An arctic case study of revegetation planning to implementation at Snap Lake Diamond Mine

Closure planning is a requirement of the permitting and licencing process for mines in Canada and this typically includes revegetation of land disturbed by the development and operations of the mine. At the Snap Lake Mine located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, revegetation planning and design spanned over 20 years, originating to support initial permitting through to the final regulatory approvals of the mine's revegetation design and implementation at site. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study for the revegetation design completed for the Snap Lake Mine. This case study examines the influence of the permitting and regulatory process, engagement with stakeholders, and the outcomes of scientific and technical research on the revegetation design for a remote, cold region mine. It was demonstrated that consideration of regulatory requirements and stakeholder wants is just as important as the technical and scientific findings when developing a revegetation design for a mine. Key learnings presented in this case study can be used to inform researchers and decision-makers of the planning and design requirements for revegetation of northern mines, including the legal, social, and technical aspects that influence revegetation planning and the overall timeline for the revegetation design process.