Mining Article in Beeld - ‘Staat wil nou myn in parke’

[Puff Addy]

Deur Elise Tempelhoff 22 Februarie 2016 00:00

Die departement van omgewingsake is glo besig met aanvoorwerk om mynbou in natuurreservate toegelaat te kry.

Bewaringsorganisasies het met afgryse gereageer op ’n interne dokument van die departement, wat handel oor die regulering van mynboubedrywighede in bewaringsgebiede.

Hieruit kan afgelei word dat selfs die Krugerwildtuin, met sy “dik lae steenkool”, en iSimangaliso se duine, waarin titaan voorkom, nie meer veilig is nie, sê ’n ingeligte.

Die dokument is net aan ’n paar “uitgesoekte” nie-regeringsorganisasies en provinsiale omgewingsdepartemente gestuur vir kommentaar. Dit het uitgelek en is onder Beeld se aandag gebring.

’n Werksessie oor die dokument is op 4 Februarie op ’n onbekende plek gehou.

Dr. Koos Pretorius, direkteur van die Federasie vir ’n Volhoubare Omgewing (FVO), het gister gesê hy was geskok toe hy die dokument lees. Die FVO was nie bewus daarvan nie totdat ’n bewaringsorganisasie wat die dokument wel ontvang het, dit aan Preto­rius gestuur het.

Pretorius meen die departement van omgewingsake wil
“ ’n agterdeur oopmaak” om mynbou in natuurreservate
toe te laat.

“Dit lyk asof die departement onder druk van die departement van minerale bronne is om mynbou in bewaringsgebiede toe te laat.”

Die departement van omgewingsake beweer die dokument handel oor die opstel van regulasies vir bestaande myne en mynregte in beskermde gebiede.

Eleanor Momberg, woordvoerder van die departement, het by navraag gesê die departement weet nie in watter van sy reservate myne voorkom nie. Sy het Beeld verwys na die departement van minerale bronne, wat die mynregte toeken.

Pretorius sê dit is uiters vreemd dat die departement van omgewingsake, wat beskermde gebiede soos nasionale parke en wêrelderfenisgebiede moet bewaar, nie weet wat in sy eie reservate aangaan nie.

Volgens die departement kan net die minister van omgewingsake (Edna Molewa) in buitengewone omstandighede skriftelik toestemming gee vir prospektering en mynbou in ’n bewaringsgebied.

Luidens die dokument is die meeste van Suid-Afrika se be­waringsgebiede baie na aan mynbou-aktiwiteite en word dit ’n “uitdaging om ontwikkelingsdoelwitte met bewaringswaar-
des te versoen”.

Daar is ’n historiese persepsie in Suid-Afrika dat mynbou en bewaringsgebiede nie versoenbaar is nie. “Ondanks . . . dié persepsie is daar geleenthede vir vennootskappe.”

Die opsteller van die dokument sê die vennootskappe kan versterk word as toestemming gegee word vir mynbou “onder sekere beperkte toestande” in bewaarde gebiede.

Van die organisasies met wie Beeld gepraat het, sê hulle is uiters ontsteld oor die dokument en hoop dit is ’n fout en dat ’n junior amptenaar in die departement dit opgestel het. Hulle wil nie hul name genoem hê nie omdat die saak baie sensitief is.

Praveen Naidoo, woordvoerder van die departement van toerisme, het Vrydag gesê hy het gehoor dat so ’n dokument in die departement van omgewingsake gesirkuleer word.

[Richprins]

Thanks, Puffie!

[Richprins]

Basically, a discussion document from DEA was leaked after a conference on Feb 4. Details are unclear, but in the document it was stated that most of SA's mining activities are near conservation areas, and it is becoming a challenge to reconcile development objectives with conservation values. There is a historical SA perception that the two are irreconcilable, but there is nevertheless opportunity for partnerships.

The creator of the document says these partnerships may be strengthened should permission be given for mining there under certain limited conditions. According to the Department, who officially is unaware of any mines in conservation areas, only Minister Molewa may give written permission, in exceptional circumstances, for prospecting and mining in a conservation area.

Praveen Naidoo, a Dept. spokesperson, said on Friday that he had heard that this document was being circulated within the Department.

The document was circulated to Provincial Conservation Authorities, and a few selected NGO's only.

[Toko]

This is obviously the document mentioned by Beeld

Draft 1 Conditions for Mining in Protected Areas March 2015 (1).docx

(165.4 KiB) Downloaded 158 times

One must read very hard between the lines to detect a plan to allow mining in a National Park there.


To say ‘Staat wil nou myn in parke’ is very far fetched.

[Puff Addy]

GENERAL DRAFT CONDITIONS FOR MINING CONTINUATION IN PROTECTED AREAS Draft 1

1. PROVISO:
Conditions are generic, each mine or case to be assessed on its own merit. Each protected area affected by mining activities will have its own conditions

2. INTRODUCTION
Mining and protected areas are both essential to our way of life. Mining provides the resources on which modern society depends, while protected areas help preserve the planet’s biological diversity by helping to ensure life’s essentials such as clean air and fresh water. The relationship between protected area management and mineral exploration or extraction is an issue of global and national significance.

