Vale Canada’s operation in Copper Cliff, situated within the City of Greater Sudbury, is
an integrated mine, mill, smelter and refinery complex. For over 100 years, tailings from
the milling operation have been deposited in the Copper Cliff Central Tailings
impoundment, a 2,500 hectare (ha) facility.
In 2012, Vale and Terratec proposed the establishment of an initial trial utilizing 2,000
dry tonnes (DT) of dewatered municipal biosolids. Application timing was dependent on
the specific project and site suitability. Proposed project objectives were:
1. To establish a vegetative cover on the inactive portion of the tailings area to
reduce or minimize and, ideally, eliminate wind and water erosion.
2. To establish a vegetative cover on the mine tailings to reduce water infiltration
through absorption and utilization by the plants and evapotranspiration from the
vegetation.
3. To establish a vegetative cover on the slopes of the tailings dams to reduce
erosion potential.
4. To provide a growing media for hay and / or straw production for use in other
areas of the tailings for dust suppression and to reduce the importation of
purchased hay and straw for dust suppression.
5. To reduce the utilization of dust suppressant chemicals currently applied to the
tailings.
6. To establish a vegetative cover on the mine tailings that would provide natural
habitat enhancement and result in overall biodiversity improvements.