Operation and Site Performance 2006 Elk Valley Coal Partnership Operation and Site Performance 2006 Teck Cominco Limited

Elk Valley Coal Partnership

Scenic views from the North Line Creek pit Dave Gfrerer, Geotech at Cedar Pit

Operational Overview Elk Valley Coal Partnership (EVCP) is the northern hemi- Spotlight sphere’s largest producer of hard coking metallurgical EVCP’s Cardinal River Operations was recognized for its coal for the global steel industry, supplying about one- efforts throughout 2006 in reclaiming the Sphinx Creek sixth of the world’s seaborne metallurgical coal market. mining area. The effective upstream and downstream con- nection of the Sphinx Creek channel to the end of the pit EVCP operates six open-pit mines, five located in lake allows fish to migrate into and through a body of water southeastern and one in west-central designed to permanently sustain native trout species, while Alberta. These operations include: Fording River, providing year-round habitat on 100 reclaimed hectares Greenhills, Line Creek, Elkview, Coal Mountain and for grizzly bears, elk, sheep, mule deer and wolves. Cardinal Cardinal River. EVCP’s corporate office is located in River Operations was presented with the Alberta Chamber of Calgary, Alberta. As managing partner, Teck Cominco Resources’ Major Reclamation Award for its work on Sphinx holds a 40% partnership interest in EVCP and a 5.3% Creek. Each year, the Alberta Chamber of Resources award indirect interest through its investment in Fording recipient is independently nominated by Alberta Environ- Canadian Coal Trust, which owns 60% of EVCP. At the ment for undertaking a project that best represents the end of 2006, EVCP employed approximately 3,000 men values and principles of sustainable land use and reclama- and women at its six operations and corporate office. tion in the province.

Environmental Highlights All EVCP operations are accountable for long-term, socially responsible environmental stewardship. To EVCP operations, environmental stewardship means avoiding or mitigating potential negative impacts during operations as well as ensuring reclamation occurs to EVCP’s Cardinal return the land to a pre-mining end land use. River Operations was recognized for its efforts in 2006 in All operations have been, and continue to be, subject to reclaiming the Sphinx extensive environmental assessment processes, which Creek mining area. include public and aboriginal consultation. The mines diligently follow through on all of their commitments and regulatory requirements. Elk Valley Coal Partnership Operation and Site Performance 2006

A view of reclaimed land at Line Creek Billie O’Brien among the conifers she helped plant in 1986

Environmental Management System Achievements By end of 2008, all EVCP operations are planning to Spotlight have achieved ISO 14001:2004 certification. At the end In September of 2006, the Line Creek Operation reached of 2006, the following sites achieved certification of the significant milestone of working two years without expe- their environmental management systems: riencing a lost-time injury. ß Fording River Operations (FRO) achieved ISO 14001:1996 certification in 2001 and achieved ISO 14001:2004 certification in 2006; Community Sustainability ß Greenhills Operations achieved ISO 14001:1996 in The majority of employees working at the five mines 2005 and achieved ISO 14001:2004 in 2006; located in the Elk Valley of B.C. live in , Fernie, Elkford, and adjacent rural areas. ß Coal Mountain Operations achieved ISO 14001:1996 The Alberta operations’ employees live primarily in in 2005 and achieved ISO 14001:2004 in 2006. Hinton and the surrounding area. For many of these communities, EVCP provides the largest source of Reclamation local employment. EVCP’s approach to community Reclaiming disturbed land to pre-mining conditions after engagement is to support and encourage employees land use is a significant objective at all six operations. to be active citizens in the communities within which Mining and reclamation progress to the end of 2006 is they live. Employees participate in local government, shown below: Chambers of Commerce and any number of areas of community or personal interest. EVCP’s policy is to Disturbance to Reclaimed Reclaimed Seedlings procure goods and services preferentially from local be Reclaimed to End of in 2006 Planted in suppliers, including local First Nations businesses, (ha) 2006 (ha) (ha) 2006 whenever possible. A continuing example of local Cardinal River 1,329 1,074 76 59,700 procurement of goods and services from First Nations Coal Mountain 918 134 0 0 business includes using technical forestry workers, Elkview 2,562 971 20 13,400 purchasing wood products and advertising materials from Fording River 3,554 667 47 44,085 businesses related to the local Ktunaxa Nation bands. Greenhills 1,865 473 3 28,110 EVCP’s donations program is focused on supporting the Line Creek 1,897 307 0 8,891 communities within which its employees live. Giving in Total 12,125 3,626 146 154,186 2006 covered a broad spectrum of areas including local Operation and Site Performance 2006 Teck Cominco Limited

Lanny Amos checks spruce for disease on the reclaimed Supervisor Larry Poach shows Renee D’Andrea the roots of Harmer Nob Diverse Wildlife Habitat. saplings grown at the FRO greenhouse. health foundations, local sporting events, STARS air Health and Safety Statistics ambulance, advanced mining education at universities, and local First Nations cultural celebrations. 2006 2005 2004 Fatalities 0 1 0 The largest employee-driven donation event at EVCP Lost-time injuries 29 39 28 is its annual Caring for Kids campaign. Over the past 11 years, EVCP and its predecessor companies have LTI frequency 0.95 1.19 1.03 dollar-for-dollar matched funds donated and raised by Severity 31.73 223.02 30.87 employees, resulting in more than $1.1 million donated in aggregate to children’s hospitals in B.C. and Alberta. Awards Fording River Operations received the 2006 B.C. Jake Safety and Health McDonald Mine Reclamation Award for outstanding The commitment to improve EVCP’s safety performance reclamation achievements. Fording River’s consistent continued in 2006. The efforts paid off with a historically commitment to reclamation and substantial contributions low lost-time injury rate for the year of 0.95. to the state of reclamation knowledge and techniques in B.C., including research into the establishment At the corporate level, a manager of health and of productive forests on waste rock dumps, were safety supports each operation’s health and safety the reasons for the award. In addition, the 2006 efforts and a senior management health and safety Citation for Outstanding Achievement for Reclamation at a committee reviews and comments on each operation’s Coal Mine was awarded to the Elkview mine by the B.C. performance. Starting in 2006, each of the sites took on Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation. This the initiative of developing its safety programs within the award was given on the merits of Elkview’s leadership in parameters of a new common set of corporate Health the development of reclamation solutions for more than and Safety Management Standards based on the Teck 30 years. Cardinal River Operations was awarded the Cominco management standards. Regrettably, as shown 2006 Alberta Chamber of Resources Major Reclamation in the safety statistics below, there was one fatality over Award for its reclamation work on the Sphinx Creek the last three years. mining area.

Elk Valley coal Partnership

British Columbia and Alberta, Canada Dermot Lane, Director, Corporate Communications www.teckcominco.com [email protected]