Conditional Filing Order - Macassa Mine

ERO number
025-1184
Notice type
Bulletin
Act
Mining Act, R.S.O. 1990
Posted by
Ministry of Energy and Mines
Bulletin posted
Last updated

This notice is for informational purposes only. There is no requirement to consult on this initiative on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. Learn more about the types of notices on the registry.

Bulletin summary

The Ministry has received a request for conditional filing. A conditional filing order allows a proponent (Agnico Eagle Mines Limited) to submit a closure plan or closure plan amendment that does not meet all statutory requirements at the time of submission.

Why consultation isn't required

Conditional Filing Orders are not currently prescribed as an instrument under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993.

Bulletin details

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (the “Proponent”) has submitted a request for a conditional filing order to the Ministry under Part VII of the Mining Act (the “Act”). A conditional filing order allows a proponent to submit a closure plan (CP) or closure plan amendment (CPA) that does not meet all statutory requirements at the time of submission.

The Minister may issue a conditional filing order for a CP or CPA if, before the proponent submits the CP or CPA, the proponent submits a request for the order in the prescribed form and manner, and the Minister determines that the order would be consistent with the purposes of the Act.

All conditional filing orders must include terms and conditions, including the mandatory condition that the proponent meet the outstanding requirements within a specified time and manner, and any other terms or conditions the Minister considers appropriate.

The Proponent has applied for a conditional filing order that would allow it to omit the following required items from its closure plan amendment submission:

  1. An updated crown pillar stability assessment.
  2. An updated chemical characterization for the site, which will inform a ML/ARD management plan.
  3. A study to re-evaluate the dam classification of the TSF and 5-year NTSF dams under Passive Closure conditions.

The delayed submission of the requirement(s) will not impair the proponent’s ability to determine adequate rehabilitation measures for all mine hazards associated with the project for the following reasons:

  1. Study to be submitted by August 2026. There are no shallow workings for the Macassa underground workings therefore crown pillar instability is considered a very low risk.
  2. Program completion anticipated in early 2026. The overall results of the geochemical and water quality investigation, as informed by historical preliminary characterization, suggest that there is little risk of acid generation for the tailings present within the closure boundary. Similarly, historical testing of site waste rock indicates that the waste rock is dominantly non-potentially acid generating.
  3. Study to be completed by the end of 2026. The TSF and the 5-Year NTSF dams have been shown to have acceptable stability Factors of Safety under operations and active closure conditions.

This notice is provided to receive comments that can be considered in the decision-making process.

If issued, the conditional filing order does not relieve the proponent from compliance with any other requirements that are set out under the Mining Act, its regulations, or any other Act.

Supporting materials

View materials in person

Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.

Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.

Mineral Development Office (Timmins)
Address

5520 Highway 101 E Highway
PO Box 3060
South Porcupine Ontario, ON
P0N 1H0
Canada

Office phone number

Connect with us

Contact

Katrina Lauzon

Phone number
Office
Mineral Development Office (Northeast), Ontario Government Complex
Address

5520 Highway 101 East
PO Box 3060
South Porcupine, ON
P0N 1H0
Canada

Sign up for notifications

We will send you email notifications with any updates related to this consultation. You can change your notification preferences anytime by visiting settings in your profile page.

Follow this notice