Mining Act Policies and Standards

Policies

The ministry has developed a set of policies to aid clients on implementation of relevant Mining Act provisions and regulations.

Changes have been made to the Mining Act, including new regulations to promote mineral exploration and development in a manner that recognizes Aboriginal and treaty rights.

• MNDM’s policy on Consultation and Arrangements with Aboriginal Communities at Early Exploration provides clarity and guidance to proponents for carrying out consultation requirements with Aboriginal communities.
• MNDM’s policy on Dispute Resolution at Early Exploration  provides information regarding the ministry’s approach to dispute resolution as referenced in section 170.1 of the Mining Act and O.Reg 308/12 (Exploration Plans & Permits).  It summarizes the general principles and requirements as well as the dispute resolution process as it pertains to permits at early exploration.
• MNDM’s policy onAssessment Work Credits – Eligible Expenses related to Consultation with Aboriginal Communities  describes its approach to implementing O.Reg 6/96 (Assessment Work) with respect to the eligibility of costs incurred in conducting consultation with Aboriginal communities.  It includes the identification of the expenses that can be claimed as assessment work credits, and what documentation is required.
• MNDM’s policy on Sites of Aboriginal Cultural Significance – Withdrawals and Surface Rights Restrictions  describes the approach to implementing O.Reg 45/11 (General) pertaining to sites of Aboriginal cultural significance for the purposes of sections 35 and 51 of the Mining Act. It describes the processes relating to withdrawing a site from staking and the consideration of surface rights restrictions.
• MNDM's policy on Voluntary Rehabilitation of Mine Hazards is intended to provide additional guidance on the voluntary rehabilitation process, which will assist potential volunteers to determine whether they wish to undertake such a project.

To view a listing of other Mining Act policies, visit the policies website.

Standards

The ministry has recently developed standards related to exploration plans and permits and to georeferencing of unpatented mining claims, as follows:

• Provincial Standards for Early Exploration lists requirements that must be met when carrying out exploration plan or permit activities, including requirements for rehabilitation when the early exploration activities have been completed.
• Georeferencing Standards for Unpatented Mining Claims sets out the standards for collecting and submitting Global Positioning System (GPS) georeferenced information as part of the Application to Record Ground Staked Mining Claim(s) in unsurveyed territory; or to provide ground truthed locational GPS data for a mining claim that is ground staked before November 1st, 2012.