Agnico Eagle Meadowbank Fined for Failing to Notify Authorities of an Environmental Incident

Baker Lake, NU; May 3, 2017: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (Agnico Eagle or the Company) reports that on Monday, May 1, the Company appeared in an Iqaluit Court in connection with an environmental incident that occurred in July 2013 at Meadowbank.

The incident is related to seepage from a sump near one of Meadowbank’s waste rock piles during the freshet period. This sump is used to collect seepage from the Waste Rock Storage Facility (WRSF) and pump it back to the tailings pond. On July 29 – 30, 2013, in an area adjacent to the sump on the north side of the WRSF, a “red” coloured seepage was observed entering Lake NP-2, which is a small shallow lake.

Upon detection of the seepage, action was implemented to control the seepage and samples were collected to analyze the water quality at the seepage location entering the lake. Toxicity tests confirmed that this water was non-toxic to trout and daphnia. As a result of this incident, Agnico Eagle has agreed to pay a fine of $50,000 for failing to notify the Authorities of the seepage in a timely manner.

“This was an unfortunate event and we are taking the matter very seriously. Agnico Eagle has a rigorous environmental management system in place and we have taken steps to further improve upon it,” stated Dominique Girard, Agnico Eagle’s Vice-President – Nunavut Operations.

Mr. Girard added: “Our Nunavut Environment Management team has revised spill procedures and plans, including a new spills notification protocol that will be shared with all Agnico Nunavut employees and we remain deeply committed to environmental protection by ensuring that measures are in place to control our activities and minimize our effects.”

For more information and/or media enquiries please contact:

Dale Coffin
Communications & Public Affairs
dale.coffin@agnicoeagle.com
416.847.8669