information Centre
dams. a day. Since the arsenic treatment plant was put proceed with the necessary field work to fill in In December 1998, the ministry also launched 135 St. Clair Ave. W.
An extensive sampling network is in place to in operation in 1983, the arsenic going into the information gaps, and determine the best options A diamond bit drill took a detailed study of the Moira River system to Toronto ON M4V 1P5
monitor surface and groundwater quality at the river has been reduced by more than 80 per cent, for the final cleanup, containment and manage- core samples that were examine the environmental impact of historical Tel: [phone]
used to assess the stability
Deloro site. A series of collection stations on the to an average amount of less than10 kilograms a ment of on-site contaminants. An engineering contamination from the abandoned mine site on Fax: [phone]
of the crown pillars
Moira River and Young’s Creek provide information day. consulting firm was hired in April 1997 and (i.e. ground above the old the Moira River. The draft report, released for Toll free number: 1-800-565-4923
on surface water, while monitoring wells on the in-depth field investigations began in June of that mining stopes). public consultation August 2000, and the final Internet: www.ene.gov.on.ca
Ministry of the Environment 2 Ministry of the Environment 3 Ministry of the Environment 4
The ministry takes control Creating the strategy for cleanup year. Problems that had been identified earlier
The Ministry of the Environment, formed in 1973, The cleanup at the Deloro Mine Site was a work were now studied in greater detail. This phase of
turned its attention to the Deloro Mine Site in the in progress — while there was success at the the work was completed in June 1998.
Ferric arsenate sludge:
late 1970s. In 1978, the ministry issued an order the byproduct of the arsenic treatment plant there was more work to The ministry’s consultants are now working on
under the Environmental Protection Act to force arsenic treatment plant. be done on the site. By 1992 a multi-phase reha- finalizing the technical reports to be used in the
the property’s owner, Erickson Construction bilitation strategy was developed. It provided a development of a final cleanup plan. Consultation
Company Limited, to take steps to control the strategy for the work needed to achieve final site on the final cleanup plan will begin in 2001. Major
discharge of arsenic to the nearby Moira River. remediation. cleanup work will get underway in 2002 subject
The company was operating a treatment plant that The strategy divided the site into the Mine, to the outcome of public consultation.
cut the acidity of wastewaters discharged off-site, Tailings, and Industrial areas and recommended In the final phase of the cleanup, upgrades will
but there was little action being taken to reduce that strategies be developed to address problems be made to the arsenic treatment plant and work
the amount of arsenic going into the river. unique to each area. It also identified information will proceed to stabilize and secure the red mud
Erickson Construction failed to comply with the gaps that had to be addressed in order to develop tailings area. On the west side of the river, the
terms of the ministry order and, in 1979, declared detailed cleanup plans for each area of the site. Surveying the mine site. infrastructure associated with the smelting and
a lack of operating funds. An order was issued Young’s Creek was added as another area for refining plant will be demolished. On-site haz-
against the company to cease operations that remediation based on the investigation work ardous waste disposal facilities will be established to
affected the environment. The company aban- which followed. securely contain contaminated materials currently Deloro Mine Site,
doned the site and the ministry took control of Before work could continue, two problems on the property. The process will take approxi- summer 1997.
the property as remediator of last resort. had to be addressed right away. First, the existing mately two to three years to complete at an
ferric arsenate sludge, a hazardous waste from the estimated cost of $18 million.
Addressing immediate concerns arsenic treatment plant, had to be dealt with. During the sealing of the
When the ministry took control of the site, the On-site storage was not an option because there abandoned mine shafts, Dealing with off-site concerns
an air track drill was used
most pressing concern was the arsenic leaching were no secure hazardous waste containment As part of the overall cleanup project, the ministry
to verify the location and
into the Moira River and the potential threat it systems in place. The material was transported to extent of any underground committed to defining the extent of any off-site
posed to the environment and to communities secure hazardous waste landfills in Quebec and stopes. environmental problems associated with the
downstream. The goal was to address the Ontario. Deloro Mine Site, including the potential for
immediate sources of contamination and to reduce The other major concern was worker safety. contamination in the former village of Deloro and The Moira River.
