Mining for Closure: Policies, practises and guidelines for sustainable mining and closure of mines

1.1.1

key terms utilised within this document

Idle or Inactive mine site – all mineral sites where minerals exploration, mining or processing has ceased. Thus all mine sites not considered active. Closed mine site – (generally) a former active mining site where mineral exploration, min- ing or processing has concluded and all cur- rent appropriate regulatory obligations have been satisfied. However, (specifically) within this document, the definition of a closed mine site will be extended to encompass best prac- tice considerations of “Mining for Closure” as developed throughout the document. 10 Mine Closure – (generally) a whole of mine life process that typically culminates in tenement relinquishment (generally, after a legally bind- ing sign-off of liability). Closure (generally) is deemed to be complete at the end of decom- missioning and rehabilitation and where and all current appropriate regulatory obligations have been satisfied. Within this document, the definition will be extended as indicated above. Neglected mine site – An idle or inactive site that has not been closed and has no clear and obvious owner but that may still be held under some form of title and where all current ap- propriate regulatory obligations have not been satisfied. This definition can include sites where regulation changes have led to closure parameters being imposed after the site be- came inactive. Temporary Closure (An Idle/Inactive mine site under Care and Maintenance) – the phase following temporary cessation of operations when infrastructure remains intact and the site continues to be managed. The site is still held under some form of title and all current appro- priate regulatory obligations for closure have not been satisfied. When being maintained in some way with a view to future resumption of 8. In some definitions, the term closure does not imply any partic- ular level of site clean-up after operations cease and the terms such as “rehabilitation”, “restoration” and “reclamation” are used to im- ply “post-closure” improvement of the site to a desired standard. 9. Albeit with different terminology to both reports and with ex- tended and substantially altered definitions – particularly with re- gards to the distinction between abandoned and orphaned mine sites and “mine closure”. 10. With relevant limitations, arguments will be presented later in this document, that a mine will achieve “closure” when meas- ures have been put in place that are designed so as to ensure that: future public health and safety are not compromised and environ- mental resources are not subject to abnormal physical and chemi- cal deterioration in the long term. As the intent of this document is informative and general, legal definitions will not be sought. • • • • •

A number of terms are associated with mine de- commissioning or closure depending on particular circumstances. Due to this variation in differing texts and jurisdictions – and due to the coining of a new phrase within this document ( Mining for Clo- sure ), a number of key terms are clarified here. Within this document, “closure” means more than the act or the moment of ceasing operations at a mine site. Rather, it implies awhole ofmine life process that typically culminates in tenement relinquishment. As such, closure is interpreted here to be complete at the end of decommissioning and rehabilitation. 8 How- ever, and as will be explained in this document, this does not necessarily imply the return of a site to the state in which it existed prior to mining, nor should it preclude that such activities are carried out while mining is ongoing. To the contrary, ongoing reha- bilitation of active mining sites – while mining opera- tions are underway – is considered vital. The term “Mining for Closure” , is intended to be both inclusive and flexible. It is intended to imply that mining operations can take place in such a way that “rehabilitation” has been substantially achieved at the time of closure; that activities to deal with min- ing legacies on a mining lease may be combined with ongoing or proposed mining operations; that special partnerships to deal with mining legacies can be combined with proposed or ongoing mine activities; that situations can be facilitated where non-miners can form partnerships to rehabilitate or valorise mining legacies, and so forth. Further, it is intended that this term evolve as its content becomes more apparent in the field. To support these ideas, the following definitions provided for the purpose of this report are largely based on those presented in texts such as the Strate- gic Framework for Mine Closure (ANZMEC MCA, 2000) and a recent Canadian report (Cal Data Ltd., 2005) 9 . The reader is referred to the definitions overleaf and Figure 1 1, which describes mine site status as used within this document. Active mine site – a site where mineral explora- tion, mining or processing is ongoing with rel- evant and proper regulatory approvals in place. Closing mine site – a mining operation where cessation of operations is anticipated within less than 2 to 5 years. • •

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MINING FOR CLOSURE