Environmental and Emergency Preparedness Policies
Evaluation of the Environmental and Emergency Preparedness
Policies set up by Major Mining Companies
Prepared by UNEP DTIE
April 2002
For this report, the official sites of the major mining companies
have been visited. The environmental policies and principles of
these companies, available on the Internet, usually under the heading
"EHS (Environmental, Health and Safety) Policies", have
been analysed.
Considering the gravity of recent disasters involving mining sites,
the focus has been on the emergency planning and disaster management
policies. The main criterion of the following evaluation has been
the presence of formal engagements or statements by the companies
on this regard. Expressed, and easily accessible on the Internet,
sound environmental management policies have been analysed. If mentioned
on the site, the date of the statements are also reported.
 ALCOA
(ALUMINIUM COMPANY OF AMERICA)
[http://www.alcoa.com/site/company/vision_values/visionvalues.asp]
Environment, Health and Safety (value) "We work safely in a
manner that protects and promotes the health and well-being of the
individual and the environment". No reference to emergency
planning and disaster management policies.
Vision and Principles
http://www.alcoa.com/site/company/vision_values/principles.asp
Under the heading "Management Principles", Anglo American
states:
-
Risk Assessment: Identify, access and prioritise the hazards
and risks associated with all our activities.
-
Prevention and Control: Prevent, minimise or control priority
risks through planning, design, investment, management and workplace
procedures. Prepare and periodically test emergency response
plans. Where accidents or incidents do occur, take prompt corrective
action, investigate root causes and take remedial action.
Actively seek to prevent recurrences and disseminate experiences
learned. (September 1999)
BARRICK
(which incorporated HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY)
[http://www.barrick.com/5_Corporate_Responsibility/]
Although Barrick declares that that "environmental responsibility
is not just an afterthought - but an integral part to our approach"
refers to Environmental Management Systems in place in its operations,
no reference is made to risk assessment and emergency preparedness.
BHP
BILLITON
The BHP Environment and Community Report 2000 (http://envcommreport.bhp.com/homepage.htm)
provides a detailed and well-structured description of the principles
BHP applies in its operations, including risk assessment and emergency
preparedness policies.
BHP Values, Policies and Systems at
http://envcommreport.bhp.com/ValuePolicy/valueFrame.html
Boliden, after declaring that it will continue to take an active
role in research and development to advance environmentally sound
technologies and procedures, commits itself to:
-
continuous improvement of its environmental management system,
programs and performance, taking into account environmental
legislation, technological and scientific developments, economic
circumstances, environmental impacts of operations, community
expectations and social concerns;
-
implementing environmental management standards, including
active self-monitoring and auditing programs to ensure compliance
with Company environmental requirements and environmental legislation
and to promote continual improvement.
However, no formal statement is made about emergency planning.
(March 1999)
In a very clearly structured environmental policy, Cambior states:
Risk Management:
Identify, assess and manage environmental risks.
Incident Management:
Develop, maintain and test emergency response plans to ensure
the protection of the environment, workers and the public.
Such emergency response plans shall include the requirement to
notify the directors of the company as soon as possible of any
incident which is significant for the company or the environment.
Research:
Support research to advance general knowledge as to the mining
industry's impact on the environment and reduce its harmful effects
by implementing advanced practices and technologies. (February
9, 1996)
Ranking the environment a key component in the quality of its products
and services, CVRD has publicly declared its commitment to the concept
of sustainable development. CVRD maintains to be adopting environmental
protection measures that are technically proven and economically
feasible. They include:
-
maintaining an Environmental Management System that ensures
its activities comply with the applicable legislation ant its
own in-house standards; should there be no specific legislation
in effect, CVRD adopts the best possible environmental protection
and risk reduction measures;
-
undertaking research, surveys and prospecting, including new
technologies to ensure the steady enhancement of its activities,
with a view to reducing environmental impacts and the consumption
of minerals, including energy.
However, no formal reference is made to the emergency planning
issue.
In a very well defined and effective 2000 Sustainable Development
Report, Falconbridge "is committed to sustainable development"
and declares that it will "provide the resources necessary
to, among other things, implement risk management, pollution prevention
and energy efficiency systems and conduct regular environmental,
health, hygiene, safety and emergency response audits". (December
2000)
NORSK
HYDRO
[http://www.hydro.com/hits/osl02100.nsf/bookmarkview/
corporateeng?openDocument&docid=2DE763DBE4DE9F1E4125688800305048
&db=hits/osl02174.nsf]
No structured, easy to find environmental policy (fragmented bits
of environmental engagement).
Hindustan Zinc Limited reaffirms its commitment to environmental
protection and sustainable development. No formal reference is made
to risk assessment and emergency preparedness.
