“Morally, we don’t have a choice,” says Bartkoski, who goes on to
say that the whole industry must continue to strive for improve-
ment in those two areas.
“I don’t think the mining industry has done as much as they should
on educating the public in the progress we’ve made environmen-
tally, nor have some been as proactive as they should be on recla-
mation topics, concerns of First Nations, the environmental realm
or the social side. The future can be a win-win across all fronts.”
Creativity engineering and responsible stewardship can rewrite
history. Progressive reclamation and water treatment improve-
ments are the forefronts. Bio Chemical Reactors (BCRs) used to
treat mining-influenced water (MIW) by using microorganisms to
transform contaminants and to increase pH in the treated water
have been successfully introduced, despite challenges associated
with the winter climate. “It has been the most successful Selenium
reduction system and we are continuing to forge forward with it.
Conuma has also been forthright with other mining companies to
share the technology,” says Bartkoski. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“I think that Conuma has been a shot across the bow of all industry
on how to approach engagement with the community,” says Bart-
koski. “Even if treating people right, and caring for the environment
wasn’t economically rewarding, and we believe it is, there is a moral
obligation to integrity we will serve. When you do the right thing,
you can truly build a win-win that brings security to everyone.”
NOVEMBER 2018 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA 51
