mine rehabilitation cqminingforum_michael-rodgerson

8/6/2019 Mine Rehabilitation CQMiningForum_Michael-Rodgerson

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M in e R e h a b ili t a t io n A Q u e e n s l a n d P e r s p e ct i v e

Presented by Michael Rodgerson

Environmental Protection Agency Emerald

Combination of two presentations by:

Dr Ian WilsonEnvironmental Protection Agency (Qld)


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R e la t iv e Va lu e o f M in in g t oQ u e e n s l a n d e r s

0500

100015002000

2500300035004000

45005000

1 8 6 0

1 8 7 0

1 8 8 0

1 8 9 0

1 9 0 0

1 9 1 0

1 9 2 0

1 9 3 0

1 9 4 0

1 9 5 0

1 9 6 0

1 9 7 0

1 9 8 0

1 9 9 0

2 0 0 0

CoalBauxiteTinCopperZinc

LeadMinSandsSilver

Gold

V a

l u e

( i n

2 0 0 0 $

p e r p e r s o n

)


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Qu e e n s la n d Co a l Pr o d u ct io n

020

40

6080

100

120140

160

180

Coal (Mt/a)

1960 2.69 Mt 3 Open-cut mines

65 Underground mines40,000 t/mine Export 0.03 Mt / $0.36M

2005 172 Mt 36 Open-cut mines 11 Underground mines

3.66 Mt/mine Export 144Mt / $15,600M 1860 20001900 1950


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M in in g 18 6 0 s t o 19 0 0

John Oxley Library

0

800

m


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Fr o m t h e 19 0 0 s t o 19 70 s


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A b a n d o n e d


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M in in g 19 6 0 o n


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M in in g To d a y


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M o d e ls o f E S D

Triple BottomLine

Regulation Self-regulation Custodianship

Externalities Offsets? CommunityInequity Tradeoffs ?

soc env

econ env soc

env

soc

econ

+ + +

Market based NestedHierarchy of Constraints

e

awareness

Accountability

Brundtland 1987 J Elkington 1994 R Sanders 2000


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T h e Qu e e n s la n d A ct s1850 1900 1950 2000

1857Gold

Fields(NSW)

Mineral Lands

1872/1882

1874GoldFields

1898 Mining

1968Mining

1989 MineralResources

1994EnvironmentalProtection

2001Amendment

1925 Coal Mining1886Mineral Lands(Coal Mining)

Special Agreements

1909-1971Mining on Private Land

Clean Air 1963

Clean Waters 1971


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H is t o r y o f M in e R e h a b Gold Fields Act 1857 (NSW) No rehab provisions

(1870 Regulation shafts near roads, fence & cover if not in use) Mineral Lands Act 1882 (fence, fill or log abandoned shafts) The Mining Act 1898

No rehab provisions. Regulations could be made about tailingsstorage, pollution & nuisance (surrender at any time if complying)

Special Agreement Acts 1957-1989 Varied (restore contours-competent advice on reveg / grazing / nil)

Mining Act 1968 Minister may specify rehab (progressive and final) Generally required restoring surface & watercourses

Mineral Resources Act 1989 Integrated rehab into mine planning and surrender processes Environmental Protection Act 1994 (since 2001)


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R e h a b ili t a t io n S t a t i s t i cs

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

1990 1994 1998 2002 2006

COAL MINING

Rehabilitated

Disturbed

METALLIFEROUSRehabilitated

Disturbed

ha


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Co m m u n it y Co n ce r n s

Size of mines Chemicals used Increasing amounts of waste (eg from

deeper open cuts)

Increasing gap between areas of disturbance and rehabilitation Discounted financial assurance

Administrative conflicts (promote/regulate) Less wealth to local communities


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R e h a b i li t a t io n Pr in cip le s

Incentives to speed up rehabilitation

Incentives for getting near a zero footprint Land suitability, stable and non-polluting Transparent decision on future landuse Objectives set in application, but can amend Assessment of residual risk

Adequate provisions to manage after rehab Quicker signoff


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Po licy Fr a m ew o r k

Applicant/miner responsibilities

Application Monitoring &research duringmining

ProgressiveRehabilitation

Report

FinalRehabReport

ObjectivesIndicators

Criteriaproposed in

EM Plan

ImprovedObjectivesIndicators

Criteria

Provide Monitoring DataHave Criteria been met ?