Most of South Africa’s protected areas are in close proximity of mining activities and the challenge becomes balancing development objectives with conservation values. Despite a historic perception that mining activities and protected areas are mutually exclusive, opportunities for partnerships exist and allowing mineral activities to occur within protected areas boundaries under certain limited circumstances could result in increased collaboration with the mineral industry and ultimately enable South Africa to more quickly expand and better protect its protected areas.


3. DEFINITIONS

Contaminated/polluted/affected water: Water whose chemical or physical attributes have changed significantly compared to an original/baseline quality, and that no longer meets legal requirements (e.g. discharge permits or licence conditions) or guideline qualities for different water uses. Contaminated water can be characterised by increases in temperature or particulate/sediment content, changes in optical quality or pH (from the normal range of pH 6.5 to 8.5) or by elevated levels of salts, metals and organic constituents. To apply the definition, comparison to original/baseline quality is essential. Natural waters occur that have some or many of the characteristics noted above.

Groundwater: Subsurface water, including all water entering the mine through rock faces, viz: hanging walls, side walls and foot walls in underground mines, and high-walls and low-walls in open cut mines. This also includes water make from fissures and geological intrusions.

Aquifers: Soils and geological formations that contain sufficient subsurface water and are permeable enough to yield water flow for some practical use.

Recycled water: Water that is used again in the operation, but after it has been treated to a standard which allows its beneficial use.

Reused water: Water that is used again in the operation, but does not require treatment for such use. It can replace make up or new water for beneficial use on the operation. This is water that may otherwise have been discarded or send for recycling.

Surface water: Water in streams, rivers, natural lakes, pans, wetlands, springs, as surface sheet flow, and in canals, trenches, ditches, reservoirs, dams and other constructed impoundments open to the atmosphere.

Water balance: A ‘statement of account’ of water in an operation within a defined system boundary (e.g. the lease area). This is represented by the universal water balance equation:

Outflows = Inflows - Change in storage.

The overall water balance shall reflect total water, namely all water uses in all facilities on an operation including recycling and re-use of water.

Water reserve: A quantified allocation of surface or groundwater, for a particular user or sector of users within a defined boundary (e.g. catchment), controlled through regulations or permits.

Water resource: A source of water that could be accessed by a number of different users. It includes all forms of surface water, groundwater, process water, precipitation and water from other users. It also includes seawater, highly saline or geo-thermally heated groundwater, and treated wastewater from domestic and/or industrial sources.

Contaminant mass balance: A ‘statement of account’ of key indicator salts/metals in an operation within a defined system boundary (e.g. the lease area). This is represented by the universal balance equation:

Output = Input - Change in Concentration/Mass.

The overall contaminant balance shall reflect total salt/metal movement, namely all contaminant uses in all facilities on an operation including recycling waste removal and losses through product/processing.

Fugitive emissions: Emissions entering the atmosphere without first passing through a confined flow stream, these include: dust arising from wind on exposed surfaces, vehicle movements on roads, material handling, drilling and blasting.

Off-site emissions: Emissions from transport and/or power generation activities which are under the control of or managed by the operation.

Internal air quality target: A self-imposed target for operations in countries that have standards which differ from the European Commission (EC) Directives.

Non-criteria pollutants: Pollutants for which no national ambient air quality standard exists.

Backfill: Material used to fill in mining voids. In underground mines backfill typically constitutes tailings, but could be blended with natural materials or crushed waste rock. In open cast/open pit mines backfill typically constitutes overburden or waste rock.

Hazardous waste: Any solid or liquid waste(s) that individually or in combination can impact human health and/or the environment through the contamination of air or water, direct skin contact, temperature and/or radiation at levels exceeding toxic or health limits. All mineral waste has the potential to be classified as hazardous waste.

Heap leach pads: Ore bearing material that has typically been crushed to a boulder or gravel size, placed on a layered and terraced dump overlying a drainage medium, and has been saturated with chemical solution to leach the minerals into solution. The solution is collected from the base of the pads for mineral extraction.

Mineral residue: Mining and mineral process waste. This includes mining residue, discard material stockpiles, tailings, backfill, smelter waste and heap leach pads. The material may be in liquid, brine, slurry, paste or solid form. Mineral residue excludes domestic, medical, industrial and hazardous substances. The latter are covered under the Non-Mineral Waste and Hazardous Substances Standards.

Mining residue: Material required to be removed to expose ore bearing strata. This would include overburden stripped during open cast mining, waste rock during open pit mining and shot rock from underground mine development and mining areas (e.g. shafts, adits, declines or tunnels).

Smelter waste: Slag, residue, sludge and flue dust in solid or slurry form, from beneficiation processes such as smelters or furnaces.

