BMP 16 – Decommissioning
General
Decommissioning BMP-16 is specifically related to Early Mineral Exploration activities in Manitoba and not for advanced exploration or mining related activities.
Exploration is a multifaceted process to narrow down the search area for mineral deposit discovery, and includes such activities as Prospecting, soil sampling, geophysics, Line Cutting, stripping or Trenching, drilling; and pad cutting for drilling operations and helicopter landing sites. See BMP 10 – Surface Stripping.
Decommissioning is recognized as an important part of exploration, and therefore should be included in the pre-exploration planning. Proper planning will assist the Proponent in returning disturbed sites to a natural state.
Decommissioning efforts also assist in restricting access as a method of access management and is important for numerous reasons including limiting impacts to wildlife species, alteration of habitat, conflicts between user groups, damage to forest resources, impacts to water resources and liability to the province.
The need to actively re-vegetate a site depends on the nature of the area and the disturbances created by the work.
Many exploration activities are considered low impact and thus naturally re-vegetate through plant succession and colonization. Examples of low impact exploration include geological mapping (reconnaissance), Claim Staking, Prospecting, low impact gridding, Line Cutting, and fly-in drilling.
If proper planning is done to minimize surface disturbances, then natural regeneration in the site should take place without the need for additional work. Further decommission work may set back the natural re-vegetation process, as determined, on a site-specific basis.
Depending on the disturbance created and the nature of the site further rehabilitation or re-vegetation may be required, on a site-specific basis.
Decommission planning should include minimizing impacts and avoiding surface disturbance (e.g.: using existing or natural openings for helicopter pads or existing trails) where possible, to assist in reducing decommissioning requirements and costs for the project.
Conditions imposed on work permits issued, or legislative requirements imposed under, an Act may require more stringent measures than those recommended in this 2024 Guideline. As such, those provisions take precedence over these Guidelines.
It is recommended the Proponent require staff, contractors and their employees be familiar with and observe applicable Guidelines, Best Management Practices (BMP) and applicable legislation.
Erosion control methods should be implemented throughout the planning and decommission process to prevent siltation of local watercourses and protect local waterways.
Surface disturbances are to be re-contoured as close as possible to their original state, unless otherwise approved. In a location where there is a reasonable chance that erosion will occur due to soil type or grade, slash material is to be spread evenly over the disturbed area and worked into the surface, other approved sediment and erosion control options may be considered as determined by the Regional Specialist (e.g.: Fisheries, Forestry or Crown lands). Reach out to the Permit Office for appropriate contact.
Decommissioning, as may be required, is to be completed within 30 days of project completion, or at permit expiry to prevent damage to the trail, control access, public safety, and support resource management objectives. Decommissioning is encouraged to be completed in a progressive manner rather than waiting until the project is complete.
It is important the Supervising Officer is notified a minimum of 10 days prior to completion of operations to allow for Final Inspection.
Access should be managed\decommissioned including the following, but not limited to:
Site Access Trails
Linear features like roads, trails, can have negative impacts on large mammals and other wildlife by providing increased access by predators and humans resulting in sensory disturbance; functional habitat loss/gain resulting in changes in occupation and movement; and direct and indirect mortality. Linear features also allow for other animals to move into areas that previously may not have been there, which increases the risk of disease transmission and increased parasite loading to an area (e.g.: various tick species, deer carrying brain worm and parasitic birds such as Brown Headed Cow Bird).
To minimize the potential environmental impact of access trails, activities carried out by the Proponent should be planned well in advance. Pre-planning will assist in determining the most appropriate route with the least amount of disturbance. This may also result in reducing new trail construction and overall costs.
Proponents are encouraged to use existing or re-established resource trails (often exploration or forestry trails) where possible, that lead directly or are near the exploration property. These trails are often already situated in the most suitable topographical location.
Removing water crossing structures should be completed, unless otherwise approved and an important measure in decommissioning site access trails.
See Manitoba Stream Crossing Guidelines for the Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat for valuable information.
Consideration should be made of areas likely to be visible from public vantage points, communities, roads, or highways. Access trails should be planned, as much as reasonably possible, to blend into the terrain and maintain visual aesthetics.
Effective decommissioning measures for access trails and pad construction includes pulling slash or woody debris created back over disturbances created, and ensuring all infrastructure, drills, exploration equipment, operating supplies, fuel, and hazardous materials are removed from Crown Land.
Ensure existing trails, portages are not to be altered to interfere with other cultural, recreational, or resource users, unless approved.
Temporary decommissioning may be required if work is halted for more than 30 days or moving to a new project area as determined by the Permit Office or Supervising Officer.
Camps
Temporary camps should be established on previously cleared or disturbed sites, if possible.
Standard work permit conditions do not authorize the permittee for the storage of materials at the camp site when the site is not in use for the purpose it is permitted for.
The area affected by the camp is to be left in a clean and orderly fashion and safe condition.
