The new Mining Waste directive: towards more sustainable mining

Transcription

1 TAIEX Seminar Tallinn, 30/11/2006 The new Mining Waste directive: towards more sustainable mining Fotios Papoulias European Commission, DG Environment Unit G4 Sustainable Production and Consumption Phone , , e fotios.papoulias@ec.europa.eu

2 Mining waste Directive Nature Specific legal framework (stand-alone directive) on the management of waste from extractive industries (Directive 2006/21/EC) Follows doctrine of EU waste policy (reduce waste production and its harmfulness, recycle/recover, safe disposal) Measures focus on safe management of mining waste facilities (waste heaps, tailings ponds) Provisions proportionate to risks

3 Extractive industries ENERGY MINERALS METALLIC MINERALS INDUSTRIAL MINERALS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Nuclear fuels Fossil fuels Ferrous metals Non-ferrous metals Precious metals Minor metals Uranium Oil Coal Oil shale Some of the most important metals: Some of the most important metals: Ferrous metals:fe; Mn, Ni, Cr, Mo, W, V, Co Ferrous metals:fe; Mn, Ni, Cr, Mo, W, V, Co Non-ferrous metals:cu, Pb, Zn (base metals); Sn, Al Non-ferrous metals:cu, Pb, Zn (base metals); Sn, Al Precious metals:au, Ag, Pt Precious metals:au, Ag, Pt Minor metals:sb, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Hg, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr Minor metals:sb, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Hg, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr Fissionable metals: U, Th Fissionable metals:u, Th (U is considered here as nuclear fuel.)

4 Mine and quarrying processes and related waste pathways topsoil overburden waste rock ore Waste management tailings Mineral Processing concentrate

5 Mining waste Directive Objectives Prevent or reduce effects from management of all mining waste facilities throughout their life-cycle planning, licensing and eventual closure and after-care of waste facilities emphasis on stability and prevention of water and soil pollution Prevent major accidents or minimise their consequences for highrisk waste facilities through measures based on BAT

6 Mining waste Directive Main provisions (1) Waste management plan Permitting by the operator, in order to prevent waste production, promote backfilling and recycling and ensure short/long term safe disposal Fundamental document on the wastes generated and the management of the waste facility On the basis of the waste management plan Public participation and review process Major-accident prevention policy For high risk facilities Complementary to revised Seveso II Dir. Emergency planning and response

7 Mining waste Directive Main provisions (2) Construction and management of waste facilities Competent person, technical development of staff Monitoring and follow-up action Preventing water status deterioration Leachate assessment and control Meet standards of EU environmental legislation, in particular Water Framework Dir. 2000/60/EC Cyanide concentrations in tailings ponds Closure and after-care Rehabilitation, controls by competent authority System of financial guarantees Responsibility of operator for after-care (monitoring, corrective measures

8 Mining waste Directive Main provisions (3) Inventories of polluting closed/abandoned waste facilities Development of methodologies for drawing up inventories and rehabilitation of sites Transboundary effects Consultation between MSs for permitting high risk facilities, incl. public participation Regular inspections by competent authority and record keeping by operators Exchange of information on BAT

9 Mining waste Directive Implementation Technical implementation measures to be adopted by the Commission with the assistance of the Committee of national representatives ( Comitology procedure) Major tasks Waste characterisation methodologies and related sampling/testing methods Interpretation of definition of inert waste Criteria for classification of high-risk facilities Guidelines on financial guarantees and inspections

10 BAT Reference Document (BREF) Reference document on Best Available Techniques for Management of Tailings and Waste-Rock in Mining Activities Purpose: Help prevent accidents related to tailings dams Optimise day-to-day performance of tailings and waste-rock management by being a guide for - authorities - industry - interested public

11 BREF - Structure 1. General information 2. Common processes 3. Applied processes and techniques 4. Techniques to consider in the determination of BAT 5. BAT chapter 6. Emerging techniques Main issues covered ARD management Effluent management Dam construction/operation Removal of free water Dewatering of tailings Monitoring stability Reduction of footprint 7. Conclusions

12 hazardousness Relation among MW Directive / Seveso II / BREF BREF MW Directive Seveso II All extractive waste

13 Further information Mining waste directive BREF