Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations compliance data
The Metal Mining Effluent Regulations came into force in 2002 pursuant to the Fisheries Act to regulate the deposit of mine effluent and mine waste into waters frequented by fish. The Metal Mining Effluent Regulations were amended in 2018, and are now known as the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations.
The Regulations help protect Canada’s lakes and rivers by setting strict limits on the quality of effluent that can be discharged by metal and diamond mines. The Regulations authorize the deposit of effluent into water frequented by fish and places referred to in subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act. Effluent must meet concentration-based limits for arsenic, copper, cyanide, lead, nickel, zinc, suspended solids, radium 226 and un-ionized ammonia. Effluent must also have a pH that is between a minimum and maximum level, and must not be acutely lethal. The Regulations require effluent testing and reporting, as well as Environmental Effects Monitoring studies.
The Regulations also include an authorization for the use of water frequented by fish for mine waste disposal. Authorization requires an amendment to Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Owners or operators of mines can request an amendment to Schedule 2 of the Regulations, which would designate a water frequented by fish as a tailings impoundment area.
The files listed in the ECCC Data Mart below contain the summary of the performance of Canadian metal and diamond mines in electronic format. The dataset in these files are extracted from the annual reports entitled "Status Report on the Performance of Metal Mines Subject to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations" and "Status Report on the Performance of Mines Subject to the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations".
The files in KML format are map layers for use in Google Earth™ and other “virtual globe” softwares. They show the reported location of the final effluent discharge points associated with each mining facility subject to the Regulations. When selected, each final discharge point generates a summary table of its effluent data and compliance performance. The CSV files present this same information for each final discharge point in a tabular format that can be easily used for data mining and analysis.
Supplemental Information
Data Tables
To access the data table that you wish to consult, select “View ECCC Data Mart” below and then click on the year of your choice.
Annual Reports
To access the annual report you wish to consult: visit our data and annual reports webpage and then select the annual report of your choice at https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-pollution/sources-industry/mining-effluent/metal-diamond-mining-effluent/data-annual-reports.html
More information on the metal and diamond mining sector is available at https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-pollution/sources-industry/mining-effluent/metal-diamond-mining-effluent.html
- Publisher - Current Organization Name: Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Licence: Open Government Licence - Canada
Data and Resources
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