L.

Responsibility of the operator beyond abandonment or cancellation of a lease could become the norm but it is hoped that there will be some form of sunset clause as there is in South Africa and the United Kingdom when liability will finally cease, but mining executives should not hold their breath.

Acknowledgements The invaluable contribution from government officials, mining association representatives and professional staff of Coopers & Lybrand in the jurisdictions surveyed is gratefully acknowledged. Without their support the data collection and review process for the publication of this manuscript would not have been possible.

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CANADA

AnUnderground arden G
Wayne Fraser, Director, Environment, Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting, Flin Flon, Manitoba Far beneath the ground in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada - in an old dynamite storage room carved into the rock - spring began in February this year. Hundreds of red and yellow roses, as well as juicy red tomatoes and Saskatoon berry bushes flourished in a deep corner of Hudson Bay Mining Co.'s South Main Mine. The plants were being grown underground as part of an experimental project undertaken by HBM&S and Prairie Plant Systems Inc. of Saskatoon, a firm specializing in plant propagation by tissue culture. "We are trying to find out if this technology can be used to produce fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers in any remote

Roses
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Growth Chamber

Growth Chamber

Control Room

mining community in Canada or other parts of the world" said Wayne Fraser, HBM&S Environment Director. "There are literally hundreds of acres of underground space available in our area. This may be a new approach to agriculture." The plants were growing in what is essentially a hydroponic garden located 360 metres underground in a mined-out portion of the Flin Flon Mine, bombarded by intense light and nutrients to duplicate perfect growing conditions. The 75 square metre garden is accessed by using the mine's main hoist and a 1.5 kilometre tracked drift. Twenty 1000watt high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps are switched on for 18 hours a day to provide a broad spectrum of light to keep the plants growing at a maximum rate. The rock walls of the room are painted white to reflect the light and hasten growth. The lights also supply heat to the growth chamber. The temperature hovers at 26C when they're on and dips to 15C when they're off. The growth chamber also contains a fertilization system which regularly feeds the right amount of required nutrients to each plant. The Prairie Plant Systems office in Saskatoon controls the greenhouse watering, lighting and ventilation systems by remote computer. HBM&S project supervisor Ron McNeill said while technicians have the subterranean plantation running smoothly,the only thing that presented difficulty was control of humidity in the chamber. Adehumidifier at the entrance to the garden will have to be enlarged and re-engineered to correct this problem. But he added underground gardening does have its advantages. It's insect-free, has natural heating and occupies a readymade structure. Parry Aulie, Prairie Plant President, said the same amount of equipment needed to operate this garden could just as easily handle a much bigger area. Following the success with the first round of crops, plans are being made for a fall test of other plants: orchids, herbs and tree seedlings. The year-long experiment will be evaluated in early 1992 and is expected to yield enough information to show the commercial viability for a year-round, full-scale operation.
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