Glencore’s Proposed Application for Renewal of the Ministerial Authorization for the Horne Smelter

The report on the results of the consultation can be found at the bottom of this page, along with the briefs that were submitted. It is important to note that the Minister will consider the final consultation report, as well as advice from government experts, including from his own ministry and public health authorities, in his decision-making process.

Owned by Glencore, the Horne Smelter began operations in Rouyn-Noranda in 1927. The plant produces copper anodes from copper concentrates and recovered materials. The company employs hundreds of workers. However, the smelter’s activities are not without environmental and public health consequences.

The renewal of Glencore’s Ministerial Authorization (formerly called a “Remediation Certificate”) for Horne Smelter operations comes at a pivotal moment, as it sets the facility’s environmental protection obligations for the next five years.

Terms of the public consultation

Before officially ruling on the forthcoming compliance requirements for the Glencore Horne Smelter, the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) is holding a public consultation. Interested parties can express their opinions and concerns by filling out a questionnaire or submitting a brief.

All briefs and comments submitted online and during the in-person sessions will be summarized in the consultation report and made public soon. The MELCC will use this information to finalize its review. The government intends to make a decision on the renewal of Glencore’s Ministerial Authorization to operate the Horne Smelter by late fall 2022.

Purpose of the consultation

Reiterating that public health is of paramount consideration, the MELCC is proposing to impose an annual average ambient air arsenic concentration compliance ceiling of 15 nanograms per cubic metre (ng/m3) on Glencore for the operation of the Horne Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, consistent with the benchmarks set by public health authorities on August 10, 2022. This would be an important first step towards compliance with the Québec standard of 3 ng/m3. The purpose of the consultation is to gauge the level of public agreement on the initial 15 ng/m3 requirement and the five-year timeframe for achieving it.

With respect to other requirements that may be incorporated into the terms of the permit, the MELCC also wishes to consult with the public regarding the Horne Smelter reductions announced by Glencore in its most recent action plan. Interested parties are invited to review the performance targets for lead, cadmium, arsenic, nickel and sulphur dioxide, for which progressive reductions are planned. For other metals, compliance with Schedule K (French only) of the Clean Air Regulation will be mandatory.

Although this consultation focuses more specifically on the factors affecting ambient air quality, it is important to mention that the MELCC will require Glencore to continue the characterization and decontamination of local lands, primarily those located in the Notre-Dame district, in accordance with current standards and requirements, among other things. The MELCC will also install new sampling stations, whose measurements will both factor into the next Ministerial Authorization and improve air quality monitoring.

Reference documents

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the final consultation report (in french).
You can also view the submitted briefs in this directory.

Demande d’autorisation ministérielle (May 20, 2022)
Plan d’action de Glencore pour la Fonderie Horne (August 30, 2022) (full version)
Horne Smelter Environmental Improvement Plan by Glencore (August 30, 2022) (summary)
Modélisation d’arsenic pour le périmètre urbain de Rouyn-Noranda – 2027
Air dispersion modelling popularization – MELCC
Press release - Minister Benoit Charette outlines key environmental requirements the government is proposing to impose on the Horne Foundry (August 15, 2022)
Public Health Authority Benchmarks
Soutien scientifique aux autorités de santé publique dans le cadre du processus de renouvellement de l’autorisation ministérielle accordée à Glencore pour l’exploitation de la Fonderie Horne à Rouyn-Noranda (7 octobre 2022)
Lettre accompagnant le document de l'INSPQ du 7 octobre 2022.

Numerous other documents (French only) produced since the most recent Remediation Certificate (former name of the “Ministerial Authorization”) was issued in 2017 are available for interested readers. They deal mainly with environmental, health and economic issues as well as the work of the interdepartmental committee on the Horne Smelter Action Plan and land use planning.