The Team: Type II Joint Office
The Faro Mine complex is considered a Type II mine site. This term comes from chapter six of the Devolution Transfer Agreement (DTA) which details environmental responsibilities and obligations associated with the transfer of lands previously under the management of the Northern Affairs Program of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) to the Yukon government.
The term “Type II Mine” refers to seven mine sites in the Yukon that were identified at the time of devolution as having the potential for unfunded environmental liabilities at the time of closure.
The Yukon and federal governments are taking a cooperative approach to the environmental management of Type II sites. The two governments have established a Type II Joint Office that is responsible for the overall coordination of work related to these sites. The office consists of the federal government's Type II Mines Project Office (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) and the Yukon government's Assessment and Abandoned Mines Branch (Energy, Mines and Resources).
The overall goal is to bring these mines to closure as soon as possible, involve First Nations in the process and maximize benefits for Yukoners through employment opportunities associated with closure.