REPORT M-1335|2019 | 2010/2019 Mining industry and tailings disposal Status, environmental challenges and gaps of knowledge COLOPHON Executive institution Resource group for mining operations Project manager for the contractor Contact person in the Norwegian Environment Agency Jens Skei Harald Sørby M-no Year Pages Contract number 1335|2019 2010/2019 138 KLIF-4010016/Mdir 18087054 Publisher The project is funded by Norwegian Environment Agency Norwegian Environment Agency Author(s) Jens Skei (NIVA/Skei Mining Consultant), et al. Title – Norwegian and English Bergverk og avgangsdeponering – status og utfordringer (2010). Mining industry and tailings disposal (2010). Annex with updates on status (2019). Summary – sammendrag The existing base of experience regarding disposal of waste rock and tailings and environmental assessments relating to the use of chemicals in the mining industry have been collated. National and international experience has been applied, with a focus on disposal of tailings in the marine environment. Sea disposal requires fulfilment of a number of prerequisites in terms of both knowledge of the area where disposal is planned, design of the outfall system and requirements on the actual discharge. There is also an emphasis on identifying knowledge gaps related to the dispersal of tailings and environmental impact. 4 emneord 4 subject words Gruver, avgang, sjødeponering, kjemikalier Mining, tailings, submarine disposal, chemicals Front page photo Øyvind Hetland (Norwegian Environment Agency) 1 Mining industry and tailings disposal | M-1335|2019 Mining industry and tailings disposal Status, environmental challenges and gaps of knowledge Island Copper Mine, British Columbia. Filling of the open pit mine with seawater from the Rupert Inlet fjord after mining was phased out in 1995. The world's highest seawater waterfall! 2 Mining industry and tailings disposal | M-1335|2019 Foreword The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) has been assigned the task by the Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif) to prepare a status report on the level of knowledge of mining and environmental challenges, with a principal focus on sea disposal and use of chemicals. A draft report was prepared by a resource group formed by Klif. This implies that the report in whole does not necessarily express the views of the individual members. The resource group comprised the following members: Harald Sørby, Klif (Chairman) Glenn Storbråten, Klif (secretary) Grethe Braastad, Klif Mads Løkeland, Friends of the Earth Norway Marius Dalen, Bellona Maria Thornhill, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Reidulv Bøe, The Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) Henrik Rye, SINTEF Jan Helge Fosså, the Institute of Marine Research (HI) Trygve Dekko, Multiconsult AS Tor Jensen, Det norske Veritas (DnV) Jens Skei, NIVA We would like to thank all the members for their hard work. Please note that the resource group’s work was limited to contributions within the members’ individual areas of expertise. It is therefore possible that the views in the report do not necessarily represent the same views of the members’ respective institutes. Oslo, October 2010 [Signature] Jens Skei Report editor 3 Mining industry and tailings disposal | M-1335|2019 Content Foreword ........................................................................................................ 3 1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 9 2. Boundaries for the work ................................................................................. 10 3. Overview of relevant legislation ....................................................................... 11 3.1 The Norwegian Pollution Control Act ........................................................... 11 3.2 The Norwegian Product Control Act ............................................................ 11 3.3 Regulations relating to the recycling of waste (Waste Regulations), chapter 9, Landfill of waste (1999/31/EC) .................................................................................. 12 3.4 The Directive on the management of waste from extractive industries (Mining Waste Directive) .................................................................................................. 12 3.5 The Water Regulations ............................................................................ 12 3.6 The Pollution Regulations, chapter 30 ......................................................... 13 3.7 Regulations relating to restrictions on the use, etc. of certain dangerous chemicals . 13 3.8 The Norwegian Planning and Building Act ..................................................... 13 3.9 The Norwegian Nature Diversity Act ............................................................ 14 3.10 Norwegian salmon fjords .......................................................................... 14 3.11 The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE)’s regulations .......... 14 3.12 The Norwegian Food Act .......................................................................... 15 4. Status regarding disposal of waste rock and tailings ............................................... 15 4.1 Disposal of waste rock and tailings on land in Norway ...................................... 15 4.2 Sulphide ore mines in Norway .................................................................... 17 4.2.1 Folldal Verk .................................................................................. 17 4.2.2 Grong Gruber ................................................................................ 19 4.2.3 The Sulitjelma field ........................................................................ 21 4.2.4 Løkken Verk ................................................................................. 23 4.2.5 Skorovas Gruber ............................................................................ 24 4.2.6 Røros Kobberverk ........................................................................... 25 4.2.7 Bleikvassli Gruber .......................................................................... 27 4.2.8 Bidjovagge Gruber .......................................................................... 28 4.2.9 Nikkel og Olivin ............................................................................. 28 4.2.10 Knaben molybdenum mines............................................................... 29 4.2.11 Kjøli and Killingdal mines ................................................................. 30 4.3 Non-sulphide mines in Norway ................................................................... 31 4.3.1 Titania ........................................................................................ 31 4.3.2 North Cape Minerals, Lillesand ........................................................... 32 4 Mining industry and tailings disposal | M-1335|2019 4.4 International experience of disposal of waste rock and tailings on land ................. 32 4.4.1 Equity Silver Mines, BC, Canada ......................................................... 32 4.4.2 Idaho Springs – Leadville, Colorado, USA ............................................... 33 4.4.3 Zlate Hory - The Czech Republic ........................................................ 34 4.4.4 Aitik, Gällivare, Sweden .................................................................. 35 4.5 Status regarding sea tailings disposal ........................................................... 36 4.5.1 Sea disposal of tailings in Norway ....................................................... 38 4.5.2 Sea disposal of tailings in Canada ....................................................... 42 4.5.3 Sea disposal of tailings in the USA ....................................................... 47 4.5.4 Sea disposal of tailings in Greenland ................................................... 50 4.5.5 Sea disposal of tailings in Asia ........................................................... 52 5. Summary of lessons learned from existing and planned activities ............................... 55 5.1 Disposal of tailings on land ....................................................................... 55 5.1.1 Physical and chemical stability .......................................................... 56 5.1.2 Ecological impact ........................................................................... 57 5.1.3 Impact on natural resources .............................................................. 61 5.1.4 Risk of accidents ............................................................................ 64 5.1.5 Monitoring and environmental documentation ........................................ 64 5.1.6 Examples of disposal sites that have functioned as intended ...................... 65 5.1.7 Examples of disposal sites with unexpected environmental problems ............ 70 5.2 Disposal of tailings in the sea .................................................................... 72 5.2.1 Physical and chemical stability .......................................................... 72 5.2.2 Dispersal and sedimentation ............................................................. 73 5.2.3 Ecological impact ........................................................................... 76 5.2.4 Impact on marine resources .............................................................. 87 5.2.5 Risk of accidents ............................................................................ 87 5.2.6 Monitoring and