The Conformance Protocols help operators and independent third parties assess implementation of the Standards requirements, and ultimately to demonstrate conformance. They map to the Standards 77 requirements using 219 clear and concise criteria. Effective assessment of conformance to the Standard through ICMMs Conformance Protocols will help to demonstrate to all stakeholders that responsible practices are being applied across the tailings lifecycle.
This guideline has been established to provide specific guidance and context to owners, engineers of records, regulators, consultants and auditors on the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) expectations for the application of the Code, and to assist operations in understanding and complying with the Code when it comes to tailings management. Variances from the Code must be supported with appropriate engineering justification, and submitted for approval by the Chief Inspector. An overview of the elements of a tailings management system is provided in this guideline. Although detailed instructions on developing and implementing specific elements are beyond the scope of this document, references are provided throughout. It is intended that periodic improvements will be made to this guideline as standards of practice advance and as MEM receives feedback from users.
The Mines Act and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (the Code) protect workers and the public through provisions for minimizing the health, safety and environmental risks related to mining activities. The purpose of the Code is to: 1. Protect employees and all other persons from undue risks to their health and safety arising out of or in connection with activities at mines. 2. Safeguard the public from risks arising out of or in connection with activities at mines. 3. Protect and reclaim the land and watercourses affected by mining. 4. Monitor the extraction of mineral and coal resources and ensure maximum extraction with a minimum of environmental disturbance, taking into account sound engineering practice and prevailing economic conditions.
Risk management is a key component of any effective corporate tailings governance framework. Uncertainty is inherent to a mining company's business activities and may present both risk and opportunity. An integrated risk-based approach assists management in identifying, evaluating, prioritising and managing key risks to the achievement of the mining company's strategic objectives, as well as opportunities to enhance performance and value. Corporate risk management frameworks are typically designed to manage risks at the enterprise or operational level with specific definitions for consequence and likelihood. Challenges can develop in accurately ranking tailings-related risks when utilising an operational-level corporate risk management framework. This paper highlights various corporate risk management approaches and discusses some key considerations when developing a tailings risk management framework and governance model.
The criticality of effective stewardship of tailings facilities has recently gained increasing recognition and triggered much effort on the part of the many mining companies across the world. The world of mining, and in particular the mine waste management practice area, is changing dramatically after the recent tragic events following the tailings dam failure in Brazil in January 2019. Investors, communities, shareholders, nongovernmental organisations, regulators and insurance companies are looking to the tailings storage facilities and their management through a completely different lens; one that focuses on the need for implementing best available practices (BAP), best applicable technologies (BAT), and how the zero repeats commitment of the mining industry will be achieved. This presentation outlines Anglo Americans approach to building a world-class tailings storage facilities practice, which includes a number of key must-have ingredients: A solid and strict governance framework for the oversight of a large portfolio of tailings and water dams in a global environment, where stringent minimum technical standards are implemented with non-negotiable requirements. The need for people with the right set of skills, competencies, and technical knowledge, but also the mindset on safety and the do the right thing approach that needs to be part of their DNA. The critical controls definition and implementation to ensure each facility is planned, built and managed safely to design requirements, minimising the presence of the surprise effect, and in particular the minimisation of the human error element factor. Pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation in tailings production, deposition, and management of such facilities. From minimising the tailings production, to high tech near real-time monitoring instrumentation and surveillance technologies, all are key ingredients in building a global success story. Implementing the Anglo American dam safety management program at a global level does not come without challenges. The presentation will discuss the strategy and share some of the success stories, as well as lessons learned along the Anglo American journey since 2014, when the company transformed its internal technical requirements, raising the bar to a whole new level.
December 2016 "Tailings Governance Framework: Position Statement" 7 page document. General guidance, endeavouring to enhance the focus on six key elements of management and governance deemed necessary to maintain TSF integrity and minimise the risk of catastrophic failures. The governance framework elements include: (1) Accountability, Responsibility and Competency; (2) Planning and Resourcing; (3) Risk Management; (4) Change Management; (5) Emergency Preparedness and Response; (6) Review and Assurance. As part of TSF governance, there is a clear expectation all ICMM company members implement the ICMM Mining Principles, which seek to maximise host community benefits and minimise negative societal impacts. Recognises TSF's undergo changes over their life cycle, which must be considered and managed. Key or material points within the six framework elements include accountability for governance resides with owners and operators. Risk controls and verifications are to be based on failure modes and consequences. Risks associated with potential changes are assessed, controlled and communicated to avoid compromising TSF integrity. Emergency preparedness and response plans must be commensurate with potential failure mechanisms. Internal and external review and assurance processes must be in place.
This guidance is intended to support safe, responsible management of tailings across the global mining industry, with the ultimate goal of eliminating fatalities and catastrophic events. It provides guidance on good governance and engineering practices that will support continual improvement in the management of tailings facilities and help foster and strengthen a corporate safety culture, with focus in the six key areas outlined in the 2016 Tailings Governance Framework: 1) Accountability, Responsibility, and Competency; 2) Planning and Resourcing; 3) Risk Management; 4) Change Management; 5) Emergency Preparedness and Response; and 6) Review and Assurance
Systematic assessment of as-built open pit mine slopes is required to verify that slope design criteria are appropriate for the ground conditions and that slope designs are being correctly implemented by mine operations. It is imperative that design bench geometry and inter-ramp slope angles are delivered (in order to meet scheduled production targets), slope design acceptance criteria are achieved, and that geotechnical design risks are appropriately managed, so that the design intent is met. The excavation compliance indicator (ECI) as developed by Seery and Lapwood (2007) and presents a methodology for quantifying compliance to design via measurement of the as-built individual geometrical elements that comprise the bench geometry; i.e. bench face angle (BFA), crest position, toe position and catch bench width (CBW). Measurements of these elements are combined and weighted in order to deliver an overall slope design conformance metric (i.e. the ECI score). The technique enables valuable insights into the contributing factors that adversely affect design implementation conformance, thereby enabling operational practices to be modified in order to deliver improved design achievement. This paper outlines how the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) open pit geotechnical team implements ECI and how it is integrated into their design reconciliation workflow. This paper also provides some recommendations for improving the ECI process.
The movement towards risk-based design and operation of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) has taken place over the last few decades. The establishment of the consequence of failure of a facility is used to determine the design criteria to be used in its design. These criteria generally set the acceptable return periods for seismic and hydrologic events that the facility must accommodate. In addition, there are generally several levels of risk assessment of the design carried out to highlight technical risks that require particular attention and controls to manage. These are usually addressed in the design phase of project development. Despite this focus on technical risk assessment at the design phases of the development of a TSF, there is still a significant number of failures occurring every year. In recent times, there have been a number of high profile TSF failures in facilities owned by major mining houses and/or located in highly regulated, first world countries. In almost every case, the investigations into the failures have been carried out by high profile, internationally recognised geotechnical engineers who have identified the technical reasons for the failure. In many cases, it has been shown that the root causes of the failures have been a failure in governance, capital constraints, change management, independent reviews, construction supervision, operation, etc. The investigation of failures and reports to the public are almost exclusively focused on the technical cause with much less focus on what is often the underlying root cause. A number of international mining industry groups have recognised the lack of effective governance as being a major risk that could lead to TSF failures. The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) are two examples. In this paper, the various methods for risk assessment and management are described. Non-technical risks that arise in the design and operation of TSFs are discussed and importance of good governance and continuity of its application during the full lifecycle of the facilities is emphasised.