Following some serious accidents in recent years (ref.: UNEP
Survey of Tailings Dams Incidents, 1996), the safety at tailings dams has come
under closer review by governments, and by the industry itself. There is now a large body of literature,
good expertise in the industry, and effective models of safety regulation. Given the large number of tailings dams at
mines around the world, a very high level of management control is needed to ensure
that these requirements are followed at all mines. Nevertheless, many mine sites around the world have still to be
brought into conformity with what we now understand as “best practice”. UNEP has joined the International Commission
on Large Dams (ICOLD) to publish an international bulletin “A Guide to Tailings
Dams and Impoundments”, 1996.
UNEP has also
been working with governments and the International Council on Metals and the
Environment (ICME) to ensure a wider application of good practice. UNEP has published or co-published several
technical guides, organised international symposia, and incorporated the guides
into training courses and workshops.
Government officials have participated in this programme in order to
improve the effectiveness of the implementation of this information at the
national level.
There is
general agreement that enough technical guidance is now available on design of
safe structures. The full application
of these guidelines on a case by case basis around the world still needs to be
achieved through increased management commitment by some operators, and regular
inspection and enforcement. Recent
expert meetings have concluded that day to day tailings management is just as
important as the initial design in ensuring a high level of safety.
A remaining
challenge for the industry is the more widespread introduction of effective
emergency prevention, preparedness and response procedures into its operational
plans. The APELL (Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level)
procedure developed by UNEP is a useful model for this, and UNEP has been
stressing to mining companies and associations the importance of a wider
application of APELL in mine management.
(see background paper on APELL and Tailings DAms)
After an initial joint workshop with ICME in Argentina in 1998 (proceedings
available from ICME), a further programme of seminars and training is planned
for 2000/2001. These are planned to
include elements of community preparedness as well as emergency response
measures at the site.