Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

Environmental performance
We aim to preserve the health, functions and long-term viability of the natural environments affected
by our operations. In line with Xstrata Copper’s Sustainable Development (SD) Policy, we operate
according to industry-leading environmental norms and, where relevant, eliminate, mitigate or repair
the environmental impact of our operations.
The environmental management systems in
place at our sites and operations are aligned
with Xstrata’s Business Principles and SD
Standards against which we regularly test
our performance.
Our operations and projects must comply
with norms that sometimes go beyond
legal requirements. We have set robust
targets for our operations in terms of carbon
intensity, energy intensity, fresh water
consumption in arid areas and sulphur dioxide
(SO 2 ) emissions.
We manage biodiversity-related risks and
seek to minimise or mitigate any negative
impact on biodiversity that may be caused by
our operations.
Xstrata Copper is committed to its recycling
business in North America. This extends the
useful life of metals and helps to reduce
electronic scrap, which is an increasing source
of environmental concern and landfill waste.
When environmental incidents do occur
we determine the cause and take steps to
prevent recurrence. Xstrata Copper also plans
and implements the closure of operations in
a way that is consistent with its commitment
to sustainable development and the prevailing
regulation where our operations take place.
We believe that superior environmental
management results in increased efficiency,
lower risk and higher overall performance of
our operations. It is also critical to maintain
our social licence to operate.
We aim to minimise the environmental
impacts of the Xstrata Copper North
Queensland Division’s operations. We will
achieve this by managing risks, seeking
opportunities to avoid, minimise and
mitigate impacts through the efficient use
of natural resources, pollution control, waste
management and biodiversity conservation.
In 2010, the Division invested almost
$34 million on environmental
protection, management and initiatives.
Environmental protection expenditures and investments by type –
Xstrata Copper North Queensland Division
Expenditure/investment category 2010
Capital $15,717,641
Clean up costs for remediation of spills 0
Environmental consultants/contractors $2,509,154
Environmental personnel – employees $2,723,356
Licences/liability insurance $751,436
Rehabilitation and decommissioning costs $469,639
Research and development $1,556,692
Treatment and disposal of waste* $5,371,179
Treatment of emissions $210,000
Monitoring and analysis equipment $1,043,361
Other operating expenses $3,613,005
Total $33,965,464
* The significant increase in expenditure compared to 2009 is due to ESP stockpiled material treatment.
Environmental incidents
and compliance
In 2010 no Category 3 (significant) incidents
occurred at any of the Xstrata Copper North
Queensland operations.
Two prosecutions and fines were recorded in
2010 as a result of incidents that occurred in
late 2008 and early 2009.
In July 2010, Xstrata Mount Isa Mines
pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates
Court to one charge under the Aboriginal
Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and was fined
$80,000 in respect of inadvertent damage to
cultural heritage objects while a contractor
worked to upgrade a road in Mount Isa
in 2008. Draft internal Aboriginal Cultural
Heritage and Land Clearance procedures
had been developed in consultation with the
Kalkadoon people and were being trialled
when the incident occurred. The procedures
were reviewed in the light of the incident
and are now in place. We take the issue of
protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage very
seriously and deeply regret this incident.
In August 2010, Ernest Henry Mining did not
challenge proceedings brought forward by
Environmental Incident Classification
Incident
Category
Environmental impact
1 Negligible incident
2 Minor incident
3 Significant incident
4 Serious incident
5 Disastrous incident
the Department of Environment and Resource
Management in relation to stormwater
discharges that occurred in early 2009.
Ernest Henry Mining was fined $100,000,
and no conviction was recorded.
The Xstrata Copper North Queensland
Division has established environmental plans,
management systems and procedures at
its operations. Xstrata Copper reviewed
and improved its ISO 14001-compliant
environmental management systems through
continually involving operational areas in
its development, using feedback from the
Xstrata SD Assurance Program, specialist
audits, and other internal and external
environmental benchmarking activities.
Sustainability Report 2010 79