Through the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) Program, Canadian mining companies and provincial/territorial and federal departments have reduced the liability due to acidic drainage by at least $400 million. This is an impressive return on an investment of $17.5 million over eight years.

Acidic drainage is recognized as the largest environmental liability facing the mining industry and, to a lesser extent, the public through abandoned mines. MEND was implemented to develop and apply new technologies to prevent and control acidic drainage. Tremendous progress has been made. The target is for new mines to open without long-term concerns about acidic drainage upon closure.

The following quote received at ICARD summarizes the MEND program very well:

Funding for the MEND Secretariat is shared by Natural Resources Canada and The Mining Association of Canada.

• Publications/Reports
• Case Studies

Upcoming Events

16^th ANNUAL BC/MEND METAL LEACHING/ACID ROCK DRAINAGE WORKSHOP - Soil, Geomembrane, and Non-Traditional Material Covers
December 2 - 3, 2009
Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC

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The BC Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources, Natural Resources Canada and the MEND Program in association with the BC Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation and INAP present:

16^th ANNUAL BC/MEND METAL
LEACHING / ACID ROCK DRAINAGE
WORKSHOP (PDF, 112 kb)

Soil, Geomembrane, and
Non-Traditional Material Covers

December 2^nd and 3^rd, 2009
Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre
Room 1900, 515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC

The theme this year is ”soil, geomembrane and non-traditional material covers”. Topics will include cover options, construction and performance. The emphasis will be on full-scale case studies, practical constraints and sustaining cover use as part of successful closure strategies.

"When the list of presenters is finalized, the agenda will be posted on this website."

The “early” registration fee is $150.00, and includes the two day meeting, coffee breaks, and a copy of the workshop presentations on CD-ROM, which will be mailed to all registrants after the workshop. 

For early registration, the attached form and payment must be received by November 25^th.  After that date, delegates will have to register at the workshop and pay the full fee of $175.00.  Requests for refunds or cancellations must be made, prior to November 27^th.  No refunds will be given for cancellation requests received after November 27^th.

Please register in advance by mailing the registration form and a cheque in the amount of $150.00 (Canadian) payable to the "TRCR-ARD Workshop" to:

Sorry, but we are not set-up for Credit Card transactions

Please register early, as the workshop is restricted to the first 180 registrants.

For further information please contact Mr. Gilles Tremblay (613-992-0968; gtrembla@nrcan.gc.ca) or Ms. Charlene Hogan (613-996-7855; chogan@nrcan.gc.ca)

MEND Mission:  To provide leadership and guidance on priority ARD issues in Canada