Environmental Management System (EMS) – Mining Industry

The Case of India

Best Practice

&

Planning for Closure

by Andrea Vásquez

Content

1. Introduction2. Legal Framework for Enviromental

Management3. Best Practice for Mine Closure4. Central Minning Research Institute5. Planning for Closure6. Constraints and Opportunities7. Conclusions8. References

1. Introduction

Mining and Environmental Legislation

Mining LegislationEnvironmental

Legislation

Mines Act. 1952Mines and Mineral

Act. 1957,Amended in 1986 & 1994

Mineral Concession Rules 1960, Amended on Sep. 1994

Mineral Conservation andDevelopment Rules 1958,Amended in 1988 & 1994

Mines Rules 1995

State Minor Mineral Concession Rule

Water Pollution Act,1974 & Rules

Forest Conservation Act,1980

Air Pollution Act,1981 & Rules

Environment Protection Act. 1986

Environmental Statement,1993

Environmental Impact Assesment, 1994

2. Legal Framework for Enviromental Management

3. Best Practice for Mine Closure

Source: Environmental Policy in Mining, A. WarhurstEnvironmental Policy in Mining, A. Warhurst

Singrauli Coalfields (SC)

•14,873 hectares for 10 mining blocks•44.4% for mining excavation•12.2% for overburden dumps•17.0% for infrastructure•26.4% for other operations

Envir. Management•External dumping area is kept to a minimum.•Dragline, shvel-dumper combination and dozers are for filling purposes•Periphery of overburden dump slope kept an angle of 28°•Height no more than 30m

ResultsSeveral species of plants grown on overburden dumps (Dep. Botany, Banaras University)

Amarkantak Bauxite Mines (ABM) – SSM

(Bharat Aluminum Co. Ltd.)

Reclamation Programme

•Reclamation work started in 1979•Void areas filled with lateritic overburden•And covered with top soil layer•Restored land > 150 ha•18-20 ha/year reclaimed with aprox. 60,000 trees of 52 species•It is possible to reclaim them through crop cultivation and•Small appropriate dose of NPK fertilizers

4. Central Mining Research Institute (CMRI)

•Acid Mine Drainage most serious problem•Shales excavated contains in dilution until 22% sulphur•Material from excavations are aprox. 0.3 Tons•In rainy season increases the acidity of the soil•High acidity affects the revegetation process.

Amjhore Pyrite Mine (APM)

Environmental

Impacts

CMRI

Successfully revegetation processwas obtained using lime,phosphatic waste, and industrialcinders.

It works!

5. Planning for Closure

Source: Environmental Policy in Mining, A. WarhurstEnvironmental Policy in Mining, A. Warhurst

6. Constraints and Opportunities

Developing Countries

• Lack of infrastructure and resources.

• Ineffective information technology

• Policy failures• Political barriers• Lack of monitoring

and control

India• Multi-disciplinary HR.• Infrastructure

facilities.• Well-recognized R&D

facilities.

7. Conclusions & Recomendations

• Environmental considerations at every stage.

• Good understanding of resource deposits and rehabilitation philosophy.

• Water treatment of mine discharges.• Considering of Environmental Policy

Reforms.• International Agencies co-operation

improves the process of clean technology transfer.

8. References• Environmental Policy in Mining, A. Warhurst, L. Noronha, 1999• Metallic - Minerals map of India,

http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/india/metalindustry.htm, 16.11.07• http://www.nlcindia.com/monthly_report_index.html; 18.12.2007 ,

15:17h• http://www.cmpdi.co.in/GeomaticsMaps/SingrauliCF/Singrauli2k5.pdf,

18.12.2007, 15:32h• http://envfor.nic.in/report/0001/chap08.html; 18.12.07, 17.10• http://www.westerncoal.nic.in/envior.htm• http://envfor.nic.in/report/0001/chap08.html#eti_cecmed (Gevra)• http://habitat.aq.upm.es/dubai/02/bp161.html • http://www.secl.nic.in/menv.htm (Gevra)• http://www.ismenvis.nic.in/ Jharia CF• http://bardhaman.gov.in/mines/mines.htm Raniganj CF

Thank you for your attention!