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4
MINING FOR CLOSURE
1.1.1
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.
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.
key terms utilised within
this document
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