The BHP Island Copper site on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, continues to be an example of excellence in mine reclamation.

The site was the recipient of the 1981, 1984, 1998 and 2006 British Columbia Mine Reclamation Award. In awarding the Island Copper team with the 2006 award, the government and academic panel stated that the company’s management of the Island Copper site is exemplary with respect to safety, innovation, risk management and the quality of reclamation and environmental protection work.

ERM supported BHP in the development, management and monitoring of the mining pit lake at the Island Copper site, where acid rock drainage is a long-term issue. We developed a phytoremediation approach as an alternative to conventional lime treatment, reducing long-term closure costs while mitigating risks associated with metal leaching and acid rock drainage at the site.