Information
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Areas inspected
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Buisness
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Department
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Review Period
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Manager
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Conducted on
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Prepared by
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Inspection team
Scope and/or intent of the standard
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This standard is applicable to all business units and managed operations; and all phases of their lifecycle from exploration through post closure. It covers all mineral wastes including: waste rock and overburden; tailings, rejects, spent heap leach ore and other mineral processing residues; and most slag, ashes and sludges. This standard covers all potential and actual releases from reactive mineral waste including primary waste material (erosion and fugitive dust) and reaction by-products including aqueous acidic, metalliferous, saline, and radioactive drainage and gaseous emissions. This standard is applicable to rock masses disturbed or exposed by open pit and underground mining which must be considered when managing geochemical issues.
Control requirements
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Specific management requirements in this performance standard apply in addition to any
general requirements defined in the management system standard.
Other relevant documents:
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• Management system standard
• Guidance for the Chemically Reactive Mineral Waste Control Standard
• D3 Management of pit slopes, stockpiles, spoils and waste dumps and associated Group procedure
• D1 Underground standard
• E14 Land disturbance control and rehabilitation standard
• Closure standard
E13 – Chemically reactive mineral waste control
2. Planning
Clause number 2.1
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The level of effort required to meet subsequent clauses in this standard is determined by materiality thresholds, described in guidance to this standard.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause
The purpose of this clause is to ensure that the level of effort and assurance scrutiny is consistent with the risks posed by chemically reactive mineral waste. Refer to the Materiality Thresholds for Chemically Reactive Mineral Waste Control to determine whether or not a business is classified as “above threshold” or “below threshold” and evaluate accordingly. [provide link or table of materiality thresholds] -
Evaluation steps
O] Conduct an orientation tour of the business and surrounding area with the intent of gaining a basic understanding of the operation and how, if applicable, chemically reactive mineral waste is managed.
[I] Ask the designated representative from the business whether or not the business is above or below threshold per the Materiality Thresholds for this standard.
[I] Ask the designated representative from the business about current practice for identifying, characterizing and evaluating mineral waste impacts.
[D] Ask to see the established risk identification and management process for identifying risks related to mineral waste. Ask what the qualifications are of the individuals participating in the risk assessment.
[I] Ask the designated representative from the business if the site has received a significant finding related to chemically reactive mineral waste during a recent assurance process.
[I] If the site is below threshold, but does generate some mineral waste, and has not received a finding related to chemically reactive mineral waste during a recent assurance process, ask to see a geochemical characterisation that indicates no mineral waste present on-site poses a geochemical risk.
[I] Ask if the site maintains a formal mineral waste management plan, if so review the plan. -
Repeat Finding
Clause number 2.2
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Predict the volumes, storage locations and general characteristics of all mineral wastes that will be disturbed, generated, exposed or stored on-site or sent off-site.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
As a part of the mine planning process the volumes and approximate storage locations of all mineral wastes that will be generated should be predicted. -
Evaluation steps
[I] Ask how the site predicts the volume, storage locations and general characteristics of all mineral wastes including geochemical characteristics such as ARD, salinity, contained metals, radioactivity, etc.
[D] Obtain and review documentation inventorying amounts of mineral wastes that will be disturbed, generated, exposed and stored on-site or sent off-site.
[I] For above threshold sites ask how the planned location, footprint and geometry of waste rock dumps, tailings impoundments and other mineral waste repositories are documented.
[D] For above threshold sites ask to see documentation such as maps and/or engineering drawings for planned mineral waste storage sites. Look for evidence of distinction of chemically reactive and non-reactive planned storage sites. -
Repeat Finding
Clause number 2.3
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Maintain an inventory comprising quantities, location and representative characteristics of chemically reactive mineral waste stored on- and off-site.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
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Evaluation steps
[I] Ask if the site maintains an inventory of all mineral waste generated. For above threshold sites the inventory should be updated annually.
[D] Obtain a copy of the mineral waste inventory, looking for evidence of quantities, location and representative characteristics of all mineral wastes stored on-site. For above threshold sites, general characteristics should include identification of materials that may pose risks due to ARD, salinity, contained metals, radioactivity or some other geochemical characteristic.
[D] For above threshold sites, the inventory should document location, footprint and geometry of waste rock dumps, tailings impoundments and other mineral waste repositories on maps and/or engineering drawings. Look for evidence of distinction of chemically reactive and non-reactive storage sites. -
Repeat Finding
Clause number 2.4
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Characterise and predict the long term geochemical and physical behaviour of all mineral waste types and rock masses.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
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Evaluation steps
[I] Ask how the site characterises and predicts the long term geochemical and physical behaviour of all mineral waste types and rock masses.
