Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is a Canadian gold producing company that operates 9 mines in Canada, Mexico and Finland, and is also managing a series of closed sites mainly in Canada. The mines produce tailings in different forms: conventional slurry, thickened tailings and filtered tailings. AEM also operates complex infrastructures somewhat analogous in terms of risks like Heap Leach Facilities, Rockfill Storage Facilities and Water Management Infrastructures. AEM has decided to apply the same rigor in the management and design, the construction, the maintenance and monitoring of all these infrastructures, and this throughout the whole life-cycle of these facilities. A key part of this journey toward self-improvement in the management of these infrastructures was to adopt some robust internal systems and to follow Best Available/Applicable Practices. Implementation of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining~R (TSM~R) 3rd Edition (2017) is considered such a best practice. The changes of the latest 3rd Edition require a certain strengthening of the governance of the management of its tailings facilities. Among the different changes is the need to have more clarity on roles and responsibilities, the inclusion of a more formal risk-based approach, etc. This paper presents some of the adjustments needed to adjust the implementation of the Guide to the unique conditions of the company, its organizational structure, the internal practice and the interpretation of the roles.
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