SYDNEY, N.S. – Cape Breton University will strengthen its position as an international leader in the search for new ways to limit the long-term environmental impact of coal mining thanks to a new Research Chair in Mine Water Remediation and Management, Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt announced today.
"Cape Bretoners understand, like few others, the long-term environmental impacts of coal mining," said Minister Raitt. "That is why they must continue to strive to be leaders in the development of long-term solutions to these challenges."
The Government of Canada is contributing $1.7 million over five years through DEVCO to help fund the research position. Dr. Christian Wolkersdorfer, a leading mine-water expert from Germany, has been appointed CBU's first Chair of Mine Water Remediation and Management.
DEVCO President and CEO Dr. Ross McCurdy is looking forward to working with the new Chair. "DEVCO is excited to be a partner in this important initiative. We are confident that Dr. Wolkersdorfer's world-renowned research will lead to enhanced solutions which will benefit other mine systems inCanada and elsewhere in the world."
"For CBU, just as tradition and innovation go together, so must energy and the environment," said John Harker, President and Vice Chancellor for Cape Breton University. "It's already happening on our campus and in our community, and we foresee the new mine water management research impacting national and global decisions around this critical resource."
Cape Breton has about 3,200 kilometres of underground workings – the legacy of more than a century of coal mining. With the cessation of active mining, it is normal for mine workings underground to become flooded with water. This water can be acidic and contaminated with dissolved iron and metals. As a result, outflows of mine water must be managed or treated to protect the environment.
DEVCO began a pilot program last year to examine the benefits of passive treatment of mine water using constructed wetlands. The CBU Chair will expand on this and other research efforts to enhance mine-water management activities in the future.
Minister Raitt also announced that the Government of Canada is partnering with DEVCO and CBU in a Green Mines Green Energy pilot project at the Broughton mine site. Project partners are examining ways of utilizing organic wastes to rehabilitate mine tailings and grow energy crops.
The Broughton site is one of five Green Mines Green Energy sites currently being piloted by Natural Resources Canada and partners across Canada, with additional sites under development. This technology holds great potential to stabilize mine tailings sites and establish a productive land use for them.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt today announced the creation of a Chair of Mine Water Management at Cape Breton University. The Government of Canada is supporting this new research position in partnership with DEVCO and the University to help manage future mine water issues.
Media may contact:
Jasmine MacDonnell
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
Or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
The general public may contact:
Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30 EDT
Telephone: 613-995-0947
TTY: 613-996-4397
(teletype for the hearing-impaired)
E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
