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

Tailings contaminated stream after tailings release – Macedonia Photograph by UNDP, Macedonia

Action area 4: fostering of institutional frameworks for abandoned or orphaned site management and sustainable mining and minerals processing prac- tice – further development of legislative frame- works addressing mining and minerals processing legacies; clear accountability (and jurisdictional remit) for the environmental, social and economic aspects of mining and minerals processing activi- ties in the region; and the further development of institutions supporting transboundary risk man- agement and/or disaster response. As such, and as previously indicated, this document is intended to support “back to mining” initiatives. It will do so via the provision of basic ingredients or principles for the future generation of guidelines for mining within the SEE/TRB region and TRB. The actors that this document addresses and the general manner of intended application are detailed in Sec- tion 3. Prior to that material however, the next sec- tion will outline why actors such as the international mining community, national mining jurisdictions in leading mining nations, inter-governmental en- vironmental bodies and international development agencies consider Mining for Closure and the issue of abandoned or orphaned sites to be so important to sustainable development around the world.

significant risks associated at sites of mining or minerals processing that are operational via capac- ity building for existing economic actors and indus- trial activities. A key part of this will be the develop- ment of an effective and efficient approach to the funding of closure that enables mine rehabilitation and other environmental, social or economic objec- tives to be achieved, and also facilitates and encour- ages industry to comply with the requirements of Government and the community. Action area 3: development of new resources and re-mining aligned with sustainable develop- ment – actions that can stimulate development of institutional capacity, a culture of risk control, and markedly improved operational procedures throughout the region to create a norm of mine planning that encompasses mine closure plans as an integral part of a project life cycle. These shall be designed so as to ensure that: future public health and safety are not compromised; environ- mental resources are not subject to physical and chemical deterioration; the after-use of the site is beneficial and sustainable in the long term; any adverse socio-economic impacts are minimized; and to ensure that socio-economic benefits are maximized.

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MINING FOR CLOSURE