NEWS ARCHIVE

UNDERGROUND FATALITY AT KALGOORLIE GOLD MINE

MiningNews.net - 31 May 2002 - A miner was killed yesterday at NickelSeekers' Daisy Milano underground gold mine, located 50km from Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia's first fatal mining accident of the year. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

DATA IS FOUND TO BE LACKING ON REACTIONS OF CHEMICALS

New York Times - 30 May 2002 - In a review of 167 industrial accidents since 1980 in which chemical reactions caused deaths, injuries or serious damage, federal safety experts have found that more than half involved substances that are not regulated by worker safety and environmental agencies. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MEXICO FINDS MISSING CYANIDE FROM TRUCK ROBBERY

Planet Ark - 30 May 2002 - Mexican officials said they found 70 barrels of deadly sodium cyanide yesterday, part of a large shipment that was stolen from a truck earlier this month and set off fears it could be used by terrorists. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

FEATURE - GOLD DIGGERS DRAW IRE FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS

Planet Ark - 29 May 2002 - What if gold were no longer an object of desire but an object of disgust? What if environmentalists were able to do to the image of the glittering metal what animal rights activists did to the fur coat - paint it as a symbol of cruel and thoughtless vanity, not of brilliant success? Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINE PROSPECT LOOMS OVER NORTHERN PERUVIAN FARMERS

Environment News Service - 28 May 2002 - The Tambogrande district in northern Peru has become the focus of an international controversy over whether a high-grade mineral deposit underneath the town can be developed into a gold, copper, zinc mine without causing harm to the environment and a fertile agricultural valley where lemons, mangoes and papayas are grown for export. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

NEW BASEL GUIDELINES TO IMPROVE RECYCLING OF OLD BATTERIES

UNEP - 27 May 2002 - In an effort to reduce the global risk of lead poisoning, the Basel Convention on hazardous wastes has finalized a set of guidelines promoting the environmentally sound recycling of spent lead-acid batteries - the number one source of secondary lead in the world today. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ENVIRONMENTAL DISCHARGE PERMIT REGULATIONS 2001

AllAfrica.com - 24 May 2002 - Banjul - The Environmental Discharge Permit has been prepared under the National Environment Management Act (NEMA) of 1994. The regulations require the registration of all industrial or similar processes, and also some of these processes to apply for a permit to discharge their waste substances to the air, water or land. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

EPA SAYS BIGGEST POLLUTERS ARE HARD-ROCK MINING COMPANIES AND COAL-BURNING POWER PLANTS

Environmental News Network (ENN) - 24 May 2002 - Hard-rock mining companies and coal-burning power plants are America's largest toxic polluters, responsible for nearly two-thirds of the poisonous contaminants in the nation's air and water, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINE COLLAPSE IN NORTHWEST CHINA KILLS SEVEN

China Daily - 21 May 2002 - Seven Chinese coal miners were killed and 16 injured when a mine collapsed in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, official report said on Tuesday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ANGLOGOLD'S GREAT NOLIGWA MINE HIT BY TREMOR

MiningNew.net - 21 May 2002 - At least three miners were killed in an accident on Friday at AngloGold's Great Noligwa miner in South Africa's North West province and three others remain missing, according to African Mining Monitor. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MALIGNED MINING SECTOR SAYS DIGGING FOR NEW IMAGE

Planet Ark - 20 May 2002 - Mining companies, long maligned for sullying the environment and making big profits in poor countries, have taken strides in becoming people-and nature-friendly but still have more to do, industry experts and executives say. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

INVESTIGATORS DIG ON MINE DISASTER

China Daily - 20 May 2002 - The owner of a coal mine in North China's Shanxi Province in which 21 died spoke about the accident Sunday for the first time amid growing anger and allegations of a cover-up. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINING REFORM EXPLORED

EnviroLink Service - 20 May -2002 - Congress on Thursday kicked off another campaign to update the 1872 law that governs public land mining. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

US HOUSE BILL WOULD TOUGHEN HARD-ROCK MINING RULES

Planet Ark - 17 May 2002 - An 1872 mining law criticized by green groups for giving U.S. companies cheap, easy access to federal land would be tightened under a bipartisan proposal offered by House lawmakers yesterday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

DECISION ON CAPE PLC MINE REHABILITATION SOON - MINISTRY

AllAfrica.com - 17 May 2002 - Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is to pronounce "within a week or two" on whether the state will demand British multinational Cape plc clean-up derelict asbestos mines. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ABANDONED MINES SAID GIGANTIC ENVIRONMENT PROBLEM

Planet Ark - 16 May 2002 - The environmental and social costs of closing and rehabilitating old and abandoned mines around the world are likely in the trillions of dollars, and far beyond the capability of mining companies alone to deal with, Sir Robert Wilson, chairman of London-based metals giant Rio Tinto Plc said this week. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

TOP MINERS PLEDGE STEPS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Planet Ark - 16 May 2002 - A high-profile mining conference on sustainable development ended yesterday with pledges that the industry is in the process of mending its social and environmental ways, but with no concrete action plan on how the trick is to be performed. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

INDUSTRY STILL FAILING ON ENVIRONMENT - UN REPORT

Planet Ark - 16 May 2002 - Despite the best efforts of a minority of firms, world industry as a whole is failing to pull its weight on protecting the environment, a United Nations report concluded yesterday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ICMM TORONTO DECLARATION

ICMM - 16 May 2002 - During the Global Mining Initiative Conference held in Toronto, May 12-15, ICMM members participated in a dialogue with other participants who share a desire to enhance the contribution of mining, minerals and metals to sustainable development. From this important encounter, the ICMM Toronto Declaration has been adopted by the ICMM Council. The PDF version of the Declaration can be downloaded from the ICMM website.

