RARR

Rapid Assessment
Rapid Remediation

Providing a framework and methodology for the
“Rapid Assessment and Rapid Remediation”
of abandoned mine tailings sites.

Assessing the impacts of abandoned mine tailings sites is necessary to safeguard the environment and potentially recover precious metals from mining waste materials.

The RARR Approach

RARR (Rapid Assessment-Rapid Remediation) was developed by the Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society as a tool and protocol to rapidly assess abandoned mine tailings site in the Salmo Watershed and across the country. It was created based on the guidelines, protocols, and schedules found in BC’s Environmental Assessment Act and Contaminated Sites Regulation. This assessment tool is a culmination of over 20 years of work and advocacy on abandoned mine tailings sites by the SWSS in the Salmo watershed in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada.

History of Mining
Practices in BC

It took until 1965 for the first environmental laws surrounding mining to be enacted, beginning with operational pollution permitting being required. In 1969 the “Mines Regulation Act” was introduced requiring that all owners, agents or managers of a surface mine carry out a program to protect and reclaim disturbed land and water and complete this program when the mine was abandoned or discontinued. While this act was a step in the right direction, many mining companies had gone out of business or ceased operations by this time, leaving behind tailings and infrastructure. This led to a number of orphaned mine tailings sites scattered throughout the region and the province.

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Join us

Join us in our mission to rapidly assess the environmental risks of abandoned mine tailings and their potential for remediation.
Together, we can make a difference in our environment and create a healthier and safer future for generations to come.

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