Stockpiles: Strategically placed piles of material that contain minerals that will/may be processed or retreated in future and could include high grade ore, low grade ore and slag.

Tailings: Crushed and milled residue remaining after mineral extraction in the process plant. This includes plant residue, slimes, ash, rejects and discards.

Domestic/General waste: Waste material generated from human consumption activities (residential, office, educational, recreational). This includes all glass, metals, plastics, paper, electronic waste and organic matter.

Hazardous waste: Any solid or liquid waste(s) that individually or in combination can impact human health and/or the environment through the contamination of air or water, direct skin contact, temperature and/or radiation at levels exceeding toxic or health limits. They require special management, such as incineration or encapsulated disposal (e.g. metal rich brine from water treatment works).

Industrial waste: Waste materials generated by construction and maintenance work, and machinery and equipment operation. This includes all containers, packaging and by-products of industrial activities but excludes hazardous substances covered by a separate standard.

Medical waste: Used medical equipment, medicines or human contaminated matter resulting from health-care work.

Hazardous substances: Exposure to these substances via ingestion, inhalation or assimilation following release into the environment is likely to cause harm. Such substances may be:
• Used in, or generated by, our operations, including ancillary activities and activities undertaken by contractors.
• Present in equipment or building fabric.

Internally Identified Priority Hazardous Substances: Hazardous substances which have been identified as being global priorities in terms of their management or elimination. Additional management requirements apply to these priority substances
Biodiversity: Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. Biodiversity includes the variability among all living organisms at all levels of organisation including populations, species and ecosystems and the complex interactions within and between these, and the resulting provision of ecosystem services upon which the human race is dependent for survival.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BA P): A programme setting out targets, actions, deadlines and resources designed to enhance or conserve biodiversity.

Biodiversity offset: Measures to compensate for residual negative impacts, once all other mitigation measures to avoid, minimize and repair/restore impacts have been considered (i.e. offsets are seen as a ‘last resort’ form of mitigation).

Conservation: The management of biodiversity to achieve the greatest sustainable current benefit while maintaining the potential of the resources to meet the needs of future generations, and includes the preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilisation, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment.

Ecological integrity: The state or condition of an ecosystem that displays the biodiversity characteristic of the reference, such as species composition and community structure, and is fully capable of sustaining normal ecosystem functioning.

Ecological processes: The dynamic attributes of ecosystems, including interactions between/among organisms and interactions between organisms and their environment. They are the basis for self-maintenance in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem: A dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities (biotic factors) and their non-living physical environment (abiotic factors) interacting as a functional unit in a defined space, e.g. wetland, forest, river, etc.

Ecosystem services: The direct or indirect benefits to society in general and communities in particular provided by ecosystems. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2003 classifies the services that ecosystems can provide into four broad categories: provisioning services, regulating services, cultural services, and supporting service.

Endangered species: A species that is in danger of becoming extinct throughout all or in a significant portion of its range.

Habitat: The physical and biological environment on which an organism is dependent for its survival.

Out of kind biodiversity offset: Offsets not targeting the same habitat as the one affected, but a different habitat.

Protected area: A geographically defined area that is designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives. An area of land or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means (NEMPAA, 2003 section 9).

Rare species: A species of plant or animal that is considered rare, threatened or endangered.

Residual impacts: Impacts that remain after the proponent has made all reasonable and practicable changes to the location, siting, scale, layout, technology and design of the proposed development, in consultation with the environmental assessment practitioner and specialists (including a biodiversity specialist), to avoid, minimize, repair and/or restore negative impacts on, amongst others, biodiversity.

Rehabilitation: Returning a disturbed, degraded or destroyed ecosystem to productive use, with the emphasis on repairing ecosystem processes and services (i.e. need not involve re-establishing species composition and community structure, or associated ecological integrity).

Sensitive sites: Sites that by virtue of their ecological functioning or species composition are prone to disproportionately negative impacts in response to external stimuli; such sites could be inherently sensitive (e.g. wetlands) or sensitivity may be by virtue of their conservation status e.g. threatened vegetation types.

Sensitive species: Species that are prone to disproportionately negative impacts in response to external stimuli; such species could be inherently sensitive or sensitivity may be by virtue of their conservation status i.e. rare, threatened or endangered.

Species: A group of inter-breeding organisms having common characteristics and that under natural conditions seldom or never interbreed with individuals in other such groups.

Threatened species: A species that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future

Land: A natural resource which is fundamental to sustaining ecological processes, supports ecosystems and maintains diversity, supports food, fibre and mineral production, provides living space, supports recreational activities, preserves geological, historical and evolutionary resources, has spiritual, inspirational, scientific, cultural and educational value to different stakeholders.

Stewardship: Process of understanding and managing past, present and potential future uses of the land we manage, its ecological and social value as well as community expectations.

Rehabilitation/reclamation: Process of returning the land disturbed by our activities to a stable and useable condition.


4. DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND PROTECTED AREAS ACTS REQUIREMENTS

Constitution of South Africa, Section 24.
Constitution of Republic of South Africa, 1996: Section 24(a) of the Constitution states that everyone has the right ‘to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being’. Mines must comply with South African constitutional law by conducting their activities with due diligence and care for the rights of others.
National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA)
National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No 57 of 2003),states to provide for the protection and conservation of ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa’s biological diversity and its natural landscapes and seascapes; for the establishment of a national register of all national, provincial and local protected areas; for the management of those areas in accordance with national norms and standards; for intergovernmental co-operation and public consultation in matters concerning protected areas; for the continued existence, governance and functions of South African National Parks; and for matters in connection.
SECTION 48 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PROTECTED AREAS ACT (NEMPAA Section 48)
Prospecting and mining activities in protected area
1. Despite other legislation, no person may conduct commercial prospecting, mining, exploration, production or related activities
(a) in a special nature reserve, national park or nature reserve;
(b) in a protected environment without the written permission of the Minister and the Cabinet member responsible for minerals and energy affairs;
(c) in a protected area referred to in section 9(b), (c) or (d).
2. The Minister, after consultation with the Cabinet member responsible for mineral and energy affairs, must review all mining activities which were lawfully conducted in areas indicated in subsection (1)(a), (b) and (c) immediately before this section took effect.
3. The Minister, after consultation with the Cabinet member responsible for mineral and energy affairs, may, in relation to the activities contemplated in subsection (2), as well as in relation to mining activities conducted in areas contemplated in that subsection which were declared as such after the commencement of this section, prescribe conditions under which those activities may continue in order to reduce or eliminate the impact of those activities on the environment or for the environmental protection of the area concerned.
4. When applying this section, the Minister must take into account the interests of local communities and the environmental principles referred to in section 2 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998.

The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA)
The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No 10 of 2004), states to provide for the management and conservation of South Africa's biodiversity within the framework of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998; the protection of species and ecosystems that warrant national protection; the sustainable use of indigenous biological resources; the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from bioprospecting involving indigenous biological resources; the establishment and functions of a South African National Biodiversity Institute
The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)
The National Environmental Management Act, 1998, (Act No 107 of 1998), which establishes the concepts of participatory, cooperative and developmental governance in environmental management. It establishes principles for environmental management and provides for structures to facilitate these.
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) section 49
Prohibition or restriction of mining or prospecting: in terms of Section 49 of the MPRDA, the Minister of Mineral Resources may completely prohibit or restrict the granting of any permission/ permit/right if the land is residential area, public road, railway or cemetery, being used for public or government purposes or reserved in terms of any other law. This provision allows the Minister, in consultation with other relevant Departments, to prohibit or restrict granting permission/right/permit in certain areas of critical biodiversity, heritage and hydrological importance.
5. MINING AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDELINES

The aim of this guideline is to provide mine managers and environmental officers with a comprehensive guide on the type and status of South Africa’s biodiversity and the good management practices relative to biodiversity during all stages of a mining project, from operations to closure, in order to ensure that the biodiversity is protected and conserved. Although this guideline is aimed at the mining industry, it is anticipated that the document will also be used by government officials and others with an interest in this subject.

Biodiversity refers to the full variability of living organisms in terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are a part. It is the genes, species (plants and animals), ecosystems, land- or seascapes, as well as the ecological and evolutionary processes that allow these elements of biodiversity to persist over time. This rich biodiversity underpins the diverse ecosystems that deliver ecosystem services that are of benefit to people, including the provision of basic services and goods such as clean air, water, food, medicine and fibre, as well as more complex services that regulate and mitigate our climate, protect us from natural disaster and provide us with a rich heritage of nature-based cultural traditions.
Mining can result in impacts on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services that can be considerable. These may include direct, indirect, cumulative and induced impacts. Impacts can be short term, or may last far longer for decades or centuries, or may even be permanent or irreversible which is why the assessment of environmental impact of proposed mining is necessary. If not eliminated or mitigated, these impacts pose serious risks to other economic activities, livelihoods and the ecological infrastructure that are supported by biodiversity (with poor and vulnerable communities who rely directly on this biodiversity and associated ecosystem services being most affected).
The Guideline explains the value for mining companies of adopting a risk-based approach to managing biodiversity. It recognises that certain impacts are unavoidable but provides guidance as to where mining is prohibited, where different types of biodiversity priority areas may constitute a barrier to mining, and where biodiversity considerations may limit the options for mining. The Guideline is about integrating relevant biodiversity information into decision making about mining options and how best to avoid, minimise or remedy biodiversity impacts caused by mining, and in so doing support ecologically, economically and socially sustainable development. With the primary purpose of improving consistency in decision making in dealing with biodiversity aspects, the Guideline provides assistance to relevant regulators in implementing and enforcing the law, and assists companies in complying with the law, implementing good practice and reducing business risk.
Guideline describes the principles, tools and information that should inform the consideration of biodiversity in the mining life cycle to support the sustainable use of the country’s mineral resources. It takes into account the multitude of laws that govern the impacts of mining on the environment (and in particular, biodiversity) and, secondly, provides information on how to factor biodiversity into the life cycle of a mining project. South Africa has the benefit of some of the best biodiversity science in the world and is at the forefront of developing spatial and non-spatial information and tools for the management and conservation of biodiversity. These tools assist in identifying and addressing impacts on biodiversity at the level of ecosystems and habitats.

