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

by mining and mining related activities to the sta- tus quo ante . This entails the removal, demolition and rehabilitation not merely of the mining infra- structure but also of support infrastructure, such as mining towns, hostels, the associated roads, metal- lurgical plants, sewage works and mining recrea- tional facilities (Reichardt, 2002, p 2B-2). As such, the achievement of a mine site status is suggested in Figure 4.1. This illustrates a cyclic use of land and its reclamation with the site being returned to a self-sustainable land use. This however, may not always be consistent with expectations regarding the socio-economic status enfolding the site post-closure – factors this docu- ment has already highlighted as important among planning expectations. Nor may it always be eco- nomical – both these are topics discussed in the next section. Before this, however this discussion shall address some socio-economic aspects of mine site closure.

tions and concerns, governmental requirements, and profitability of the mining project, while min- imising environmental impacts (Environment Australia, 2002b). While the challenges of integrating community expectations and concerns, governmental require- ments and profitability all while minimising en- vironmental and social impacts are relevant in all settings, they are particularly so in developing countries and in economies in transition. This is particularly relevant when national fiscal reserves and/or welfare systems are minimal or non-exist- ent as in such settings. Greater innovation and flex- ibility is likely to be required in such jurisdictions than is required in more developed economies. As one example of this, in developing and transi- tional economies, the removal, demolition and re- habilitation not only of the mining infrastructure but also of support infrastructure may be far less appropriate than in other settings. In countries desperately short of infrastructure such as houses, social service facilities and roads, such facilities rep- resent potentially valuable assets for the communi- ties in which they are located (Reichardt, 2002). Innovative uses, if such can be found for them, may represent a favourable development pathway. Similarly, if on mine closure it is found that passive or active care must be maintained (such as ongoing maintenance of waterways etc), then it may be nec- essary or appropriate to reclaim to an alternative developed land use. It is likely that in such cases custodians will be present on the site (i.e. utilising the land) in the long term and have incentives to ac- tively care for the land. To avoid the establishment and management of the “trust fund” and any long term financial risks associated with such funds, Robertson (1998) indicates that it is desirable to develop a post mining sustainable land-use which yields an adequate return. Such economic yields can form the basis of such incentives. 80

Self sustaining condition

Mine development & operation

Mine rehabilitation

After Robertson, Devenny & Shaw (1998)

Figure 4.1 Long term developed self-sustaining con- ditions for land

The socio-economic expectations include at least the following: the after-use of the site is beneficial and sus- tainable in the long term; adverse socio-economic impacts are mini- mized; and socio-economic benefits are maximized. Successful mine planning for environmental pro- tection avoids or minimises potentially adverse en- vironmental impacts over the life of the mine and into the future by carefully considering the layout and design of the various components of a mine. The process must integrate community expecta- • • •

This is one topic addressed in the next section of this discussion and also taken up in Section 5.1.2.

80. Gilles Tremblay of Natural Resources Canada (personal com- munication: Natural Resources Canada, 2005, 2 August) reports that one item being examined in Canada is to employ local com- munities to perform monitoring and so forth after the mine per- sonnel have left the site in order to maintain long-term care. In a Canadian context, he indicates that aboriginal groups in the north would need training on what to look for, that they would be lo- cated close by, and that they would require access to emergency telephones etc to contact the owners in case of problems.

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MINING FOR CLOSURE