NEWS 

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY IN MINING

UNEP Information Release - 25 October 2000 - The Australian Government and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are together playing a leading role in improving mining safety around the world. The workshop on Environmental Regulation for Accident Prevention in Mining - Tailings and Chemicals Management, brings together over 40 participants from 25 countries.

According to Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive Director, since the Baia Mare accident in Romania early this year, UNEP has strengthened its focus on prevention and preparedness in mining. "Various actors have stepped forward to form partnerships including concerned governments, industry, NGOs and others", he said.

"Workshops have examined the role of voluntary codes for the use of cyanide in mining and emergency response. Key issues such as tailings stability* are being tackled." Mr. Toepfer said, "The focus of this Workshop with Australia, on the role of regulation, will help us complete the mine management loop."

Opening the two-day workshop, Senator Robert Hill, Federal Environment Minister said he hoped the meeting would make a major contribution towards preventing serious accidents such as the cyanide spill at Baia Mare in Romania in January.

"The workshop is an opportunity to exchange views and learn from experience, looking in particular at how government regulation can improve the environmental performance of mining operations," Senator Hill said.

Senator Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, congratulated the Australian mining industry on going beyond compliance and taking voluntary measures to achieve environmental sustainability.

"Signatories to the Australian Minerals Industry Code for Environmental Management could dramatically improve their outcomes in Australia and overseas," he said. "Government and industry are now seeking to extend its coverage to all Australian mining firms."

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* Tailings are dams at mining sites that retain effluents. If these dams are not stable, they collapse causing the effluents to contaminate the surroundings.

The workshop is supported by Environment Australia, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council, the Minerals Council of Australia and the Western Australian Department of Environmental Protection.

Fritz Balkau, Chief, Production and Consumption, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, is representing UNEP in Perth.

NOTE: Media are invited to a press conference with Australian and UNEP representatives at the Duxton Hotel at 12.30pm on Friday, October 27.

For further information, please contact: Belinda Huppatz (Senator Hill) 61-419 258 364 or 61-8 8237 7920; Malcolm Forbes (Environment Australia) 61-417 295 891; Fritz Balkau (UNEP) Paris. 33 1 44 37 14 50 or Tore J. Brevik, Spokesman/Director of Communications and Public Information, UNEP, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi; tel.: (254 2) 623292; fax: 623692; email: cpiinfo@unep.org

UNEP News Release 00/113