SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN - MIRMgate

• assess monitoring and operational control systems to provide sufficient and adequate
performance measurement data to ensure stable and safe development
• provide advice on methods to improve the operation
• make recommendations for additional work to improve the understanding of foundation, wall
and deposited materials and additional instrumentation if considered necessary
• conduct confirmatory checking or performance monitoring instrumentation and data gathering,
e.g. piezometers, flow rates, monitoring wells, pipeline inspections and status, operational
checking and inspection systems
• detail findings on a comprehensive checklist
• recommend any necessary enhancements
• identify work activities required in the short-, medium- and long-term
• compile a list of deficient items
• make recommendations for additional audits or reviews if considered necessary
• provide feedback to senior management identifying key issues and corrective actions at the
end of the process.
Operations should make all relevant data available to the Auditor and provide all necessary assistance.
D6
Guidance on Standards of Practice for a ‘Design for the Environment’ Approach to
Closure
Design for the closure should typically include consideration of the following:
• design for closure from conceptual stage of the project with the end in mind
• examination and implementation of new methods of deposition that facilitate closure in a
sustainable manner
• endeavouring to remove as many pollutants from the tailings stream at source
• keeping pollutants separate
• not inhibiting the ability of future generations to live at similar standard
• adopting technical details that assist with sustainable closure, for example flatter slopes (not
steeper than 30% and preferably flatter) that mirror those found in nature (convex/concave),
integrated vegetative and non-vegetative soil stabilisation measures, and soil/waste rock mixes
for cladding purposes
• conserve, stockpile and use topsoil for rehabilitation
• planting native species to prevent erosion and encourage self-sustaining development of a
productive ecosystem on the rehabilitated land
• conducting the necessary social and environmental impact assessments
• conducting risk assessments
• developing a framework for closure based upon detoxification at source
• establishing optimum after-use alternatives based on the comprehensive social impact
assessment
• preparing an initial closure plan accounting for site specific conditions
• preparing a closure and aftercare estimate.
Around two years prior to plant closure, a final closure plan and update costs estimates should be
prepared. It is generally recognized that there are no ‘walk-away’ solutions to closure of most tailings
facilities, but the main objective of any closure design should be to get the facility as close to this state
as reasonably possible.
The closure configuration should be constructed to ensure that the outer face configuration remains
stable and is no more prone to wind and water erosion than the natural ambient topography.
Issued by the Anglo Technical Division page 38 of 47