The intent of Newmont Mining Corporation is to set standards of
excellence with regard to environmental matters, although no formal
engagement is made in relation to risk assessment and emergency
preparedness.
The environmental policy of the group is well defined and clearly
structured. In particular, Noranda's businesses, subsidiaries and
associates manifest a positive commitment to:
-
implement site-specific environmental, health, hygiene, safety,
and emergency response policies and programs.
-
conduct regular environmental, health, hygiene, safety, and
emergency response audits and implement action plans resulting
from those audits.
-
report regularly to their respective Board of Directors on
environment, health, hygiene, safety, and emergency preparedness.
In its Environment Report 2000, the company's aim is to "achieve
a high standard of care for the natural environment in all activities
in which we engage, from exploration through mining and smelting
to the marketing of our product". Moreover, Pasminco will,
among others:
-
identify, monitor and manage environmental risks arising from
our operations,
-
seek continuous improvement in environmental performance, production
processes, waste management and the use of resources.
PLACER
DOME
[http://www.placerdome.com/investor/content/financials/downloads/sustainability.pdf]
This company provides a very thorough environmental program in its
Policy-Placer Dome and Sustainability. Under the heading "Environmental
Stewardship", the company engages itself to:
-
protect human health, reduce our impact on the ecosystem and
return sites to a state compatible with a healthy environment;
-
regularly assess environmental conditions through all stages
from exploration through mine closure, identify all issues of
environmental concern and establish objectives and strategies
for their management;
-
identify and assess environmental risks before starting a new
activity or project and implement risk management strategies
to minimise the possibility and consequences of adverse impacts,
including emergency preparedness plans.
http://www.placerdome.com/sustainability/downloads/brochure.pdf
Moreover, in 2001 Sustainability Brochure, Pacer Dome includes
among its sustainability objectives:
SASOL
(SOUTH AFRICAN COAL, OIL AND GAS CORPORATION LIMITED)
[http://www.sasol.com]
Under "Responsible Care and Environment", "Sasol
supports pro-active environmental management and clear accountability".
It states that "it is essential that management systems are
in place to limit possible negative environmental impacts".
Sasol signed the pledge to implement the Responsible Careâ
in 1994.
Six management practice standards focus the performance improvement
programmes of the participating divisions in the areas of safety
and health of people, pollution prevention and waste management,
transportation, storage and distribution, community awareness and
emergency response and overall product stewardship. Environmental
impact assessments are carried out for all new projects.
In a very clear and precise Environmental, Health and Safety Policy,
Rio Algom Limited is "committed to achieving excellence in
all aspects of its operations, including environmental protection,
health and safety". Specifically, the company formally declares
to:
-
implement site-specific environmental, health, hygiene, safety
and emergency response policies, management programs and practices,
with the aim of continuing improvement;
-
research processes, practices and technologies that will lead
to improved environmental, health and safety performance;
-
conduct regular environmental, health, hygiene, safety and
emergency response audits, and implement action plans called
for by these audits;
-
report regularly to the Board of Directors on environmental,
health, hygiene, safety, and emergency preparedness.
In it's The Way We Work booklet, where the business practice is
thoroughly described, Rio Tinto declares under the heading Health,
Safety and the Environment, that the company's aim is " to
minimise any adverse impacts its activities may have on the environment".
To implement the HSE policy, all RIO Tinto's subsidiaries must,
among other things:
-
assess in advance the potential HSE implications of exploration,
development, expansion, acquisition, divestment, and closure
activities and implement actions to minimise adverse social
and environmental impacts;
-
evaluate HSE risks associated with their activities and products
and take appropriate action to minimise potential risks;
-
prepare, test and maintain emergency procedures in co-operation
with local emergency response authorities.
Moreover, in its 2001 Social and Environmental Report-Management
System, the company sets out:
In a very brief Environmental Policy, TVX Gold Inc. "is committed
to environmental conservation and protection in its business as
a natural resources producer. TVX operations worldwide are required
to understand their impacts on the local environment and to effect
continuous improvement in environmental performance. Specifically,
it is TVX's policy to:
-
ensure that it has management systems to identify, control
and monitor environmental risks arising from its operations;
-
encourage research on new technologies to conserve resources,
minimise wastes, improve process and enhance reclamation".
Though, no reference is made to an emergency planning system. (November
1998)
The company maintains to be "committed to achieving compatibility
between economic development and the maintenance of the environment".
In a rather generic and concise environmental policy, WMC Limited
ensures that it will:
-
integrate environmental factors into planning and operational
decisions and processes.
-
Assess the potential environmental effects of our activities,
and regularly monitor and audit our environmental performance.
-
Continually improve our environmental performance, including
reducing the effect of emissions, developing opportunities for
recycling, and more efficiently using energy, water and other
resources.
However, there is no formal statement about emergency
preparedness. (2002)
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