runoff to the Moira River. The ministry focused its Abandoned mine shafts and other mine hazards in the Moira River watershed. Soil samples taken
initial efforts on upgrading the existing wastewater were scattered over the site’s 242 hectares, with beyond the boundaries of the mine site in late report, released in April 2001 found that despite
plant. Plans were developed for the creation of a The Deloro Mine Site little information on their number or precise loca- 1997 showed the presence of arsenic, cobalt, the presence of historical contamination in the
new arsenic treatment plant, and by 1983 the about 1983, before the tion. Further environmental cleanup work over nickel, silver and other heavy metals. Airborne river system, there is no adverse effect on aquatic
collection, storage and treatment facility was in red mud tailings were much of the property could not proceed until the Seven major mine shafts pollutants released during nearly 100 years of life and little or no health concern for residents.
operation. Additional pumping stations were covered. mine workings were located and sealed. were fitted with reinforced mining and refining are the most likely cause of The ministry is maintaining contact and con-
installed in 1984 and 1985 to collect groundwater In 1992, in consultation with the Ministry of concrete shaft caps this contamination. sultation with those groups, agencies and people
according to the Ministry
from other contaminated areas. Containment and Northern Development and Mines, the ministry These preliminary findings were reviewed with who are potentially affected by their proximity to
of Northern Development
leachate collection facilities established by the undertook an in-depth review of local mining and Mine’s standard shaft the local Medical Officer of Health and, after the Deloro Mine Site. The ministry meets with
ministry are now operated on contract by the claims and historical data to locate and identify cap design. consultation, the ministry concluded there was a three project liaison committees to keep them
Covering the red mud tail-
Ontario Clean Water Agency. ings with crushed the collapsing mine shafts. Land surveys were need for further investigation. In 1998, the informed and to gather input and comments on
The ministry also tackled other major sources limestone. conducted and ground-penetrating radar was ministry, in cooperation with the Hastings and the cleanup.
of arsenic on the site. A number of contaminated used to pinpoint underground workings. By 1995, Prince Edward Counties Health Unit and the The ministry’s efforts to this point have signifi-
industrial buildings, used for collecting and pro- property are used to assess groundwater contami- all mine shafts had been located, secured, and Ministry of Health, launched the Deloro Village cantly decreased arsenic concentrations and
cessing arsenic in the smelting days were nation. Depending on the location of the sampling either fitted with reinforced concrete shaft caps, Environmental Health Risk Study. The study exam- loadings to the Moira River, but more work is
demolished. The areas where these structures station, samples are taken hourly, daily, weekly, or backfilled according to the specifications of the ined total exposure to contaminants through air, needed. The final cleanup plan will be designed
stood were regraded and seeded. Eight hectares monthly or quarterly. Water is also carefully moni- Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. soil, drinking water and food to determine if to result in the control and secure containment of
of red mud tailings, the arsenic contaminated tored as it enters and leaves the treatment plant. The project took three years to complete, with elevated levels of contaminants were present. It all types of contamination at the site — from
byproduct from the smelting process, were cov- Ongoing monitoring shows that arsenic funding assistance from Environment Canada and also examined the potential for health risks in the arsenic to radioactivity.
ered to a depth of 0.5 metres with approximately concentrations in the Moira River have been the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. community. The final report, released in July 1999,
76,000 tonnes of crushed limestone in order to substantially reduced since the ministry took found the village is a safe community– there is no For more information, please contact:
eliminate wind and surface water erosion, elevate control of the site. In 1979, the annual average of Finishing the cleanup significant link between contamination and health Ministry of the Environment
the pH of the tailings and stabilize the containment arsenic escaping into the river was 52.1 kilograms With the site safe for workers, the ministry could risk for the people living in Deloro. Public Information Centre
dams. a day. Since the arsenic treatment plant was put proceed with the necessary field work to fill in In December 1998, the ministry also launched 135 St. Clair Ave. W.
