Luzenac 20-pages - Rio Tinto

such as elk, mule deer, and bighorn sheep. Large grazers such
as these will migrate to lower mountain foothills where the air is
warmer and there is less snow.
Our Yellowstone mine in Montana is right in the heart of this
prime wintering range. In 2003, our Senior Environmental
Engineer at Yellowstone began working with the U.S. Forest
Service, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and neighbouring
ranchers to determine how our 3,400 acres of mine property could
be enhanced to promote its appeal to wintering elk herds.
With a $10,000 grant from the Elk Foundation, water supplied by
the Forest Service, and cattle willingly provided by neighbouring
ranchers and Forest Service grazing lessees, the Yellowstone mine
property is gradually being transformed into a quadrant of large
fenced grazing pastures that will provide wintering elk with a new
home. The cattle grazing is key to this formula in that the cows
reduce the tall grasses down to short stubble which in turn attracts
the elk who shun ungrazed ranges.
By the winter of 2004, hundreds of elk will be settling in for the
winter on the environs of the Yellowstone mine.
Looking at new water management ideas
Reducing water consumption is an ongoing target for Luzenac
operations worldwide.
In 2003, Luzenac Australia continued looking at new water
management ideas for its site in Western Australia, with a view to
reducing its demands on the local fresh water supply.
In 2003, we continued introducing methods and investing
in equipment that safeguard the environment
¬ A new pump system installed at the sorting station at
our French operation allows us to recycle process water
and has led to a 65% drop in our industrial water
requirements.
¬ The high intensity discharge lighting at our Yellowstone mine in Montana has
been moved so that it shines away from a nearby highway, thereby reducing light
pollution. All outdoor area lighting has been put on timers with photocells to
reduce the total amount of time that the lights are on, thus reducing energy use.
¬ An energy-efficient compressor at our British mill
provides a 50% reduction in compressed air energy use.
The Three Springs site is fortunate enough to have a fresh
water aquifer on the lease. Luzenac Australia is currently
assessing the suitability of this water for processing in
terms of chemistry and flow rate. It also intends to enclose
and recycle the water in the processing circuits and
investigate blending the saline water with the fresher water
to slow the corrosion process.
Monitoring effluents
Luzenac Australia is also currently carrying out seasonal
studies on the lake system that receives the mining site’s
discharge water.
Initially the lake system was surveyed once a year to meet
regulatory requirements. However, in 2003, we decided
to investigate whether there were any natural changes
occurring in the lake system potentially caused by
discharge from our mining site. The land is surrounded by
farming properties and is exposed to runoff containing
herbicides and other chemical residues. The lake is also
subject to periods of severe evaporation followed by sudden
high inflows of rainfall.
Studies on the lake have identified several types of micro
flora, invertebrates, fauna and avian species. Information to
date suggests that change in salinity caused by discharge
from our mine may play an important part in the breeding
of these invertebrates. ¬
¬ A new superheater at our Weißkirchen plant in Austria
improves production efficiency and reduces energy
consumption.
¬ Our French operation now uses water from the settling
ponds to wash trucks and shovels, considerably cutting
freshwater consumption.
¬ Three new oil / water separators have been installed at our Sappington mill in
Montana. Two treat stormwater runoff to reduce pollutants prior to discharge, the
other treats compressor condensate by evaporating the water and capturing the oil
for recycling.
¬ Steel-bunded tanks at our British mill have been
replaced with totally enclosed, integrally bunded,
polyethylene tanks. The bunds themselves have a 110%
overspill capacity and are fitted with a spill sensor. The
filling nozzle also has an automatic cut-off to prevent
spillage.
2004 targets
talc for the world 13
Elk winter range on reclaimed land
at our Yellowstone mine in
Montana
ISO 14001 Last year, we
reported that all our operations,
except two, had obtained ISO
14001 certification. We are
pleased to report that all our
operations are now ISO 14001
compliant.*
* With the exception of the two joint venture
plants over which Luzenac gained management
control last autumn.
environment
> With the support of government
bodies and government-sponsored
consultants, actively investigate further
opportunities for energy consumption
reduction, energy generation from
renewable sources and carbon emission
offsets.