Guidelines for the Assessment of Alternatives for Mine Waste Disposal

These guidelines describe the process that must be undertaken when a proponent is considering using a natural water body frequented by fish as a tailings impoundment area (TIA) such that a regulatory amendment to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) would be required. In the context of these guidelines, the term TIA refers to a natural water body frequented by fish into which deleterious substances (such as tailings, waste rock, low-grade ore, overburden, and any effluent that contains any concentration of the deleterious substances specified in the MMER, and of any pH) are disposed.