An extensive sampling network is in place to in operation in 1983, the arsenic going into the information gaps, and determine the best options A diamond bit drill took a detailed study of the Moira River system to Toronto ON M4V 1P5
monitor surface and groundwater quality at the river has been reduced by more than 80 per cent, for the final cleanup, containment and manage- core samples that were examine the environmental impact of historical Tel: [phone]
used to assess the stability
Deloro site. A series of collection stations on the to an average amount of less than10 kilograms a ment of on-site contaminants. An engineering contamination from the abandoned mine site on Fax: [phone]
of the crown pillars
Moira River and Young’s Creek provide information day. consulting firm was hired in April 1997 and (i.e. ground above the old the Moira River. The draft report, released for Toll free number: 1-800-565-4923
on surface water, while monitoring wells on the in-depth field investigations began in June of that mining stopes). public consultation August 2000, and the final Internet: www.ene.gov.on.ca
Ministry of the Environment 2 Ministry of the Environment 3 Ministry of the Environment 4
June 2001
Chronology – Deloro Mine Site Cleanup Project Moira River Study: 1999-2001
Ministry of the Environment activities and spending • Ministry begins detailed study of Moira River
system from below Deloro
Ministry of the Environment programs and initiatives
• Mine Site to Bay of Quinte to assess extent and
significance of contamination on aquatic life
Mine Site Cleanup Sealing Mine Shafts and Removing Sludge: and potential health risk for people living The Deloro Mine Site Cleanup Project
1992-95 along the river system
Ordering the company and taking control:
• Ministry locates and secures collapsing mine • Final report, released April 2001 finds no
1978-1979
workings in consultation with Ministry of adverse effect on aquatic life, and little or no
• Ministry of the Environment takes control of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM). health risk for people. Water quality has greatly For 100 years private mining and refining The gold mines closed in the early 1900s and
the mine site in 1979 when the private owners
• Mine openings are sealed with engineered rock improved over the last 35 years in response to Through its cleanup operations at the Deloro Mine Site contributed the site was used to process silver and cobalt ores
fail to comply with Environmental Protection
plugs and concrete shaft caps or backfilled the end of processing activities and the actions the Ministry of to the prosperity of Ontario. But that prosperity from mines in northern Ontario. In the 1930s,
Act cleanup orders and declare a lack of
according to MNDM specifications. ministry’s subsequent cleanup actions at the the Environment has came with a price — serious and extensive 1940s and 1950s, smelted ore was brought
sufficient funds.
• Sludge by-product from the arsenic treatment mine site. reduced the loadings of environmental degradation. The last owners fromEldorado Nuclear Limited in Port Hope for
plant is removed to hazardous waste landfills. arsenic to the Moira abandoned the site in 1979, leaving behind a further refinement to extract the cobalt. Deloro
Controlling arsenic loadings to the Moira
Total Spending to Date: $16 million River by more than complex blend of contamination. The Ministry of was the first plant in the world to produce cobalt
River: 1979-83 Proceeding with Final Remediation Estimated Future Spending: $18 million 80 percent. the Environment made every effort to force the commercially and was also a leading producer of
• Ministry takes action to deal with immediate
company to clean up the site, but when efforts stellite, a cobalt-chromium-tungsten alloy highly
issue of arsenic by engineering and constructing Stage 1 Field Work: 1996-2000
failed, the ministry stepped in to address the valued during the war years. Ores from all over
a collection, storage and treatment system that • Ministry hires Prime Consultant for project
problem. the world were processed in Deloro’s smelter.
removes arsenic and other heavy metals that management and consulting engineering.
Over the last 22 years, the ministry has made Pesticides were produced
are leaching from the site. • In depth investigation of the Industrial, Tailings,
significant progress at the site. As a result of from the arsenic byprod-
Mine, and Young’s Creek areas done to answer
cleanup work the ministry has reduced the amount ucts of the smelting
Demolishing contaminated outstanding questions and identify options for
of arsenic coming off the site by more than operations and contin-
buildings: 1984-86 cleanup of all contaminants.
80 per cent. The final phase of the cleanup will ued as a major activity at
• Contaminated industrial buildings
control and securely contain all types of contami- the site until those prod-
are demolished to remove other Stage 2 Construction: 2001 and ongoing
nation at the site — from arsenic to radioactivity. ucts were replaced by
significant sources of arsenic. • Technical reports are being finalized. Next step
organic pesticides in the
is to draft detailed final cleanup plan.
A century of contamination late 1950s.
Covering red mud tailings: • Consultation on draft plan is targeted for 2001.
