A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

The baseline ecological stream health assessment for areas both upstream and
downstream of the mining operations area also assists with the assessment of any
impacts identified.
A socioeconomic baseline study for all RTCA operations in the Bowen Basin has
recently been completed. This will further assist in understanding potential impacts
on the community and how these impacts can be mitigated, as well as identifying
opportunities for future community programs (see LP Monitoring p.19).
Figure 2.12 – Hail Creek mine site
Limits of detection for chemical parameters
When choosing the levels of resolution (that is, the detection limits) for monitoring
parameters, it is important to consider the reasons for collecting the measurements
and the time span over which the measurements may be used. Over time, analytical
methods tend to improve and the levels of resolution achieved tend to improve as
detection limits decrease. Corresponding with this, target standards and guidelines
also tend to reduce as community perceptions of acceptability tend to tighten over
time. It is true to say that the current standard commercial laboratory analytical
methods are not able to detect all the toxicants in the Australian and New Zealand
guidelines for fresh and marine water quality at levels below the trigger values
(silver is a particular issue of relevance to mining) (ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000a).
While it may be acceptable now to report the current practical quantification limit
as an indicator of water quality for such parameters, this will not remain the case as
analytical methods improve.
52 LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY