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

in establishments . It covered both, industrial “activi- ties” as well as the storage of dangerous chemicals. The levels of control upon establishments covered by the directive were based upon quantity-related thresholds. There were important areas excluded from the scope of the Seveso II Directive. These included nuclear safety, the transport of dangerous substances and intermediate temporary storage outside establishments and the transport of dangerous sub- stances by pipelines . Further, and vital from a mining perspective was that Seveso II did not address important activities and hazards posed by activities of the extractive indus- tries concerned with exploration for, and the exploi- tation of minerals in mines and quarries mining. In fact, for a number of reasons it specifically excluded mine wastes. However, the accident at Baia Mare in Romania in January 2000 changed stakeholder ex- pectations in that regard. The severe pollution of the Danube demonstrated clearly that certain storage and

and new concepts introduced into the Seveso II Directive included the introduction of new require- ments relating to safety management systems, emergency planning and land-use planning and a reinforcement of the provisions on inspections to be carried out by Member States. 46 From 3 February 1999, the obligations of the Directive were manda- tory for industry as well as the public authorities of the Member States responsible for the implementa- tion and enforcement of the Directive.

At that time, the focus of the Seveso II Directive was solely upon the presence of dangerous substances

46. The aimof the Seveso II Directive is two-fold. Firstly, the Directive aims at the prevention of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances. Secondly, as accidents do continue to occur, the Directive aims at the limitation of the consequences of such accidents not only for man ( safety and health aspects ) but also for the environment ( environ- mental aspect ). Both aims should be followed with a view to ensuring high levels of protection throughout the Community in a consistent and effective manner.

Transport of cyanide bearing tailings waste adja- cent to river – Gold mining area, Romania Photograph by Philip Peck

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MINING FOR CLOSURE