[D] Obtain and review a copy of the site characterization and prediction programme and associated documentation. For above threshold sites, the programme should provide reliable estimates of the future geochemical behaviour of mineral wastes that will be exposed to local weathering conditions including ARD, salinity, metals, radionuclides, asbestos or other potential hazards. -
Repeat Finding
Clause number 2.5
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Characterise and develop an integrated understanding of actual and potential mineral waste contaminant release, transport pathways and receiving environments to predict potential impacts.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
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Evaluation steps
[I] Ask how the site characterises actual and potential mineral waste contaminant release, transport pathways and receiving environments to predict potential impacts.
[D] Obtain and review characterisation documentation. For below threshold sites a simple risk assessment or documented review of potential risks (if any) posed by chemically reactive mineral waste is sufficient. For above threshold sites material characterisation data should be integrated with mine plans, waste inventories and environmental baseline data and risks assessments should include an assessment of potential pathways and impacts of a release to receiving environments.
[D] Review who is involved and what their qualifications are for participating in the characterisation and risk assessment.
[O] During site orientation, document observations of potential mineral waste release, transport pathways and receiving environments. -
Repeat Finding
2. Implementation and operation
Clause number 2.6
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Consider and document mineral waste and impacted drainage risks and impacts during management of change, including opportunities to avoid or reduce impact, prior to implementing a change.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
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Evaluation steps
[I] Ask how the operation considers and documents mineral waste and impacted drainage risks and impacts during management of change.
[D] Obtain and review documentation of the operation’s management of change programme, determine whether the programme requires consideration of mineral waste and impacted drainage risks, including opportunities to avoid or reduce impact prior to implementing a change.
[D] Review a recent change involving mineral waste and/or a mineral waste storage site to determine whether or not the site’s management of change process was followed and whether opportunities to avoid or reduce impact were considered prior to implementing the change. -
Repeat Finding
Clause number 2.7
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Consider and document mineral waste and impacted drainage risks and impacts as part of the technical and financial evaluation of capital projects.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
This clause is about ensuring that mineral waste and impacted drainage risks and impacts are considered as part of the business capital approval process. -
Evaluation steps
[I] Ask how the operation considers mineral waste and impacted drainage risks and impacts as part of the evaluation of capital projects.
[D] Obtain and review a sample of the operation’s capital project evaluation documentation and determine whether there has been a specific assessment of mineral waste impacts. For operations below threshold, a simple and conservative evaluation of chemically reactive mineral waste risks is unlikely to have a substantial impact on project economics is sufficient. For above threshold, operations chemically reactive mineral waste management requirements should be fully scoped and life cycle cost estimates should be included in the financial estimates for the project. The level of effort should be commensurate with the impact. -
Repeat Finding
2. Monitoring
Clause number 2.8
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Monitor the geochemical and physical behaviour of all mineral waste storage facilities, impacted waters and potential receiving environments to ensure the system is behaving as predicted and performance criteria are being met.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
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Evaluation steps
[I] Ask how the operation monitors the geochemical and physical behaviour of all mineral waste storage facilities and potential receiving environments.
[D] Obtain documentation that supports the described monitoring programme. For below threshold sites evidence of compliance with license conditions, local regulations and internal criteria is all that is required. For above threshold sites, the program should include regular sampling, analysis and review of all mineral waste storage facilities and potential receiving environments as identified in the site’s risk assessment documentation.
[I] Review monitoring programme and results to ensure that the performance criteria are being met. -
Repeat Finding
Clause number 2.9
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If significant mineral waste and impacted drainage or other geochemical hazards exist, arrange for an independent, external review of the mineral waste characterisation programmes, management strategies, disposal facilities, monitoring programmes, and closure plans by a qualified expert at least every four years.
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Additional information on the intent/interpretation of the clause:
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Evaluation steps
[I] Ask whether the site has obtained or been subject to an independent, external review of its mineral waste management programme(s) and associated closure plans by a qualified expert. For below threshold sites this is not required.
[D] Obtain and review the site’s most recent external report if applicable. For above threshold sites an independent, external review must be done at least every four years.
[I] Ask how observations, findings and recommendations have been considered or addressed, review associated documentation. -
Repeat Finding
Summary of actions
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Are actions required to be raised?
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Action number and description
Inspection action
Sign offs
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Area owner representative
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Environmental representative / Auditor
Summary