While management and conservation of biodiversity is often associated with formal reserves or protected areas, and protected areas are a key component of biodiversity management, the majority of important remaining biodiversity is found outside protected areas, on private or communal land in production landscapes and seascapes. Numerous opportunities and tools exist to integrate the management and conservation of biodiversity into production sectors (mining, forestry, agriculture etc.) to reduce impacts on biodiversity and ensure ecosystem integrity. The guideline helps to facilitate the use of these tools by the regulatory authorities and companies in the mining sector.

6. EXPLORATION /PROSPECTING STAGES
a) Mining Methods
The type of mining method used will influence the nature and extent of the environmental disturbance encountered within the protected area. Mining could either be classified as; open cast; open pit; underground or a combination of both open cast and underground.
Potential problems associated with open-cast mining:
• Disturbance and clearance of surface land
• Loss of faunal and floral diversity
• Fragmentation and loss of habitat
• Footprint on large geographical area
• Invasion of alien species especially at fragment edges or boundaries
Potential problems associated with underground mining:
• Greater dependence on heavy machinery, including need for conveyors, mechanized tramming using load haul dumpers.
• Abandoned underground mines may pose a threat for animals which may fall and get stuck inside shaft access points.
• Methane generation and release can also be a problem under certain geological conditions.
• If groundwater systems are disturbed, the possibility of serious pollution from highly saline or highly acidic water exists. Impacts may continue long after mining ceases.
Potential problems associated with open pit mining:
• Mined area progressively deepen and widen, increasing the disturbed areas and offers few opportunities for early rehabilitation.
Additional Implications from Mining Stages
Drilling Impact:
• Establishment of access roads for equipment.
• Establishment of drill pads requires intensive management to limit the disturbance caused
• Water abstraction for drilling fluids increases demand on water resource
• Potential spillages or leakages of fuels, oils, and drilling fluid during this stage
Exploration Impact:
Stripping and Stockpiling: Stripping involves the removal of topsoil and overburden before the construction of the road or facilities. The material that is stripped is that portion of the soil with the majority of plant roots usually the top 15 to 40 centimetres.
Life Span of the Mine
The life span of the mine depends on the operation plan of the mine as well as the type, quantity, grade and availability of the ore to be mined.
b) Sensitivity of Biodiversity
Need to establish the type of biodiversity which will be directly and indirectly affected by the mining activities as well as cumulative and induced impacts. Consideration must be given to the conservation goals and sensitive biodiversity of the area and these goals have to be incorporated into the environmental plan of the mine and rehabilitation methods.
The IUCN recommends that for protected areas in categories V and VI, “exploration and localised extraction would be accepted only where the nature and extent of the proposed activities of the mining project indicate the compatibility of the project activities with the objectives of the protected areas”.
(Category V: Protected landscape/seascape: protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation and Category VI: Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources: protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems)
Baseline assessment of biodiversity in the area must be performed. Identification of vulnerable and resilient species within the impacted area should be completed prior to the commencement of activities.

The identification of vulnerable and resilient species must inform the proposed rehabilitation measures to ensure priority fauna and flora remain protected in a way which represents the conservation goals for the protected area.

Evaluate the sensitivity of the biodiversity on land owned but not impacted by operational activities and manage this land appropriately. The management actions should be incorporated into the Biodiversity Action Plan and fully linked to the operation’s environmental management system.

Where biodiversity poses a significant risk or opportunity to an operation it is necessary to have a specific Biodiversity Action Plan which should be integrated into the operation’s environmental management system.

Where there is the potential for significant adverse or positive impacts on biodiversity the implications of this risk and/or opportunity facing the operation needs to be assessed and the extent of the risk or opportunity translated into a business case for biodiversity management.

Undertake risk management activities to address the causes of biodiversity loss external to the operation where such losses have the potential to undermine the operations biodiversity risk management actions.

Undertake a review of the legal and civil society framework to gauge local conservation capacity.

Where a weak legal and civil society framework poses a risk to an operation’s biodiversity actions the operation should identify appropriate means of managing this risk which may, for example, include supporting local conservation capacity.

Monitor the implementation of the biodiversity action plan using qualitative and quantitative indicators.

Disclose detailed qualitative and quantitative data that is clearly linked to operational KPIs and divisional and corporate biodiversity policy/strategy.

