Institutional Control Program

In 2005, Saskatchewan initiated the formal development of an institutional control framework for the long term management of decommissioned mine and mill sites on provincial Crown land.  The framework developed a formal regulatory process for long term site management when all activities had been completed and for the transfer of site responsibility back to the provincial Crown.  The process provides for ensuring the health and safety of future generations, the protection of the environment, for providing closure for the mining industry and for meeting national and international standards and requirements.   

In 2007, the province legislated The Reclaimed Industrial Sites Act and The Reclaimed Industrial Sites Regulations to establish and enforce the Institutional Control Program (ICP).  The ICP implements the process for the long term monitoring and maintenance of sites when mining/milling activities have ended, remediation has been completed and approved; and the process for transfer of the site to provincial responsibility.  The two primary components of the ICP are the Institutional Control Registry and the Institutional Control funds: the Monitoring and Maintenance Fund and the Unforeseen Events Fund.  The Registry will maintain a formal record of closed sites, manage the funding and perform any required monitoring and maintenance work.  

The Ministry of Energy and Resources has been assigned responsibility for the Institutional Control Registry.  In consulation with stakeholders, the Institutional Control Program: Post Closure Management of Decommissioned Mine/Mill Properties Located on Crown Land in Saskatchewan document was created to outline the operation of the Registry and the requirements for a company to enter a site into the Registry.