Managing Metal Mining Effluent Quality in Canada : Canadian environmental sustainability indicators

Page 3 of 12 Part 1. Managing Metal Mining Effluent Quality in Canada Indicator Promulgated under the Fisheries Act, the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) came into force on December 6, 2002, replacing and expanding the scope of the 1977 Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations. [...] Managing Metal Mining Effluent Quality in Canada Page 4 of 12 In the case of nickel and cyanide, the percentage of regulatory data that did not exceed authorized limits remained above 98% for the 2003–2013 period. [...] This indicator summarizes the results achieved since the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) came into effect in 2002, replacing and expanding the scope of the 1977 Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations. [...] Mines that are subject to the MMER may deposit an effluent that contains a deleterious substance if: (a) the concentration of the deleterious substance in the effluent does not exceed the authorized limits; (b) the pH of the effluent is equal to, or greater than, 6.0 but is not greater than 9.5; and (c) the effluent is not acutely lethal. [...] Starting in 2004, Environment and Climate Change Canada has made the data available through the annual release of the Summary Review of Performance of Metal Mines Subject to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations.