St Barbara Limited has received requests for information from the Nova Scotian Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the environmental assessment of the proposal to deposit tailings into the Touquoy open pit.

Compiling this information would take more time than available before the existing tailings management facility reaches capacity, said the company.

"Therefore, the Company plans to place operations into care and maintenance at that time and will continue to engage with the Nova Scotian government."

Some environmental groups and local residents have raised concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the mine, including the disposal of tailings in the open pit.

St Barbara Limited wants to deposit tailings into the Touquoy open pit mine as an alternative to constructing a new tailings storage facility.

According to the company, this method is a more sustainable approach to tailings management as it reduces the environmental impact by eliminating the need for a new tailings dam. The proposed method involves depositing tailings into the pit and then covering them with waste rock, which would reduce the risk of acid rock drainage and erosion. Additionally, the method would allow the company to continue operating without the need to construct a new tailings storage facility, which can be costly and time-consuming.