NEWMONT MINING COMPANY OFFICIALS WORK TO CLEAN UP CYANIDE SPILL

Humboldt County News - 16 May 2002 - Newmont Mining Company Environmental officials are working to complete clean up of a spill of process solution containing a low concentration of cyanide that occurred at Twin Creeks Mine on Saturday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

WETLANDS HELP CLEAN UP ACID MINE DRAINAGE

Lycos News (ENS) - 15 May 2002 - Wetlands can be a valuable asset in helping to clean up an unfortunate legacy of mining operations: acidic runoff. Geologists from the University of Cincinnati have found that a few key factors can determine whether a wetland area can successfully reduce the impact from acid mine drainage. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINING SECTOR AIMS TO BE KINDER, GENTLER, GREENER

Planet Ark - 15 May 2002 - The mining industry moved to put another nail in the coffin of its swashbuckling past on Monday, opening a major conference designed give it a kinder, gentler and greener face. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

UNEP Press Releases - 15 May 2002 - Industry and the environment achievements, unfinished business and future
challenges - Global launch of 22 Industry Reports prepared for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINING COMPANIES SEEK ETHICS CODE

BBC News - 13 May 2002 - Mining companies are meeting in Toronto in Canada to discuss how the industry can develop an ethical international mining code. On the agenda will be the mining, minerals and sustainable development (MMSD) project, which was commissioned by the Global Mining Initiative (GMI). Further information can be obtained from the news article.

CHINESE ALUMINIUM RECYCLING SEEN RISING SHARPLY

Planet Ark - 13 May 2002 - Chinese aluminum scrap recycling is comparatively low at 32 percent, but set to rise rapidly to 70 percent, Peikai Song, Vice President of Aluminium Corporation of China said last week. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

BRAZIL BAUXITE MINER SAYS HELPING RESTORE AMAZON

Planet Ark - 13 May 2002 - Brazil's the country's largest bauxite miner said that it was gradually restoring parts of the tropical rain forest in former mining areas in the remote Amazon region. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ALCAN REVAMPS SLOW ALUMINUM CAN RECYCLING IN '01

Planet Ark - 13 May 2002 - Alcan Inc.'s US subsidiary Alcan Aluminum Corp., the top US recycler of used beverage cans, said last week revamps at some of its plants slowed its recycling to over 22 billion cans in 2001, from nearly 23.8 billion cans in 2000. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

COURT STOPS NEW BUSH MINING POLICY

NSNBC News - 09 May 2002 - Environmentalists cheered but miners were upset Thursday after a federal judge banned the dumping of waste from mountaintop coal mining into streams. The ruling runs counter to a recent Bush administration decision to amend a clean-water rule to specifically allow the mining practice. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

AUSTRALIA BLOCKS TOXIC CHINA FERTILIZER EXPORTS

Environmental News Network (ENN) - 09 May 2002 - Australian farmers spread toxic waste from China instead of fertilizer over vegetable fields before the government realized the imports were hazardous, an Australian fertilizer company said on Wednesday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

JUDGE, CONGRESS MEMBERS OPPOSE MOUNTAINTOP MINING RULE

Lycos News (ENS) - 09 May 2002 - For a second time, a federal judge in West Virginia has ruled that mountaintop mining permits that allow the dumping of mine wastes into streams and valleys are illegal. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MININGWATCH CANADA MINES ALERT NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE

MiningWatch Canada releases it newsletter called Mines Alerte The Number 8 (Winder/Spring 2002) issue is available from http://www.miningwatch.ca/publications/newsletter8.html. The PDF version is also available.

AUSTRALIA URANIUM MINE REPORTS MORE LEAKS

Planet Ark - 08 May 2002 - A uranium mine in Australia owned by U.S.-based General Atomics yesterday reported its fourth major spill of uranium-contaminated water this year, prompting a government review of the way miners of the hazardous metal operate. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

EPA RULE ALLOWS MINING FIRMS TO DUMP WASTE IN RIVERS

Planet Ark - 06 May 2002 - The US government last week unveiled new rules allowing Appalachian coal miners to dump dirt and rubble into streams and lakes, evoking howls of protest from environmental groups. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

WORLD'S BIGGEST MINING FIRMS CONFRONT THEIR BAD REPUTATION

Lycos News (ENS) - 06 May 2002 - Some of the world's largest mining companies are looking at what sustainable minerals development would entail. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

THE MMSD FINAL REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY

MMSD - 03 May 2002 - The Chapters of the MMSD Final Report, Breaking New Ground: Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development, are now available for download in PDF format from www.iied.org/mmsd/finalreport. A press release to accompany the finalisation of the Report is also available: www.iied.org/mmsd/mmsd_pdfs/pressrelease_finalreport.pdf.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION ALLOWS WASTE DUMPING IN AMERICA'S RIVERS AND STREAMS

Environmental News Network - 03 May 2002 - The Sierra Club today condemned the Bush Administration for allowing polluting mining companies to dump their waste into America's rivers and streams. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

WHY ARTISANAL GOLD MINING TRANSFORMATION VITAL

AllAfrica.com - 01 May 2002 - Mercury as a health hazard to small-scale gold mining is threatening millions of people worldwide, the UN agency for Industrial Development has said. Further information can be obtained from the news article.