Department of State Development Mineral Resources Division

Transcription

1 Mineral Resources Division Former Mines in South Australia December 2016

2 Overview of Presentation 1. Brief History of Mining in SA 2. Former Mines 3. Key Drivers 4. Management Process 5. Where Next & Learnings from Former Mines 2

3 Brief History of Mining in SA 3

4 Mining in SA Commodities Metallic mines Copper, Iron, Nickel, Silver, Gold, Rare earths, Uranium Industrials (non metallic) Construction materials, Barite, Asbestos, Talc, Salt, Opals etc Commencement of Metallic Mining Copper 1860s Gold, lead, silver 1920s Iron 1970s onwards Uranium, rare earths, nickel Extractive Quarries & Mines / Industrial (non metallic) 1836 Construction materials Late 1800 s Asbestos 1915 Opal at Cooper Pedy 4

5 Former Mines 5

6 Definition of Former Mines Former Mines A place where mining operations has occurred but which is not presently tenured mine under the Mining Act 1971 or otherwise authorised. i.e. an operation carried on in the course of searching for or recovery of any mineral (including opal) and any works situated or adjacent to the place at which a mining operation was carried out on 6

7 SA Former Mines Data 3086 former mines in database including tourist/ recreational. Publicly available on the MinDep layer on SA geodatabase & GIS layers OH&S risk assessment undertaken on features within mines (shafts, adits, etc) giving each a risk rating. Draft Inventory of Former Mines report in Focus is on database management, data collection & OH&S risk assessment. Significant environmental information has been collected for specific mines i.e. Brukunga 7

8 Former Mines in South Australia Approximately 3,000 former mines in SA Types of former mine Heritage listed / Tourist Mines Moonta/Wallaroo Copper Mine Jupiter Creek Beltana Mine Stakeholder Interest Radium Hill Port Pirie Mount Gunson Brukunga Lower perceived risk metallic and industrial mines Extractives quarries and pits 8

9 Key Drivers 9

10 Key Drivers For SA Government Stakeholder/ Community Protection Environmental Protection Brukunga Mine Tailings Seepage 10

11 Radium Hill Uranium Mine Radium Hill Mine during operations 11

12 Radium Hill Uranium Mine Remaining Mine Structures Measuring erosion rates on the TSF 12

13 Port Pirie Port Pirie during operations Tailings dam covered by slag with soil and vegetation cover 13

14 Mount Gunson 14

15 Management Processes 15

16 1. Process SA is actively managing or undertaking environmental investigations on 5 Former Mines Brukunga Port Pirie Radium Hill Mount Gunson Wallaroo Copper Mine (Heritage Site) Risk assessment processes were used to assist in defining requirements for remediation for: Brukunga Mount Gunson Port Pirie Radium Hill Wallaroo Scoping study and high level cost estimation, and application for funding to Government 16

17 2. Process STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Further Studies/ Field Trials Develop Conceptual Designs Detailed Risk Assessment 17

18 Where Next & Learnings 18

19 Where next for former mines? Land Access Working Group (LAWG) A consistent environmental risk based process to rank all Former Mines A consistent detailed risk based process for identifying rehabilitation requirements, when required. Funding mechanism for all non-extractive former mines 19

20 Learnings from Former Mines SA Government has incorporated learnings into current regulation for closure planning. A financial assurance system. The use of the risk assessment process, from preliminary to detailed risk assessments to identify mitigation measures, and gaps in knowledge and data, and test the robustness of designs. The volume of site specific information / data that is required to be able to develop detailed designs for closure and subsequently robust completion criteria. Substantial increase in the information and level of detail companies now need to provide to Government for providing evidence that closure designs are robust and appropriate for the long term. Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR) which includes closure planning, must include detailed engineering designs, construction drawings and supporting evidence. 20

21 Contact Further Information from DSD, Mining Regulation: Phone: DSD, Minerals Website DSD Mineral Resources Division Level 7, 101 Grenfell Street Adelaide, South Australia 5000 GPO Box 320 Adelaide, South Australia