Sustainability - Doré Copper Mining Corp

Sustainability

Top Photo. View of the tailings management facility from the sedimentation pond area. June 2019.

Sustainability Policy

  • Doré Copper Mining Corp. strives to meet and exceed government and industry regulations related to the exploration and start-up of its mining projects. Worker health and safety is a core element in the management of the company. The company respects the natural environment of its projects and the communities around our projects. We  will develop our projects in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
  • The company will develop management plans as required for health, safety and environmental issues.
  • The company is committed to transparent communications with its stakeholders and employees and appreciates feedback.

Environment

The company’s Quebec operations are located near the town of Chibougamau, Quebec, just south of the 50th parallel. The climate is continental with extremes between the summer and winter with an average annual temperature that is slightly less than 0oC.  Average rainfall is 996 mm per year and average snowfall is 3.13 meters per year. 

The wildlife and flora around the company’s operations are present throughout the boreal forests of the Canadian shield in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Newfoundland.

With the company’s assets located close to Lac Doré and Lac Chibougamau water management is an important aspect of the company’s operations. Lac Chibougamau occupies an area of 206 km2 and has a maximum depth of 59 meters. There are numerous islands and bays in the lakes. The water flows from Lac Chibougamau to Lac Doré and then through a series lakes and rivers until the water enters James Bay via the Nottaway River. The total drainage area is 65,800 km2. 

As part of its water management program, weekly samples are taken from discharge of the Tailings Management Facility (TMF). In addition quarterly samples are taken from piezometers in the TMF as well as upstream and downstream of the Copper Rand site. The Copper Rand facility is sampled as if it is an operating mine per Environment Canada regulations. 

Photo. An iconic visitor to Lac Doré. June 2019.

Community

  • Doré Copper Mining Corp. will ensure a proactive relationship with its communities via stakeholder engagement and attempt to ensure maximum benefit for the communities as a result of our activities.
  • The towns closest to the company’s assets are the first nations community of Ouje-Bougoumou, population 900, Chibougamau, population 7,500, and Chapais, population 1,600 and the all-season airport servicing the area is located between Ouje-Bougoumou/Chapais and Chibougamau. There are daily flights to Montreal.
  • Chibougamau is a regional center for north – central part of Quebec with facilities for the entire region related to education, emergency services, mineral exploration, health and transport.
  • Ouje-Bougoumou is a planned first nations community built in 1992 on the shores of Lake Opemiska. The community contains some fine attractions including the Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute designed by architect Douglas Cardinal (designer of the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec). The inside of the building is open to the sky and has a number of features typical of Cree Culture.
Sunset in Chibougamau, April 2019

Health and Safety

  • Our management team establishes a culture of health and safety through education and motivation. The emphasis is on training and rewarding positive behaviours – proving that safety is a core value.
  • Safety at mining operations in Quebec is regulated provincially via the CSST (Commission for Health and Safety at Work).
  • Particular emphasis is placed on key activities such as enclosed spaces, eliminating potential energy, eliminating the transmission of infectious diseases, lock outs, lifting and rigging, ground support, hot work and moving vehicles to ensure the avoidance of serious accidents.

Tailings Management Facility Water Effluent

During the months of the year when the water discharge from the Copper Rand tailings management facility is flowing a weekly water sample is taken and sent for analysis to an accredited laboratory. The results are shared with Environnement Canada and the Quebec Ministry of the Environment. 

The results over the last four years show excellent compliance with water quality norms. The four main parameters analyzed are dissolved iron and copper, total suspended solids and pH.  The iron, copper, and suspended solids levels are a fraction of their applicable limits. The pH has only had one monthly deviation from the norms.

Example of copper levels in tailings management facility water effluent