Project: Care and Maintenance
What is care and maintenance?
Care and maintenance is the term used to describe the activities that are ongoing at the Faro Mine Complex (FMC) to protect human health, safety and the environment while a closure and remediation plan is finalized.
The Yukon government has contracted Denison Environmental Services (DES) to look after the site for the next three years while the closure and remediation plan goes through the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act (YESAA) process, and various regulatory approvals. DES took over care and maintenance duties on March 1, 2009.
What sorts of activities are done as part of care and maintenance?
A big part of care and maintenance is monitoring water quality and collecting/treating contaminated water, making sure that water leaving the site meets acceptable standards and is safe for the environment. Another big job is keeping roads, buildings, dams and stream channels in safe working condition.
Care and maintenance activities provide training and employment opportunities for affected Yukon First Nations and other Yukoners.
The following information focuses on how and why water quality is monitored.
What is measured?
Site staff routinely collect information on weather conditions, water, stream sediments, fish, benthic organisms and the stability of mine structures and facilities. Information about air quality, plants, soils and animals is also collected periodically.
There are over 300 active monitoring sites for water quality with more than 1000 water quality samples collected annually in and near the FMC. Samples are tested by independent, certified laboratories and are measured for more than 30-50 different substances such as zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb).
Why is water quality measured?
For water, zinc (Zn) is the substance of most concern as it is one of the metals that was mined at the FMC. Zinc-bearing rocks occur in many areas of the Yukon and zinc is often present at low levels in streams and lakes, dissolved in the water. Zinc is a natural element that most animals and plants need in small amounts to be healthy. But, if the level of zinc in streams, rivers and lakes gets too high, it can affect fish and other organisms.
Mining activities can increase the chance of zinc moving into water at levels high enough to become a contaminant and cause problems. Therefore, we need to monitor zinc levels to make sure that water leaving the site is safe for the downstream environment.
The information collected in the various monitoring programs is used to guide care and maintenance activities and to provide information that is important to the final cleanup. Monitoring programs provide valuable information about the local environment, current site conditions, and any changes or trends in site conditions. It also helps to measure how well management activities are working to protect human health and the environment.
Can I view the water quality monitoring data?
Water quality monitoring data from eight points at the Faro Mine Complex are available for viewing. Please note that most of the points on the map are monitoring water which remains on the Faro Mine Complex site. Rose Creek is the only point where water is released into the environment. To view the maps with the monitoring points and the data graphs, click here.
Glossary of Terms
Benthic Organisms
The group of organisms living at the bottom of streams, rivers and lakes. They include organisms such as insect larvae and nymphs which can serve as food for fish. Their numbers and health are important indicators of water quality.
Contaminated Water
Water that has become mixed with a substance that may — if there is enough of it — be harmful to humans or the environment.
Element
One of the most basic chemical building blocks that in combination make up other chemicals. An example would be the elements iron (Fe) and oxygen (O), which can combine to make other chemicals like ferric oxide (Fe2O3) otherwise known as rust. Many naturally-occuring elements are important parts of living things.
Monitoring
Periodic measurement of specific substances in water, air soils, plants, animals, etc or the measurement of conditions such as weather, water levels, etc. Monitoring is done as part of a comprehensive program which describes why, how, when and how often different things should be measured to help us better understand important processes.
Sediments
The silt, sands and gravels that accumulate at the bottom of streams, rivers and lakes. Sediments can provide habitat for benthic organisms which are an important part of the aquatic food chain. It is important to monitor sediments for potential contamination.
Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act (YESAA)
The Act sets out a process to assess the environmental and socio-economic effects of projects and other activities in the Yukon or that might affect the Yukon.
On This Page...
Care and Maintenance
- What is care and maintenance?
- What sorts of activities are done as part of care and maintenance?
- What is measured?
- Why is water quality measured?
- Can I view the water quality monitoring data?