Mine closure of pit lakes as terminal sinks: best available practice when options are limited?

In an arid climate, pit lake evaporation rates can exceed influx rates, causing the lake to function as a hydraulic terminal sink, with water levels in the pit remaining below surrounding groundwater levels. We present case studies from Western Australia for two mines nearing closure. At the first site, modelling indicates that waste dump covers for the potentially acid forming (PAF) material would not be successful over the long term (1,000 years or more). The second site is a case study where PAF management is limited by the current waste rock dump location and suitable cover materials. Pit lake water balance modelling using Goldsim software indicated that both pit lakes would function as hydraulic terminal sinks if not backfilled above long-term equilibrium water levels. Poor water quality will likely develop as evapoconcentration increases contaminant concentrations, providing a potential threat to local wildlife. Even so, the best current opportunity to limit the risk of contaminant migration and protect regional groundwater environments may be to limit backfill and intentionally produce a terminal sink pit lake

Fostering social sustainability management through safety controls and accounting

Purpose This paper aims to identify the usefulness of safety controls and accounting in corporate social sustainability management in response to various stakeholders’ demands and expectations in the mining sector. Design/methodology/approach The case study approach is followed in this study as it provides in-depth understanding of complex social phenomena. Data collection is mainly based on semi-structured interviews, on-site assessments and documentation reviews. Visits were repeated and cross-checked to ensure the validity of data collection and analysis. Findings The study identifies a reciprocal relationship between stakeholder management strategies and the safety control system that encapsulates a mix of leading and lagging key safety performance indicators (KSPIs). A safety control system with the right mix of KSPIs drives corporate value-creation by instigating internal organizational changes. Yet, the stakeholders’ expectations and pressures are dependent on national, historical, cultural and social settings and institutions that will impact on the safety controls and safety accounting in a substantial way. Originality/value The paper demonstrates the usefulness of safety controls and accounting in corporate stakeholder management in the mining sector in Sri Lanka. The paper, by addressing how safety control systems and accounting meet various stakeholder demands and expectations, provides new insights into corporate social sustainability performance in mining companies and the role and implications of sustainability (management) accounting.No Full Tex

Health impact assessment in Mongolia: Current situation, directions, and challenges

Many developing countries have limited capacity to adequately assess and manage health impacts associated with environmental change. In Mongolia, methodologies to introduce health impact assessment (HIA) as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process have been investigated, and a mechanism to incorporate HIA into the current EIA process is proposed. Some challenges to the implementation of HIA are discussed. The country is now in a position to incorporate HIA as part of the approvals process for development projects. Given the recent growth in population, industrial development, and urbanization together with the interest from international mining companies in the resources of the country, it is important for Mongolia to have such tools in place in order to take advantage of economic growth while improving health and well-being outcomes for the population

Developing a water accounting framework for the Australian minerals industry

The development of a water accounting framework that enables consistent and contextual reporting of minerals operations' water use, represents a key sustainable development objective that many Australian minerals companies have committed to. A future water accounting framework will require: • key terms and definitions for water metrics for use in the Australian minerals industry that are consistent with the wider water sector, • a suite of metrics representing key components of an operation's water balance, • a calculation method for some of the metrics, and • a reporting protocol. This paper presents the methodology that was used to derive these four components. Existing accounting frameworks were reviewed and key terms and definitions that were consistent with current regulatory requirements and voluntary approaches were proposed. A calculation methodology was developed to obtain some of the key indicators and variables that cannot be easily measured directly (eg water loss through evaporation). The adopted terms and definitions typically require a combination of empirical and estimated data. To test the proposed definitions and calculation methodology, values for water metrics were derived for eight sites, selected to test a variety of commodity and biophysical situations. The proposed framework and definitions could deal with the specific situations selected as case studies. The associated calculation methodology produced complete accounts at various levels. Some elements of the accounts could be directly checked against available data and simulations. The framework captured well variations in the reuse efficiencies; reuse efficiency could even vary for similar processes. It is concluded that this preliminary accounting framework provides a consistent language and metrics for quantifying and communicating water management, both at the intersection of the site with the surrounding landscape (through detailed reporting of site inputs and outputs) and within operational activities. Using this consistent framework for quantifying and documenting water use within an operation will provide a platform for compiling and comparing minerals industry water use with other sectors. This may support benchmarking activities within regions or companies and help demonstrate leadership amongst water users in water resource stewardship. The approach presented here is applicable to a wide variety of mining and processing activities, and biophysical environments, and following a period of stakeholder engagement and third party review, is being refined as a first step towards developing nationally consistent water use reporting for the Australian minerals industry. © 2010 Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

The ecological research needs of business

Businesses have an unrivalled ability to mobilize human, physical and financial capital, often manage large land holdings, and draw on resources and supply products that impact a wide array of ecosystems. Businesses therefore have the potential to make a substantial contribution to arresting declines in biodiversity and ecosystem services. To realize this potential, businesses require support from researchers in applied ecology to inform how they measure and manage their impacts on, and opportunities presented to them by, biodiversity and ecosystem services