Now in its fourth year, MAC's Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative has helped the Canadian mining industry improve its performance by setting performance standards for key areas -- tailings management, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management, external outreach, and crisis management planning. 2007 has been a noteworthy year for the Association and its member companies with the adoption of programs to improve dialogue with Aboriginal communities, a pledge to contribute to global biodiversity conservation in their operations, and the adoption of third party verification.

"Our verification program demonstrates MAC members' commitment to transparency and accountability, and our on-going dialogue with those who share a stake in a viable and sustainable Canadian mining industry", said Gordon Peeling, President and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada. "This makes MAC the first mining association in the world to implement credible third party verification in a consistent way across its membership."

How Third Party Verification Works

In this first year of implementation, 10 MAC members have had their TSM performance results externally verified. Subsequent years will follow an annual rotation, with one-third of MAC members undergoing external verification each year. MAC member companies complete a self-assessment, using TSM protocols developed by MAC, to assign performance ratings to each of their facilities. Similar to other forms of audit, the specially trained Verification Service Provider (VSP) verifies the accuracy of these self-assessments. The VSP uses standard verification methods to obtain and assess information, including a review of relevant documentation, interviews with company personnel and, when appropriate, interviews with local communities of interest. At the conclusion of the process, the VSP issues a verification statement and report, and the CEO or authorized officer provides a letter of assurance to MAC confirming that the verification has been conducted. The CEO letters are posted on MAC's website.

MAC has been assisted throughout this process by a 14-member Community of Interest Advisory Panel. The Panel has advised MAC on the design of the external verification system, and will review a sample of company verification results each year. A statement by the Panel appears in the TSM Progress Report. The report also includes year-to-year comparison of TSM performance, comprehensive environmental release data and information regarding a number of the mining industry's environmental research initiatives and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

MAC also implemented a sustainability award system for its members this year to recognize facilities that achieved high levels of TSM performance. To be eligible for an award, a facility's performance had to be externally verified. The TSM Progress Report lists the award recipients.

The Mining Association of Canada is a national organization of the Canadian mining industry. Its members are companies engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication.

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