Actively disclose information on sensitive sites and/or activities that are in or near sensitive sites.

c) Access Control
o Access to the mining area should be completely separate from entrance to the protected area and should be constructed in a manner which uses already existing pathways or roads, there should be minimal disturbance inside the park to gain access to the mining site
o The construction of access roads and other linear project infrastructure (such as dedicated rail lines, pipelines for transport of slurries or concentrates or power transmission lines) can have a significant impact on biodiversity
o Potential problems associated with construction of access roads:
 Habitat Fragmentation
 Increased degradation of cleared isolated land
 Increased alien species invasions
 Linear infrastructure can disrupt surface water regimes and affect wetland and groundwater systems.
 Changes to stream and river flows may affect adjacent habitats or riverine ecology, including fisheries on which downstream communities may be dependent.
 Facilitate provision of access to settlers or other ‘users’ of biodiversity (such as illegal loggers or hunters).
 Access roads should be planned in the most environmentally effective way possible, by using direct routes and ensuring chosen paths do not effect;
 Movement or migration patterns of species
 Location of sensitive and vulnerable biodiversity
 They are not located near wetland systems or marine bodies (rivers, tributaries etc.)

d) Types of Pollution control

i. Tailing Dams
Impacts associated with Tailing Dams:
 rain and process water may create leachates when passing seeping through tailings (essentially in respect of tailings from ferrous and nonferrous ores)
 seepage through and below impoundment walls
 percolation to the subsoil and groundwater
 overflow of the dam walls or spillways these give rise to
• sulphide oxidation and potential acid generation
• sulphide oxidation and production of soluble salts
• metal leaching and migration to the surrounding environment
• leaching of residual process chemicals in the tailings, e.g. cyanide, acids, alkalis
• geochemistry and toxicity of the waste materials impacting on humans, vegetation and fauna
Methods which could be employed to decrease pollution from tailing dams:
 Minimise percolation to subsoil and groundwater, by low permeability of the substrate and low permeable cover
 Minimise seepage through the impoundment wall
 Collect seepage by a collection and treatment system
 Minimise influx of surface runoff by trenching and by-passing the tailings depository
 Minimise infiltration of water into the tailings dam

ii. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
 Options available to minimise acid mine drainage and pollution from water containing dissolved metals, salts and process chemicals include:
 Active water treatment to treat the water to relevant effluent standards
 Passive water treatment systems such as the use of constructed wetlands to treat the acidic water only if the construction does not harm indigenous plant species
 Prevention of AMD loss from flooded regions by using engineered barriers
 Possible neutralisation of chemicals where allowable and then neutralised effluent should be further treated to disposal standards. This treated water should then be re-used in mine operations to decrease water demand maximising circulation of process water

iii. Spillages

 Accidental spills of hazardous chemicals during use. This can be minimised by creating a system of checks and controls as well as implementation of EMS systems for insuring responsible use of chemicals. Accidental spills may be small and localized, or may impact large areas. Use of hazardous chemicals should be restricted and controlled.
 Oil spills from vehicles and machinery

iv. Water Pollution

Where water may be impacted by drill-testing, bulk sampling or trial mining:
• Characterise the regional meteorology.
• Identify all water sources, users and uses, including the natural environment or base flow.
• Commence with baseline data collection by collecting water quantity and quality data for existing monitoring sites for surface and groundwater, including available data collected by others for the area.
• Conduct tests on drill core and any other available samples to determine the Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) potential using at least indicator tests, (e.g. Acid Base Accounting).

Where water may be impacted by drill-testing, bulk sampling or trial mining:
• Identify suitable monitoring sites for surface and groundwater.
• Develop and implement a surface and groundwater monitoring programme, designed to provide early warning of adverse impacts during exploration drilling, and to generate data that can be used to evaluate projects.
• Ensure that after drill-testing, bulk sampling or trial mining no further impact on the water quality or quantity occurs.
• Keep open lines of communication with water users and stakeholders where drilling and bulk sampling is taking place.
• Water should be treated and recycled around the mines as far as possible
• Consideration of rain water harvesting during mine life if feasible to minimise demand on water resource

v. Two types of Air Pollution
1. Fugitive dust
o There will be major occurrences of fugitive dust due to creation of stock piles, increase in erosion as land is cleared, as well as from crushing of parent rock, in the case of hard rock mining.
 Fugitive dust can also cause contamination of surface waters and water bodies
 Settling of fugitive dust may have the ability to retard plant growth and cause respiratory health impacts on faunal species.
 The absorption of dust particles rich in heavy metals could also result in heavy metal toxicity
 Typical dust control measures that could be used include:
 Improving the mechanical strength of the exposed tailings surfaces to withstand wind erosion by covering exposed surfaces with vegetation, rock or armouring
 Installing sprays on the embankment perimeter of the tailings dam and watering down the exposed surfaces during periods of high wind
 Use of grey water from mine operations as a dust suppressant
 Construction of windbreaks
 Covering of stock piles to reduce spread of dust particles during high winds