Situated where the Canadian Shield intersects the By the time the min-
1986-87 • Tendering for construction work is targeted
Great Lakes lowlands, some 200 kilometres south- ing and refining
• Eight hectares of red mud tailings for 2002.
west of Ottawa and 65 kilometres east of operations were shut
(arsenic contaminated by-product • Cleanup work anticipated to commence in
Peterborough, the Deloro area is rich in mineral down, nearly a century’s worth of hazardous
from smelting process) are 2002. Final cleanup is expected to take
deposits. In 1866, gold was discovered — the byproducts and residues — a complex blend of
covered with 76,000 tonnes of 2-3 years to complete.
name Deloro is based on the Spanish word for toxic compounds, heavy metals and low level
crushed limestone to reduce dust,
Interior of the arsenic gold — and within five years, numerous shafts radioactive wastes — remained on the property.
treatment plant. stabilize the material and reduce leaching of Addressing Off-Site Issues had been sunk and refining facilities had been- Early cleanup efforts also uncovered serious con-
arsenic and heavy metals.
Deloro Village Environmental Health Risk constructed. The extraction of gold was no easy tamination of the site’s soil, surface water and
Study: 1998-1999 task. The gold-bearing ore was bound up with groundwater.
Creating the Strategy for Final Cleanup:
• Ministry conducts a comprehensive environ- arsenic, a potentially dangerous byproduct.
1989-1992
mental health risk study in the village of Deloro
• Ministry finalizes a multi-phase rehabilitation
to assess potential health impact from any
strategy outlining steps necessary to complete
off-site contamination.
the site cleanup.
• Study is conducted in cooperation with the
• Rehabilitation Strategy identifies:
Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health,
- Areas to be remediated – Mine, Industrial,
Ministry of Labour and community
Tailings areas. (Note: Young’s Creek is added
representatives.
as another area for remediation in 1997).
• Final report is released July 1999.
- Information gaps need to be addressed to
Comprehensiveenvironmental sampling and
develop detailed cleanup plans for each area.
urine testing results find the Village of Deloro
- Two critical problems to be addressed
is a safe community.
immediately – establishsafe working conditions
by eliminating mine hazards; remove treatment
plant sludge.
Deloro Mine Site early 1900s. Staff photo at the Silver plant – Deloro, circa 1920s.
Ministry of the Environment 5 Ministry of the Environment GENERAL Printed Pibs: 3777E 01 - 526 2M - 07 - 01 6 Ministry of the Environment 1
©Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2001
June 2001
Chronology – Deloro Mine Site Cleanup Project Moira River Study: 1999-2001
Ministry of the Environment activities and spending • Ministry begins detailed study of Moira River
system from below Deloro
Ministry of the Environment programs and initiatives
• Mine Site to Bay of Quinte to assess extent and
significance of contamination on aquatic life
Mine Site Cleanup Sealing Mine Shafts and Removing Sludge: and potential health risk for people living The Deloro Mine Site Cleanup Project
1992-95 along the river system
Ordering the company and taking control:
• Ministry locates and secures collapsing mine • Final report, released April 2001 finds no
1978-1979
workings in consultation with Ministry of adverse effect on aquatic life, and little or no
• Ministry of the Environment takes control of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM). health risk for people. Water quality has greatly For 100 years private mining and refining The gold mines closed in the early 1900s and
the mine site in 1979 when the private owners
• Mine openings are sealed with engineered rock improved over the last 35 years in response to Through its cleanup operations at the Deloro Mine Site contributed the site was used to process silver and cobalt ores
fail to comply with Environmental Protection
plugs and concrete shaft caps or backfilled the end of processing activities and the actions the Ministry of to the prosperity of Ontario. But that prosperity from mines in northern Ontario. In the 1930s,
Act cleanup orders and declare a lack of
according to MNDM specifications. ministry’s subsequent cleanup actions at the the Environment has came with a price — serious and extensive 1940s and 1950s, smelted ore was brought
sufficient funds.
