Located in and around Timmins, Ont. within Treaty 9 territory, the Newmont Porcupine operations are part of a historic mining district that has long been a cornerstone of the local economy (the region has produced more than 67 million ounces of gold since 1910). After more than a century of mining, the next phase of operations at the Newmont Porcupine mine is an opportunity to regreen the region, improve site water management, and support the local watersheds in partnership with local communities.
Covering 100 square kilometres, the Newmont Porcupine portfolio includes dozens of historic mine properties that Newmont is reclaiming so the land can be used productively by local communities. Whereas closure has historically been an end-of-mine-life consideration, Newmont plans early with the end in mind and engages in progressive reclamation during operations. When reclaiming a historic mine property called Aunor A, for example, the Newmont Porcupine team engaged our signatory First Nations communities (Mattagami, Matachewan, Apitipi Anicinapek, and Flying Post First Nations) at an early stage to incorporate Indigenous community teachings and learnings. The overall remediation budget of $11 million was spent locally, with the work carried out by a First Nations business partner and contractor that was founded to create economic opportunities and stems for Newmont’s Resource Development Agreement with the four signatory communities.
The Newmont Porcupine team regularly includes community perspectives on land use. For example, Porcupine has convened the Hollinger Project Community Advisory Committee for more than a decade to engage and document a broad range of community, municipal, and industry perspectives about our social, environmental, and operational performance and contemplate future land use planning. The site also participates in the Integrated Watershed Committee, which is chaired by the local Mattagami Region Conservation Authority and is preparing a scope of work for a consulting firm to develop an integrated watershed management plan that will allow companies to share and benefit from a broader set of data.
Newmont is proud to support the past, present, and future of the Porcupine operations and is making landmark investments to demonstrate that commitment. In preparation for a proposed return to operations at a previously mined site, Pamour, the mine has designed and constructed a water collection system to capture run-off with various ditches, excavated sumps, and sheet pile walls. Throughout 2021 and 2022, Newmont invested $160 million into a state-of-the-art water treatment plant that will facilitate the dewatering of the open pit to allow for resumed operations while providing treatment prior to final discharge. Once operational, the plant will have among the lowest effluent discharge limits in the province within the mining sector and return up to 13 million cubic metres of treated clean water to the Mattagami, Frederickhouse, and Upper Kapuskasing watersheds – significantly improving site water management and supporting local watersheds.
Taken together, these projects demonstrate how industrial and environmental interests can be aligned to create value for northern Ontario. For more than a century, the people who live and work in the Porcupine mining district have transformed natural resources into the vibrant communities that exist today.