2. Particulate Matter
 Controls may be required on individual sources, such as ventilation exhausts, if they have a significant effect on ambient particulate levels. In the case of coal mining the use of coal crushers or dryers, fabric filters or other systems can recover coal and reduce particulate emissions to levels below 50 milligrams per normal cubic meter (mg/Nm3).
 Methods for modelling the quantity of wind generated particulates from the exposed surface areas should be determined; this could be done by using predictive emission factor equations where the dispersion pattern of the dust is predicted using appropriate models.
 Use of Best Available Technologies during mine operations, eliminate use of redundant, old machinery. New mining activities should follow the precautionary principle and equipment used should adhere to the air quality emission standards as stipulated in NEM: AQA.

e) Land
 Spillages of hazardous chemicals, oils from vehicles
 Wastes generated from use of consumable material
 Wastes generated from external factors including sewerage wastes, solid waste

f) Noise and Vibration
 The impact of noise and vibrations from drilling activities and the mining operation as a whole may disturb biodiversity in the area and affect behaviours such as breeding patterns, communication, sleeping patterns etc. amongst avian species and other fauna

g) Visual/ Aesthetic impacts
 Lighting at mine site as well as stock pile will negatively affect the visual and aesthetic characteristics of the park. This negative effect may hinder the economic potential in terms of tourism at the park.
 Flood lighting will also affect nocturnal fauna behavioural patterns

h) Waste Management
Appoint qualified carriers to transport/deliver hazardous substances, in accordance with formal documented procedures, legal and other requirements.

Obtain the necessary approvals for the hazardous substances present on site.

Establish a procedure for the review and approval of new hazardous substances, with conditions if necessary, before they are allowed on site.

Determine the hazardous properties associated with each hazardous substance.

Establish and maintain an up-to-date inventory of hazardous substances, which records as a minimum:
• the trade and chemical name;
• the state (solid, liquid or gas);
• environmental hazards associated with the substance;
• approximate quantities stored and used on site; and
• Handling/treatment/storage locations and final destinations.

Evaluate the risks associated with the transportation, storage, transfer, handling, use and possible release of each hazardous substance.

Where hazardous substances are used, that have the potential to cause significant adverse environmental impacts, develop and maintain designs that incorporate, as a minimum:
• measures to eliminate the use of the hazardous substances, or substitute them with non-hazardous or lower hazard alternatives;
• locations of emergency prevention and response equipment (e.g. fire extinguishers);
• controls to prevent or reduce the risk associated with the release of hazardous substances (during normal, abnormal and emergency conditions); and
• procedures for the transport and delivery of hazardous substances. These should cover: the full declaration and labelling of materials, use of appropriate and safe containers, the selection, choice and control of qualified carriers and the provision of information to carriers and employees.

Ensure that training and awareness programmes cover the safe transportation, handling, storage, transfer, use and disposal of hazardous substances, and the emergency response procedures to be implemented in the event of an unplanned release.

Ensure that the inventory of hazardous substances is readily accessible.

Communicate the annually updated list of internally identified priority hazardous substances to relevant personnel on site.

Clearly identify and communicate, perhaps via direct signage or designation on site plans, hazardous substances containers (e.g. tanks or pipes), locations (e.g. within equipment or building fabric) and storage locations.

Ensure that emergency response procedures include the timely notification of nearby communities, relevant authorities and other stakeholders.

Implement measures to address the substances listed in the internally identified priority hazardous substances document, which shall be updated and published by the Head of Environment on an annual basis.

Where hazardous substances are used that have the potential to cause significant adverse environmental impacts:

• Provide delivery/off-load points with suitable signage, containment and/or controls for accidental spills and where appropriate, monitors (which may be linked to alarms).
• Appropriately store/contain the substances, control access to them, and segregate incompatible substances (e.g. acid and alkaline materials).
• Provide adequate and appropriate secondary containment (e.g. bunds to tanks, spill pallets to drums) where the risk assessment process, or other information, identifies the requirement.
• Maintain the necessary emergency response equipment on site.
• Ensure that material safety data sheets (or similar), hazardous substance risk assessments and other relevant information (e.g. spill response procedures) are readily accessible at points of storage and use.
• Implement measures to eliminate or reduce, as far as practical, the use of the hazardous substances by, for example, substituting them with non-hazardous or lower hazard alternatives.

