New Brunswick has signed an agreement with a US firm to investigate whether valuable metals can be recovered from waste at the disused Nigadoo mine near Bathurst, Global News reports.
The mine produced copper, lead, zinc and silver before closing nearly 50 years ago. Regeneration Enterprises, which announced the deal in Fredericton on Monday, says money from any recovered minerals would pay to clean up the site rather than leaving the cost to taxpayers. The company puts the province's liability for the site at $35 million.
The province says it is not funding the exploration work for now, although it has not ruled out public money later. Natural Resources Minister John Herron said the project could unlock mineral wealth and bring proper environmental restoration. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick said working on an already damaged site could be preferable to disturbing untouched land.
Source: Global News
