Standard for Responsible Mineral Processing Draft Version 1.0 June 2021
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Standard for Responsible Mineral Processing Draft version 1.0 June 2021 DRAFT FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION NOTE TO REVIEWERS This draft Standard for Responsible Mineral Processing has been developed in response to requests from IRMA stakeholders for a comprehensive standard that defines best practices at operations beyond the mine gate. The starting point for the development of this draft was the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining (referred to as the “Mining Standard”). You will see, however, that terminology has changed, numerous requirements have been adapted, and two new chapters have been developed (Chapter 1.6 on Responsible Sourcing and Chapter 4.9 on Land and Soil Quality). Reviewers are welcome to comment on any aspect of this draft Standard. Throughout the draft Standard, however, you will see NOTES and CONSULTATION QUESTIONS. These appear with a yellow background like the one here. NOTES are informative, to provide readers with a background on the sections mentioned, or drafters’ notes, for example on why particular requirements were removed or combined in this Standard as compared to the Mining Standard. CONSULTATION QUESTIONS are directed at reviewers. These are areas where the drafters are seeking input to help guide and/or improve the wording, help determine the scope or relevancy of proposed requirements, etc. Cross-references to other chapters and Guidance materials will be developed for the final version following the consultation period. When providing comments back to IRMA, it would be appreciated if reviewers could reference specific Chapters, requirement numbers and/or consultation question numbers. Comments may be submitted to IRMA: [email protected] Deadline for Comments: August 16, 2021 1 IRMA MINERAL PROCESSING STANDARD (DRAFT 1.0) – JUNE 2021 www.responsiblemining.net Contents NOTE TO REVIEWERS .......................................................................................................................... 1 Contents ............................................................................................................... 2 Preamble .............................................................................................................. 4 Principle 1: Business Integrity ............................................................................ 10 Chapter 1.1—Legal Compliance ................................................................................................................. 10 Chapter 1.2—Community and Stakeholder Engagement .......................................................................... 14 Chapter 1.3—Human Rights Due Diligence................................................................................................ 20 Chapter 1.4—Complaints and Grievance Mechanism and Access to Remedy .......................................... 27 Chapter 1.5—Financial Transparency and Anti-Corruption ....................................................................... 33 Chapter 1.6—Mineral Supply Chain and Responsible Sourcing NEW ........................................................ 40 Principle 2: Planning and Managing for Positive Legacies .................................. 52 Chapter 2.1—Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Management ....................................... 52 Chapter 2.2—Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) ............................................................................. 62 Chapter 2.3—Obtaining Community Support and Delivering Benefits ...................................................... 70 Chapter 2.4—Resettlement ....................................................................................................................... 74 Chapter 2.5—Emergency Preparedness and Response ............................................................................. 85 Chapter 2.6—Planning and Financing Decommissioning and Reclamation ............................................... 90 Principle 3: Social Responsibility ........................................................................ 99 Chapter 3.1—Fair Labor and Terms of Work ............................................................................................. 99 Chapter 3.2—Occupational Health and Safety ........................................................................................ 110 Chapter 3.3—Community Health and Safety ........................................................................................... 123 Chapter 3.4—Mineral Processing and Conflict-Affected or High-Risk Areas ........................................... 130 Chapter 3.5—Security Arrangements ...................................................................................................... 139 Chapter 3.6—Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining ....................................................................................... 146 Chapter 3.7—Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................................ 152 Principle 4: Environmental Responsibility ........................................................ 160 Chapter 4.1—Waste and Materials Management ................................................................................... 160 Chapter 4.2—Water Management .......................................................................................................... 173 Chapter 4.3—Air Quality .......................................................................................................................... 192 Chapter 4.4—Noise Management ........................................................................................................... 200 Chapter 4.5—Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Consumption....................................................... 204 Chapter 4.6—Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Protected Areas ...................................................... 210 Chapter 4.7—Cyanide Management ........................................................................................................ 222 2 IRMA MINERAL PROCESSING STANDARD (DRAFT 1.0) – JUNE 2021 www.responsiblemining.net Chapter 4.8—Mercury Management ....................................................................................................... 226 Chapter 4.9—Land and Soil Quality NEW ................................................................................................ 232 3 IRMA MINERAL PROCESSING STANDARD (DRAFT 1.0) – JUNE 2021 www.responsiblemining.net Preamble The IRMA Standard for Responsible Mineral Processing Modern societies rely on mined minerals and metals to function. Nearly everything manufactured or constructed – from buildings to roads to computers and trains – contains material that comes from the Earth. The extraction and production of minerals and metals provides important employment and financial opportunities for host communities and host countries. But these complex and intensive processes can also negatively impact the physical environment, such as through the loss of habitat or contamination of water, and local communities’ social and economic situations. IRMA was founded in 2006 by a coalition of nongovernment organizations (NGOs); downstream businesses who purchase minerals and metals for the products they make and sell; trade unions; affected communities; and mining companies. IRMA leaders believe that many of the negative social and environmental impacts can be avoided if mines and facilities that convert raw materials into usable forms of minerals and metals operate according to leading practices. Its vision is: a world where the mining industry is: respectful of the human rights and aspirations of affected communities; provides safe, healthful and respectful workplaces; avoids or minimizes harm to the environment; and leaves positive legacies. IRMA founders set the mission to establish a multi-stakeholder and independently verified responsible mining assurance system that improves social and environmental performance and creates value for leading mine sites. In 2018, IRMA released version 1.0 of its Standard for Responsible Mining (“IRMA Mining Standard”),1 and in 2019 and 2020 the first audits were conducted at mines sites to measure the performance of these sites against the metrics in the IRMA Mining Standard. IRMA stakeholders have expressed that ensuring responsible practices at mine sites is an essential step, but that expectations are being placed on downstream users of metals and minerals to be able to demonstrate that responsible practices are occurring throughout their minerals and metals supply chains. Given that many of the responsible practices at mine sites can and should be applied at other stages in the mineral and metals supply chain, IRMA has drafted a Standard for Responsible Mineral Processing (the “IRMA Mineral Processing Standard”), which specifies performance requirements for environmentally and socially responsible practices during mineral processing. The Standard serves as the basis of a global, voluntary system offering independent third-party review and certification of environmental and social performance measures at smelters, refineries and other operations involved in the processing and extraction of minerals and metals from ores and concentrates. Principles and Objectives The IRMA Standard for Responsible Mineral Processing is designed to support the achievement of four overarching principles. Additionally, each chapter of the IRMA Standard has an objective that meets one or more of these principles.