New mine tailings guidelines set bar for sector action

A set of 16 guidelines have been drawn up by international experts, scientists and NGOs to reduce the risks of mine waste storage, known as tailings and held in place by dams. Following the Brumadinho dam collapse in Brazil last year that killed 270 people, the report published by Safety First says mine tailings management must aim for zero harm to the environment and zero tolerance of fatalities. In a challenge to the mining industry as it develops its own standards, Safety First calls for a ban on new upstream mine tailings for inhabited areas and upstream dams at new mines, as well as closure of existing upstream facilities. It says communities, workers and the environment are at risk from mine waste storage facilities, which pollute communities and ecosystems with contaminated water when the supporting dam fails. Some 71 tailings failures have been reported since 2010, resulting in 482 deaths. “Across the world, communities in the shadow of large tailings dams live in a state of perpetual fear,” the report states. Published by Safety First and led by Earthworks and Mining Watch Canada, the guidelines precede industry initiatives. Safety First says current industry standards are inadequate, although the industry’s first Global Tailings Standard is due to be released in an initiative from the international mining industry association and the UN. “For too long the mining industry has been allowed to cut costs at the expense of safety. Implementing these guidelines would improve tailings dam safety, require respect for affected communities – including the right to say no to tailings dams – and hold mining companies legally and financially accountable for their actions. Any regulations that do not meet the bar set by these guidelines do not go far enough to protect people, ecosystems and livelihoods from catastrophic failures,” commented Jan Morrill of Earthworks, US. Safety First calls for independent international safety protocols that should be established through processes that engage communities and workers. “Governments and international institutions need to move urgently to implement these 16 guidelines to end mine waste failures worldwide. Industry self-regulation will not provide adequate protection. There must be a strong global response to this global problem, putting safety first, not profits,” said Ugo Lapointe of MiningWatch Canada. Safety First’s 16 guidelines to end mining waste disasters Make safety the guiding principle (not cost) in design, construction, operation and closure, with zero tolerance for human fatalities Ban new mine tailings facilities immediately upstream from inhabited areas Ban upstream dams at new mines, and safely close existing upstream facilities Any potential loss of life is an extreme event and design must respond accordingly Mandate the use of best available technologies to avoid catastrophic failures, including the use of filtered tailings and the elimination of overlying water Implement rigorous controls for safety, including conservative factors of safety, strict thresholds for annual probability of failure, and safer embankment slopes Ensure a detailed evaluation of the dam foundation and of the tailings’ properties Appropriate monitoring systems must be in place to identify, disclose and mitigate risks Ensure the independence of reviewers to promote safety, including independent tailings review boards Ensure zero failure after mine closure, even under extreme meteorological and seismic events Consent of affected communities, including the rights to self-determination and FPIC for indigenous peoples Grievance procedures and whistleblower protection Prepare for the worst: ensure effective emergency preparedness and response plans in case of catastrophic failures Transparency: information regarding mine safety must be made publicly available Address financial risks, including securities for site closure and proper insurances for accidental spills Accountability must primarily rest with the operator’s board of directors.

New mine tailings guidelines set bar for sector action

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