Table of Contents
All land affected by development activity must be rehabilitated after the activity has finished. A closure plan outlines how the affected land will be rehabilitated and the costs associated with doing so. A closure plan must be developed and acknowledged by the ministry before mine development can begin.
Closure plans must be certified by company executives to ensure that they cover all of the conditions described in the Mine Rehabilitation Code and that all outlined rehabilitation tasks meet necessary technical requirements.
Content and Format
The required format and content of a closure plan is described by Schedule 2 of the closure plan regulations. The Closure Plan Boundary & Land Tenure Guideline provides additional details and clarification on regulations related to closure plans and closure plan amendments -- items 3(ii), 3(iii) and 4(vii).
Rehabilitation Standards
The tasks involved with rehabilitating an area of land depend on the type of mine hazards that will be created as a result of the development activity that will be performed on the land. Mine hazards may include:
- Mine openings to the surface
- Open pits
- Waste rock piles
Each type of mine hazard has an associated set of rehabilitation tasks. Each task has a set of standards which must be adhered to. These standards define requirements, such as:
- Acceptable material for capping openings
- Minimum load specifications
- Engineering inspections
- Necessary signage
Rehabilitation tasks and standards, broken down by type of hazard, are outlined by the Mine Rehabilitation Code of Ontario.
Financial Assurance
In order to ensure that the rehabilitation work outlined in a closure plan is successfully performed, a financial guarantee equal to the estimated cost of the rehabilitation work must be held by the ministry. This financial guarantee is known as financial assurance. Financial assurance must be included with the submission of a closure plan.
Resources
For more information on developing or certifying a closure plan, contact the Mineral Exploration and Development Section.