Environmental Aspects of Phosphate and Potash Mining United ...

The Environmental Approach of the Phosphate Rock and Potash Mining Industry
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The “ Best Practice Environmental Management in
Mining” Modules
Environment Australia publishes a valuable source of
environmental management information through the
"Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining"
modules. Each module collects and presents information
on a specific aspect of environmental
management relevant to the mining industry. The
modules are illustrated with examples of current best
practice that are practical and cost-effective. A wide
variety of modules are available, including:
Mine Planning for Environment Protection;
Rehabilitation and Revegetation;
Landform design for Rehabilitation;
Hazardous Materials Management, Storage and
Disposal;
Cleaner Production;
Environmental Management Systems;
Environmental Auditing.
Though orientated to the Australian mining industry
the topics, principles and case studies have relevance
to all areas of the fertilizer raw material mining industry
worldwide.
Issue Specific Guidelines
At times, specialized guidelines may need to be developed
for issues specific to a single operation or
regions. One such example is provided by the development
of guidelines to mitigate the selenium
contamination issue in southeast Idaho (USA). These
have been documented in a comprehensive manual,
‘Best Management Practices Guidance Manual for
Active and Future Phosphate Mines: Southeast Idaho
Phosphate Resource Area Selenium Project’.
The guidelines have been developed in response to
the selenium contamination of downstream waterways
and vegetation from current and historic
phosphate mining operations in southeast Idaho. The
selenium is released by weathering of shale excavated
during phosphate rock mining. The issue was first
identified in 1996 when a number of livestock were
diagnosed with chronic selenosis. Subsequent investigation
identified the mining operations as the source
of the problem and regulatory agencies required corrective
measures.
The guidelines present both tested and experimental
methods for the control of selenium release and
encompass practices related to mine planning, waste
rock management, water management, soil stabilization,
revegetation and livestock range management.
They are regarded as a 'work in progress' with performance
monitoring a key feature to ascertain their
effectiveness and refine techniques.
A stakeholder-inclusive process was used to develop
the guidelines that involved representatives from the
phosphate mining companies, federal, state and local
government agencies and the Shoshone-Bannock
Tribe.
Front cover of the Environment Australia 'Best Practice
Environmental Management in Mining - Mine Planning
for Environment Protection' module.
Front cover of the 'Best Management Practice Guidance
Manual for Active and Future Phosphate Mines' -
Agrium Conda Phosphate Operation, USA.