BOOK REVIEWS

Environmental Aspects of Phosphate and Potash Mining

Published by United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) and International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA)

Large volumes of phosphate rock and potash are mined every year to produce mineral fertilizers for agriculture. Unless carefully carried out, such mining activities can have serious environmental impacts from air pollution, water contamination; noise and vibration, and the disposal of large volumes of waste rock. Other potential problems include the lowering of water tables, unstable and unsafe tailings dams, and unsightly landscapes.

This report on the Environmental Aspects of Phosphate and Potash Mining shows how more than thirty operations in eleven countries have enhanced safety and environmental performance in key areas such as worker health and safety, rehabilitation and reclamation of operating sites, and reduction of polluting discharges and emissions. The companies have employed a number of management approaches to ensure efficient implementation of their programmes. Among these are greater use of environmental management systems, and techniques such as environmental monitoring, auditing and reporting.

This increased environmental performance has been driven in part by a growing public and corporate awareness of the issues, which in turn has put more emphasis on effective regulation by national authorities. However, technological developments and the growing awareness that good environmental performance also improves process efficiency, and hence economic returns, have also been important driving forces for change.