The Team: Faro Mine Remediation Project
The Faro Mine Complex is considered a Type II mine site. This term comes from the Devolution Transfer Agreement (DTA) which details environmental responsibilities and obligations associated with the transfer of lands previously under the management of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC) to the Yukon government.
The term “Type II Mine” refers to seven mine sites in the Yukon that were identified at the time of devolution as having the potential for unfunded environmental liabilities at the time of closure.
The financial responsibility for the Faro Mine Complex resides with the federal government. Funding for the project comes primarily from the Government of Canada's Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is the custodian department for the abandoned mine site.
As per the Devolution Transfer Agreement, the administrative care and control of the land lies with the territorial government.
As a result, the two levels of government have established a joint management team responsible for the overall coordination of work related to the Faro Mine Complex.
The joint management team consists of members drawn from both the Government of Canada's Contaminated Sites Program Branch (INAC) and Government of Yukon's Assessment and Abandoned Mines Branch (Department of Energy, Mines and Resources). Leadership of this team is provided by the Project Director (YG) and the Project Sponsor (INAC)
The overall goal is to bring these mines to closure as soon as possible, involve First Nations in the process and maximize benefits for Yukoners through employment opportunities associated with closure.