Emissions and Air Quality Management
Mining and processing activities can impact air quality through the release of fugitive dust and stack emissions into the atmosphere. At IOC, we work to minimize the release of dust by improving our programmes and processing controls, including tailings dust management, dust reduction projects, and ambient air quality monitoring. These initiatives are designed to help improve the quality of the ambient air, reduce environmental impacts at the source, and respond to local community concerns.
We are committed to transparency regarding this program, and the results of our ambient air quality monitoring are available through Environment Canada’s Air Quality Health Index or from the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial monitoring site at Fire Hall. The data reflects emissions generated by IOC and those from other sources in the community, including other mining operations, vehicle emissions, and wood-burning stoves. The air quality of Labrador City has been independently verified by environmental and health science consultants, who concluded that the air quality is similar to that of other small cities and towns in Atlantic Canada. Independent peer-reviewed studies have found that the air quality in Labrador City does not pose a health risk to residents.
Reducing fugitive dust from mine operations
In 2022, Rio Tinto IOC created a cross-functional team tasked with identifying and implementing mitigation measures to reduce fugitive dust from our operations. The team evaluated several options and selected those best suited to our needs and capabilities, with plans to trial new techniques for improved dust control. In 2024, we launched a new dust forecasting tool that predicts conditions favourable to fugitive dust, enabling operators to plan mitigation activities in advance.
