Mining and the Environment From Ore to Metal

About this book

The history of mining is replete with controversy, much of it relating to environmental damage and consequent community outrage. Over recent decades there has been increasing pressure to improve the environmental and social performance of mining operations, particularly in developing countries. The industry has responded by embracing the ideals of corporate social responsibility.

This book identifies and discusses the wide range of social and environmental issues pertaining to mining, with particular reference to mining in developing countries from where many of the project examples and case studies have been selected. Following an introductory overview of the issues of concern, the book illustrates how environmental impact assessment as defined in "The Equator Principles", integrates with the mining lifecycle, and how environmental assessment aims to eliminate the negative and to accentuate the positive mining impacts.

The text illustrates the wide range of environmental and social concerns and opportunities. Practical approaches are provided to manage issues ranging from land acquisition and resettlement or indigenous peoples issues, through the technical aspects of acid rock drainage and mine waste management, to a thorough analysis of ways and means of sharing mining benefits with host communities so that these benefits are not transitory, allowing mining to become a sustainable economic activity. The wide coverage of issues raised illustrated by many real-life case studies, makes this practice-oriented book a reference and key reading for operators in the field, as well as for environmental consultants, regulators, and students.

This book will also be of interest to environmental personnel in the oil and gas industry as much of the subject matter applies to the extractive industries as a whole.

Contents

1. MINERALS, WEALTH AND PROGRESS 2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT - Protection before Exploration 3. INVOLVING THE PUBLIC - Forging Partnerships and Trust 4. THE ANATOMY OF A MINE 5. MINING METHODS VARY WIDELY 6. CONVERTING MINERALS TO METALS 7. OUR ENVIRONMENT - A Set of Natural and Human Features 8. THE BASELINE - Understanding the Host Environment 9. IDENTIFYING AND EVALUATING IMPACTS 10. EMPHASIZING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING 11. METALS, THEIR BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS AND HARMFUL IMPACTS 12. WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ADEQUATE? 13. THE RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS 14. LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT - When Property and Development Rights Collide 15. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - Ensuring Long term Benefits 16. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ISSUES 17. ACID ROCK DRAINAGE - The Unseen Legacy 18. TAILINGS DISPOSAL CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES 19. APPROACHES TO WASTE ROCK DISPOSAL 20. EROSION -- The Perpetual Disruptive Force of Water and Wind 21. MINE CLOSURE - It is not over when it is over 22. EXISTING TRENDS

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Biography

Dr. Karlheinz Spitz is an environmental consultant with more than 20 years professional experience in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. His main interest is the environmental assessment of large resource development projects in developing countries. He worked on many mines in South East Asia, covering a wide range of minerals and a diverse spectrum of environmental and social settings. Dr. Spitz understands mining as a sustainable economic activity; his focus is on the social, economic and environmental performance of mining. Dr. Spitz provides high level advice to Equator Principles Financial Institutions, and he is regular guest lecturer at various universities. John Trudinger is an environmental consultant with more than 40 years of professional experience. Initially qualified as a geologist, his initial experience was on geotechnical investigations for large infrastructure projects. In the early 1970's he became involved in the emerging environmental business, and has since contributed as team member or team leader on environmental assessments for more than 100 resource development and infrastructure projects. He has worked throughout Australia, Asia and North America. His particular interest is the management of mine wastes in the mountainous wet tropics.