Tailings Management

{-J TAILINGS MANAGEMENT Q -77 - - ---.._w J -,• .• 'p b_ •-.-.-•- _ .* ••: - INIER\1\Ho'-: Ni]. j.\j 'JU Tl IF I p United NIions Enirument Prramrne The International Council on Metals and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environment Industry and Environment Centre Founded in 1991, [he International Council on Metals 'The Industry and Environment centre was established by and the Environment (TCME) is a non-governmental 1JNEP in 1975 to bring industry and government togethet organization that promotes the development and imple- to promote environmentally sound industrial development mentation of sound environmental and health policies and UNEP IE is located in Paris and its goals are to: practices in the production, use, recycling and disposal of non-ferrous and precious metals. Encourage the incorporation of environmental criteria in industrial development plans; These case studies have been published by ICME as part Facilitate the implementation of procedures and prin- of a series of publications providing information on en- ciples for the protection of the environment; vironmental and health matters relating to the metals Promote the use of safe and clean technologies; mining and producing industry. The contents of ICME Stimulate the exchange of information and experience publications range from general and technical information throughout the world. about these topics to discussions of issues relevant to environmental and/or health-related policies affecting the UNEP IE provides access to practical information and mining and metals sector. It is believed that the topics develops cooperative on-site action and information examined are of concern not only to the industry, but also exchapge backed by regular follow-up and assessment. to others, including policy makers, regulators, educators To promote the transfer of information and the sharing and the public at large. ICME hopes that these publications of knowledge and experience, UNEP IE has developed provide insight into what are sometimes difficult and com- three complemFntary tools: technical reviews and guide- plex issues. lines; Industry and Environment—a quarterly review; and a tethnica[ query-response service. In keeping with its In addition to is publications, ICME has an extensive in- emphasis on technical cooperation, UNEP IE facilitates formation program which includes a Web site and a quarterly technology transfer and the implemenation of practices tc newsletter with a worldwide distribution. safeguard the environment through promoting awareness and interaLtiun, training and diagnostic studies. The International Council on Metals and the United Nations Environment Prograrnme Environment Industry and Environment 294 Albert Street, Suite 506 Tour Mirabeau, 39-43, Quai Andre Citron Ottawa, Ontario KIP 6E6 75739 Paris Cédex 15 CANADA FRAN CE Tel: +1 613 235 4263 Tel.: +33 1 44 37 14 50 Fax: +1 613 235 2865 Fax: +33 1 44 37 14 74 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] http://www.icme.com http/fwww.unepie.org Case Studies on Tailings Management, November 1998. ISBN I-895720-29-X CASE STUDIES ON TAILINGS MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL CouNcil ON ME1ALS AND THE ENVIR0NNIEN -r tQJ UNEP TCME United Nations Environnint Programme TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword ........................................................................... Introduction ........................................................................1 Section1. Overview ..............................................................3 A Management Perspective ...............................................................3 The Need for Dam Safety .................................................................5 An IntroductIOn to Tailings ................................................................7 ConstructiorioflailinçjsDams .............................................................9 Environmental Issues in Tailings Management ................................................11 The Importance of Tailings Stability ........................................................13 CASE STUDIES Section 2. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) ................16 Overview of an Environmental Management System: Endako Mine .................................1 5 Anglogold's Environmental Management System ..............................................18 The External Audit: An Efficient EMS Tool for Rio Tinto Brazil Ltd -------- ........................... 20 Risk Assessment of Tailings Disposal at Osborne Mines .........................................22 A tuide to the Management of LIIings Facilities prepared by the M i n i n g Association of Canada ...........24 National Regulations and Codes: South Africa. Malaysia and Mexico ................................26 Section 3. Design and Operations.. Site Selection Criteria at Kennecott Utah Copper .............................................. 28 Site Selection at Codelco-Chile ............................................................ 30 Subaqueous Tailings Disposal: Results of the MEND Program .................................... 32 Double Safety System at the Ovacik Gold Mine ................................................ 34 WMC's Central Discharge Tailings Storage Facility ............................................. 36 Conserving and Protecting Scarce Water Resources; Candelaria Copper ............................. 38 Quality Control and Quality Assurance at the Mussolwhite Mine ................................... 40 Operating and Monitoring a Tailings Area: A Falconbnidge Example ................................. 42 Risk Assessment of Tailings Areas at Noranda ................................................ 44 Monitoring Tailings by Telemetry at Rio Algom ................................................ 46 Section 4. Emergency Preparedness .......................................48 Mitsubishi's Emergency Management Manual for Tailings Disposal at Abandoned Mines .................48 Ernrergency Response during the Omai Tailings Dam Failure ......................................50 Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at the Local Level (APELL) ...........................52 Section 5. Education and Training ........................................... 53 Tailings Management and Decommissioning: A Short Course .....................................53 Sustaining the Corporate Memory at lno Copper Cliff Operations ................................55 Glossary ............................................................................57 Bibliography .......................................................................58 Case Studies on tailings Management 1 II Case Studies on TaiIins Management FOREWORD AILIN(;s DISPOSAl Is AN INI [DftAL PARt 01 M ININ( OPLuAIIONS IHRC)LGI IOUTT HP Tworld. The processing of ore to produce a concentrate, from which metals such as copper, nickel, zinc and gold ale recovered, rcsults in residual mineral wastes that require containment. Such wastes are known as tailings and are generally contained in impoundments. Tailings conrinue to concern the industry as well as regulators and the general public due to several highly newsworthy railings dam failures. Several such failures have arisen from unexpected natural events, while others seem to be related to a deficiency in some aspect of the tailings life cycle. The mining industry strives to minimize human error in tailings disposal systems through improved technolog and management practices. The Environmental Protection Working Group on Mining and Metallurgy, a joint initiative of the International Council on Metals and the Environment (ICME) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has identified tailings issues as one of the key challenges to achieving improvements in environmental performance. One of the main mechanisms identified by the Working Group is an expanded information exchange using workshops and publications to promote good environmental practices. In 1996, ICME and UNEP published the booklet Ore' Studies Illustrating Enviromnental Practices in Mmmc anti Metalluigzca/ Processes. In 1997, ICME and UNLE in collabora- tion with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), hosted the "International Workshop on Managing the Risks of Tailings Disposal" in Stockholm. of which proceedings have been published. A subsequent workshop on Risk Assessment and Contingency Planning was organized in November 1998 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This current publication is a collection of case studies prepared by technical experts throughout the industry to illustrate the sophistication of approaches used in rnanag- ing the risks of railings systems. The publicarion also provides an overview describing railtngs, the main concerns and issues relating to them, and how they are managed by industry. Each case study provides a brief description of the approach used to address a specific aspect of tailings management. The purpose of this booklet is to enhance understanding of tailings management and to demonstrate how the mining industry is managing rhe risks associated with tailings disposal. It is aimed at people who work within the mining community, at officials who rcgulate the industry and at other stakeholders, such as those who live in the vicinity of mining operations. Gary Nash Secretary General ICME Case Studies on Tai5nçs MariOeinerit UI IV Case Studies an Tadings Management INTRODUCTION Hi I ii ilL C()Oi1i<A[ION )i A I ARGI NUMBER Ci LXPERTS. IGNIE i-las COMPIL[LI) Wthis collection of case studies of tailings management practices

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