A note on reclamation

Often just a losing battle.

Google Earth image

Katie Morrison of CPAWS writes:

While there is some un-reclaimed areas on the Grassy Mountain Project site, the company is proposing to expand the disturbed area by 8-9 times. Active mining activity would be completed within a 25 year period. Even with progressive reclamation, Alces simulations indicate that 75% of the disturbed site would remain unreclaimed by Year 50.

There is great uncertainty about the costs of reclamation and whether mines in the Eastern Slopes could ever be fully reclaimed to an acceptable standard. Based on the very high costs of reclamation, this could lead to a scenario where the company does not have the funds to cover reclamation activities and reclamation liabilities, putting the taxpayer at risk.

It makes no economic or environmental sense to increase the disturbance and thus the liability by 8-9 times just to reclaim an area that should be reclaimed regardless.