Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) released a press statement on Sept. 2 to inform the community of Rankin Inlet that an exceedance of the total suspended solids at the Meliadine gold mine was reported to the proper authorities through the spill report system on Aug. 31.
photo courtesy of Agnico Eagle Mines
The spill happened in connection with AEM operations at the Meliadine gold mine near Rankin.
The Nunavut Water Board, Nunavut Impact Review Board, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Kivalliq Inuit Association and the Government of Nunavut have all been notified.
The spill reportSA国际影视传媒檚 author, Kloee Fournier, said that total suspended solids in water consists of suspended particles, such as dust and soil, as well as organisms such as plankton and algae.
She stated at this time it is believed that the exceedance is largely due to algae developing in the pond used to hold treated water before it is being trucked to Itivia to be discharged.
SA国际影视传媒�The discharge was stopped immediately upon reception of the non-compliance results from our regular sampling activities,SA国际影视传媒� stated Fournier.
SA国际影视传媒�The potential volume of the spill is estimated up to 11,000m3 of water, which represents approximately 305 tanker trucks. The exact volume will be confirmed when we receive the final sampling results.
SA国际影视传媒�Investigations are ongoing to ensure that the source of algae is identified and that the appropriate corrective measures are taken to be in full compliance before discharge can resume.SA国际影视传媒�
Fournier further informed the community that additional sampling actions occurred this past week in Melvin Bay. She added, as a reminder, the discharge in Melvin Bay of treated saline water from underground activities started on Aug. 10.
SA国际影视传媒�We will keep the concerned authorities and the Rankin Inlet community members informed of the results of our sampling and of the next steps.
SA国际影视传媒�For clarification: the difference between total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) SA国际影视传媒� total dissolved solids is a measure of all dissolved salts and minerals in the water. SA国际影视传媒淭hese salts and minerals include inorganic and organic forms of major ions (particles), nutrients and metals, each of which are found naturally in the water.
SA国际影视传媒�Total suspended solids consists of particles suspended in water but not dissolved such as dust and soil, as well as organisms such as plankton and algae.SA国际影视传媒�
