Environment

Environmental Protection Initiatives

• Environmental Monitoring in Key Receiving Environments: The protection of the environment is a critical aspect of all our decisions. At the centre of this is water, which is a resource that is both vital to maintaining functional and healthy ecosystems, and essential to our operations. Our environmental monitoring and management systems include robust operation, maintenance and surveillance programs in key receiving environments, ensuring management systems and mitigations are functioning properly
• Water Stewardship: Our approach to responsible water stewardship adheres to MAC’s TSM Water Stewardship Protocol. Our water management practices are designed with the objective of ensuring efficient usage and protection of water resources and watercourses. Our water stewardship decisions are informed by open and collaborative communication with government agencies, First Nations, the public, and local stakeholders, and guided by recommendations from our Independent Water Review Board (IWRB), an initiative the mine established in 2021. The objective of the IWRB is to provide non-binding advice and guidance to the Mine General Manager on water, including quality, quantity, management, management structures, and potential mitigation and treatment options for discharge water
• Progressive Reclamation: Our progressive reclamation program begins at the mine planning stage and is continuously executed as a part of mine operations. We are continually advancing our reclamation efforts, scaling our progressive reclamation program year over year, to achieve our target of beginning reclamation on 25 hectares of land per year. This work is supported by an innovative partnership with Metro Vancouver, Arrow Transportation, and a local First Nations partner. Copper Mountain uses Class A biosolids from Metro Vancouver and wood waste to supplement the overburden from the Copper Mountain Mine to produce reclamation soil which supports an effective and organic reclamation process
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Copper Mountain mine has been committed to climate change mitigation and has been working on reducing the carbon intensity of copper produced at the mine. We implemented the Trolley Assist Project in partnership with BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, BC Hydro, Komatsu, SMS, and ABB. This groundbreaking project involved the commissioning of a trolley assist system, featuring a ~1 kilometre haul ramp and seven electric haul trucks equipped with pantographs. We are also implementing other greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects at the mine including the electrification of shovels and drills and the use of renewable diesel in our haul trucks. Looking at the regional climate projections we assessed the potential physical climate risks and opportunities for our mine site and identified the adaptation measures that would make the site resilient to the expected regional impacts such as increased flooding, wildfires, heatwaves, extreme weather events, and shifting ecosystems. Our key structures and reclamation program have been designed considering the climate impacts to ensure safe operation and closure of the site
• Metal Leaching (ML)/Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) Prediction and Prevention: The Copper Mountain mine has a long history of mining and ARD has not been detected. To ensure the protection of our water quality long-term, the Copper Mountain mine implements highly protective ML/ARD prediction and prevention measures to allow identification of rock with higher potential for ARD and options for segregation, if needed, so that it can be managed to prevent the onset of ARD following completion of mining
• Transparent Tailings Management Facility (TMF): Implemented a rigorous Tailings Management Facility (TMF) designed, constructed, and operated in alignment with industry best practices and governance. Our TMF is governed by robust protocols ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to stringent reporting standards. Regular independent reviews and assessments by qualified professionals guarantee the safety and sustainability of our tailings management practices
• Innovative Solutions to Minimizing Waste Streams: Hudbay works closely with its suppliers to reduce our impact by minimizing waste streams and recycling materials where possible. At our BC operations, we have an agreement with Kal Tire to recycle our haul truck tires and have worked together to develop a new and innovative solution to recycle and repurpose haul truck tires