Residual Risk AssessmentCalculate Residual Risk Payment

GovtApprovesSurrender

CertifiesProgressive

Rehabilitation

Govt proposes rehabilitation hierarchy and goals

GovtGrants

Env Authority

GovtApproves

Amendment


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GOALS

Safe

StableNon -polluting

Useful


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REHABILITATION HIERARCHY

1. Avoid disturbance that will require rehabilitation toprevent or minimise future environmental harm

2. Reinstate the original natural ecosystem3. Develop an alternative outcome with a higher economicvalue than the previous land use

4. Reinstate previous land use (eg. grazing or crops)5. Develop lower value land use (if this is acceptable torelevant stakeholders.)

6. Leave the site in an unusable condition or with apotential to generate future pollution or adversely affectenvironmental values (unacceptable).


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Gu id e lin e 18 Goals of rehabilitation - a State perspective Rehabilitation objectives for each mine domain

Rehabilitation indicators Completion criteria & how they are set Method for determining residual risk Outline of certification process Appendices

Examples of Goals, Objectives, Indicators, Criteria Information requirements at application, progressive

certification and surrender stages


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O b j e c t i v e s

Future land-uses specified for domains Consistent with Goals & Hierarchy Matters to consider

Environmental values in vicinity

Adjoining land use Owner/community/local government views Long-term economic value

Minimise the risks Minimise the cost


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Red Dome -Domains

Pit

Tailings

Airstrip

Rehabilitatedspoil

Infrastructure

Heapleach

RecontouredSpoil

1 2 3

45

6Dam

Spoil


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I n d i c a t o r s

Must measure variability of an objective Scientifically related to an important aspect Easily and inexpensively measured Precise enough to detect meaningful change Repeatable / auditable

Assists decision making


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Co m p le t io n Cr i t e r ia

Must be relevant to objective & have finality

Is a value of one or integrates several indicators Selection facilitated by years of trial data

May compare with reference sites or proposedendpoint unique to the rehabilitated area Need to have several years at completion level to

understand effects of fire and drought Aiming for statistical validity


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Pr o g r e s s iv e R e h a b i li t a t io n Definitions

Rehabilitation completed before mining ceases Certification (cf. surrender) and residual risk payment

Legislative provisions in EP Act Processes to set objectives and completion criteria

Residual risk requirement Guidelines explaining technical requirements Possible objectives, indicators and completion criteria

Method for determining residual risk Contribute to residual risk to clear future liability


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Pr o g r e s s iv e R e h a b ili t a t io n


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B e n e f i t s o f Pr o g r e s s iv e

R e h a b i l i t a t i o n Less environmental harm from smaller disturbance

Pollutants treated or stabilised sooner Water management in place Evidence of effects of extreme weather Monitoring & improvement over a longer period Increased understanding of long term risks

Certification gives companies financial confidence Less risk to Govt accumulated at end of mine life


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H o p es fo r t h e Fu t u r e Better mine planning Clear rehabilitation requirements

Including community involvement Progressive rehabilitation the norm

Best practice environmental management Maximum water reuse zero discharge Fewer open voids and waste piles

Backfilling becoming more common

Appropriate financial assurance


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Further Information

From the Environmental Protection Agency Website

Guideline 18 Rehabilitation requirements for mining projects

Guideline 16 Final rehabilitation report and audit statementfor non-standard mining lease projects

Guideline 15 Final rehabilitation report and audit statementfor non-standard exploration and

mineral development projects

Fact sheet 11: Surrendering an environmental authority(mining activities)

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