• Sludge by-product from the arsenic treatment mine site. reduced the loadings of environmental degradation. The last owners fromEldorado Nuclear Limited in Port Hope for
plant is removed to hazardous waste landfills. arsenic to the Moira abandoned the site in 1979, leaving behind a further refinement to extract the cobalt. Deloro
Controlling arsenic loadings to the Moira
Total Spending to Date: $16 million River by more than complex blend of contamination. The Ministry of was the first plant in the world to produce cobalt
River: 1979-83 Proceeding with Final Remediation Estimated Future Spending: $18 million 80 percent. the Environment made every effort to force the commercially and was also a leading producer of
• Ministry takes action to deal with immediate
company to clean up the site, but when efforts stellite, a cobalt-chromium-tungsten alloy highly
issue of arsenic by engineering and constructing Stage 1 Field Work: 1996-2000
failed, the ministry stepped in to address the valued during the war years. Ores from all over
a collection, storage and treatment system that • Ministry hires Prime Consultant for project
problem. the world were processed in Deloro’s smelter.
removes arsenic and other heavy metals that management and consulting engineering.
Over the last 22 years, the ministry has made Pesticides were produced
are leaching from the site. • In depth investigation of the Industrial, Tailings,
significant progress at the site. As a result of from the arsenic byprod-
Mine, and Young’s Creek areas done to answer
cleanup work the ministry has reduced the amount ucts of the smelting
Demolishing contaminated outstanding questions and identify options for
of arsenic coming off the site by more than operations and contin-
buildings: 1984-86 cleanup of all contaminants.
80 per cent. The final phase of the cleanup will ued as a major activity at
• Contaminated industrial buildings
control and securely contain all types of contami- the site until those prod-
are demolished to remove other Stage 2 Construction: 2001 and ongoing
nation at the site — from arsenic to radioactivity. ucts were replaced by
significant sources of arsenic. • Technical reports are being finalized. Next step
organic pesticides in the
is to draft detailed final cleanup plan.
A century of contamination late 1950s.
Covering red mud tailings: • Consultation on draft plan is targeted for 2001.
Situated where the Canadian Shield intersects the By the time the min-
1986-87 • Tendering for construction work is targeted
Great Lakes lowlands, some 200 kilometres south- ing and refining
• Eight hectares of red mud tailings for 2002.
west of Ottawa and 65 kilometres east of operations were shut
(arsenic contaminated by-product • Cleanup work anticipated to commence in
Peterborough, the Deloro area is rich in mineral down, nearly a century’s worth of hazardous
from smelting process) are 2002. Final cleanup is expected to take
deposits. In 1866, gold was discovered — the byproducts and residues — a complex blend of
covered with 76,000 tonnes of 2-3 years to complete.
name Deloro is based on the Spanish word for toxic compounds, heavy metals and low level
crushed limestone to reduce dust,
Interior of the arsenic gold — and within five years, numerous shafts radioactive wastes — remained on the property.
treatment plant. stabilize the material and reduce leaching of Addressing Off-Site Issues had been sunk and refining facilities had been- Early cleanup efforts also uncovered serious con-
arsenic and heavy metals.
Deloro Village Environmental Health Risk constructed. The extraction of gold was no easy tamination of the site’s soil, surface water and
Study: 1998-1999 task. The gold-bearing ore was bound up with groundwater.
Creating the Strategy for Final Cleanup:
• Ministry conducts a comprehensive environ- arsenic, a potentially dangerous byproduct.
1989-1992
mental health risk study in the village of Deloro
• Ministry finalizes a multi-phase rehabilitation
to assess potential health impact from any
strategy outlining steps necessary to complete
off-site contamination.
the site cleanup.
• Study is conducted in cooperation with the
• Rehabilitation Strategy identifies:
Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health,
- Areas to be remediated – Mine, Industrial,
Ministry of Labour and community
Tailings areas. (Note: Young’s Creek is added
representatives.
as another area for remediation in 1997).
• Final report is released July 1999.
- Information gaps need to be addressed to
Comprehensiveenvironmental sampling and
develop detailed cleanup plans for each area.
urine testing results find the Village of Deloro
- Two critical problems to be addressed
is a safe community.
immediately – establishsafe working conditions
by eliminating mine hazards; remove treatment
plant sludge.
Deloro Mine Site early 1900s. Staff photo at the Silver plant – Deloro, circa 1920s.
Ministry of the Environment 5 Ministry of the Environment GENERAL Printed Pibs: 3777E 01 - 526 2M - 07 - 01 6 Ministry of the Environment 1
©Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2001