Address unplanned on-site and, where appropriate, off-site releases of hazardous substances

Regular drills and reviews of these emergency action plans are required and should involve, where appropriate, all affected parties.

i) Storm Water Management
 In proper storm water management may result in the distribution of sewerage as well as other harmful waste to reach water bodies or contaminate land.
 Mine sites and corresponding tailing dams etc, should be designed with consideration of the 1:100 and 1:50 year flood lines
 Sewerage from labourer should be treated on site to designated effluent standards there after the clean water may be re-circulated around the mine.

j) Buffer Zones
 disturbance of protected-area buffer zones by licensed mining activities, adversely affecting threatened species that migrate through these areas
 There should be appropriate buffer zones around drilling site, drill pads
 There should be stringent buffer zones from water bodies such as river, lakes from all mining activity

k) Associative impacts
 labour; roads, railways, pipelines, power lines, water demand, setting up of housing camps which permit illegal hunting, habitat fragmentation and alien invasions
 These associative factors will each have their own set of impacts on the surrounding environment

l) Financial and economic considerations
 Funding: Setting up of a rehabilitation trust to ensure availability of funds tariffs even if the mine experiences economic difficulty
 Possible non-conformance fines
 Mine rehabilitation fund must incorporate externality costs
 Financial implications on image of park- don’t want to degrade image tourism viability

m) Greenhouse Gas Emissions
 Sourcing of raw materials, supplies and consumables should as far as possible be from local industry to ensure upliftment of local workers, local suppliers materials
 Emissions from construction vehicles will increase carbon dioxide releases and greenhouse gases, in the case of underground mining something methane is formed, if not properly controlled it could result in explosions, and increase greenhouse gas emission.

n) Compliance and Reporting
 Submission of state of environment plan every quarter to indicate measures taken by the holder of mining rights to minimise environmental impact
 Report should also indicate clearly the mitigation measures used already and those that will be used in the next mining phase
 Company should also stipulate alternative measures.
 There should be a readily available system of checks and auditing process employed by the company to minimise impact
 Compliance audits could be performed by department officials on a spontaneous basis

o) Permitting
 Existence and continued issuance of mineral licenses partially or wholly within protected areas in violation of relevant laws
 DMR needs to look at other land uses before issuing the permit for mining activities.


p) Rehabilitation
Obtain the data required to inform the consideration of alternative rehabilitation methods and options.

Consider alternative rehabilitation options, such as care and maintenance, steep slopes and/or partial cover.

Identify key rehabilitation requirements for sustainable rehabilitation. This should include elements of the baseline information collected in the Social and Environmental Impact
Assessment (S&EIA)

Estimate the disturbance area, reshaping, soil amelioration, soil volume and irrigation requirements.

Develop a preliminary land form, capability and use plan for the affected areas.

Establish a preliminary rehabilitation plan phasing and methodology for the operation.

The following implications of rehabilitation need to be understood:
• end land use and social needs;
• Ecosystem sustainability (includes biodiversity, capability, stability of land form, etc.);
• irrigation and soil amelioration requirements;
• carbon sequestration and emission aspects;
• drainage (ground & surface water) and topographical requirements; and
• type and nature of the material (e.g. overburden, waste or backfill) being rehabilitated.

Identify borrow pit/areas and determine the methodology for their rehabilitation.
Determine appropriate slope angles and free drainage principles.

Cater for seepage, raised water tables and decant from rehabilitated facilities.

Ensure that, where applicable, all approvals required for the disturbance of land are received prior to commencement of activities.

Ensure that financial provision and planning for rehabilitation is catered for and integrated into the life of the operational plan.

Some recommended practices for limiting impacts on biodiversity during exploration include:
• limiting land clearing by using technologies and mining practices that minimize habitat disturbance
• avoiding road building wherever possible by using helicopters or existing tracks – if roads are to be constructed, use existing corridors and build away from steep slopes or waterways
• using lighter and more efficient equipment to reduce impacts on biodiversity
• positioning drill holes and trenches away from sensitive areas such as water bodies
• capping or plugging of drill holes to prevent small mammals from becoming trapped
• removing and reclaiming roads and tracks that are no longer needed
• For abandoned mines should undertake site monitoring (including land form(s), geology, soil type(s), hydrogeology, flora and fauna, land use, heritage, overburden and waste characterization, recycling potential, etc.) to obtain a clear picture of the situation

q) Rehabilitation for stripping and stockpiling:

Stripping should be done in 2 stages:
a) Removal of the organic layer (top soil);
b) Removal of the inorganic layer (overburden).
c) Topsoil and organics must be stockpiled separately from the rest of the overburden for later re-vegetation purposes and to prevent mixing.
d) All stockpiles must be easily accessible, on well drained ground, away from bodies of water (minimum of 50 metres) and standing timber.
e) A working space of at least 5 metres around stockpiles is recommended. Topsoil and organics should be stored in low (1-2 metre high) stable piles to decrease compaction effects, and if they are to be stored for extended periods, they should be vegetated to minimize nutrient loss, erosion of fines and structure change.

[Richprins]

Thanks, Puffie!

[H. erectus]

Shoie,...fact remains,...there's monetary value in the bush out there,
that needs harvesting,... if only to satisfy greater need for whatever
purpose the exposure has set aside for governing heritage on your behalf!!

You have the right to detest any such ideology!!!! .Gov non the wiser than
you,. in fact seeking recognition for a crazy idea!!! What they are all about!!!

Let's cut out the crap about how useless they are!! any other superiority would
call for the hidden card, not knowing any better,..

The people of RSA, must realize to understand their heritage and good fortune
gifted to them,...