Storage of Fuels and Lubricants
Fuel and lubricants should be stored and used in a manner that reduces risk to human safety and protects the environment from potential accidental release.
Secondary containment is a safeguarding method strongly recommended in addition to the primary containment system (e.g.: tanks, drums,). The goal of secondary containment is to prevent a spill from reaching surface waters or groundwater through the use of liners or other barriers. See Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation.
Separate approval is required for storage of equipment and fuel on Crown Land. While not actively working, Proponents are required to notify the Supervising Officer or Permit Office.
Land-Based Drilling and Helicopter Pads
During clearing of drill and helicopter pads, slash material and woody debris should be stockpiled at the edge of the treeline for later use in decommissioning.
NOTE: Exemption is required from the Wildfires Act.
Effective decommissioning measures for skid drilling and helicopter pads include pulling slash or woody debris created back over the drill or helicopter pad, and ensures all infrastructure, drills, exploration equipment, operating supplies, fuel, and hazardous materials are removed from the site.
Decommissioning is encouraged to be conducted on land-based drill and helicopter pads in a progressive manner, while heavy equipment is still on-site rather than waiting until the end of the exploration project.
For fly-in drill pads and helicopter pads, all hand-cut trees, if possible, should be hand cut as much as possible, to ground level, to not disturb standing timber, and to allow for natural regeneration.
Lake-Based, Drilling
See BMP 12 – Lake-Based Drilling.
When drilling on ice, ensure the ice thickness is sufficient for the weight of the drill and sloop, and other heavy equipment that will be used.
All crew members should be trained and prepared in how to deal with any potential spills.
Proper housekeeping practices from preparation, execution, and completion of a drill program, is often key to a successful, and safe project.
Stripping and Trenching
See BMP 10 – Surface Stripping.
Manual stripping is washing the overburden off rock with pressurized water pumps. Mechanized surface stripping uses heavy equipment to remove vegetation and soil from the rock areas. Surface soil horizons removed during mechanized stripping contributes to the disturbance footprint and amount of habitat loss. Manual stripping decommissioning may be postponed or omitted with prior approval of the Permit Office or Mines Branch.
Seeding with non-invasive seed species may be necessary depending on topography and likelihood of erosion and should be considered as part of site decommission planning details included as part of a Work Permit Application.
Large trees to be left standing, where possible, and safe.
Site should be left in a condition consistent with the local topography.
Stripped overburden to be stockpiled on site in a safe and stable manner for future distribution or decommissioning. Disturbed overburden should be contoured to a stable angle of repose, and stripped areas, if not backfilled, should also be contoured to a stable angle of repose.
Recommended stripping activities to be a minimum of 100 metres away from a body of water. Separate approval will be required if proposing stripping activities within 100 metres of a waterbody.
See BMP 9 – Trenches. If possible, the Proponent to use effective siltation controls during stripping and washing activities to prevent siltation from entering waterbodies.
During Trenching\stripping activities, topsoil and other overburden removed for project activities, to be conserved / stored appropriately, stockpiled separately, and used for decommissioning purposes.
All vegetative material and soil, if possible, are encouraged to be replaced in order of removal (e.g., subsoil, topsoil, organics and woody debris). If the stockpile overburden is approved to be stockpile it is to be graded to a stable angle of repose. The stored topsoil shall be used to aid in decommissioning.
When refilling trenches and holes, soil should be compacted into the trench or hole to minimize settlement in the future. Such openings should be initially refilled to above the natural ground level to allow for subsequent settlement. It is important to fence excavations until they are suitably backfilled, construct trenches to allow for easy escape of wildlife, backfill and or contour pits and trenches to a stable angle of repose.
If there is a requirement for seeding disturbed areas, only native and locally appropriate species shall be used during the decommissioning process to ensure the restoration of natural ecosystems.
Inspections
To facilitate communication between the Proponent, and internal and external stakeholders’ frequent updates with the local Supervising Officer, and Permit Office is encouraged, which may include providing appropriate updated maps in support of inspections.
As a standard condition of the work permit; “The Permittee shall notify the Permit Office and/or the District Office prior to starting, suspending, or restarting operations” and “The Supervising Officer shall be notified no less than 10 days prior to completion of operations to allow for Final Inspection.”
Local fire hazard conditions or fire susceptibility, particularly during high fire danger periods, can be checked with the District Conservation Officer before commencing, and periodically during exploration activities.
Expiry of the work permit does not exempt the applicant from future liability.
NOTE: Build good working relationship with the local District Conservation Officer.
Joint inspections between the local supervising officer and the Proponent’s site supervisor are strongly encouraged to build good working relationships.
Contacts
Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources
Minerals, Petroleum and Geoscience Division
360-1395 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3G 3P2
204-945-1119
Toll free 1-800-223-5215
minesinfo@gov.mb.ca
Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources
Natural Resources
Phone: 204-945-3744
District Conservation Offices
Regulations and Acts
M.R. 188/2001 – Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation
W128 – The Wildfires Act