Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited, a Canadian company, has operated a copper smelter and zinc refinery at Flin Flon, Manitoba for nearly 65 years. During that time, 28 mines have provided feed to eight concentrators. Five mines are currently operating, as are three concentrators.
Over the last decade, the environmental liability of the shut down operations has been recognized, and HBM&S has embarked on an aggressive - and expensive - decommissioning program. Two mills and ten mine sites have been completed; work is currently underway on five mine sites.
During decommissioning, one point continues to emerge - had mine and mill planning, construction and operation been done differently, very large sums of money could have been saved at the time of closeout. Every mine must close sooner or later - designing should be done with closure in mind.