MBS has updated the Resources/Publications Section with a number of papers presented at the 2010 and 2012 Goldfields Environmental Management Group Conferences. Please see below for abstracts and links to download pdfs of the papers and powerpoint presentation slides.
Environmental Approvals, Speed Dating and Achieving Happily Ever After
F. Itzstein-DaveyA, K. SellA and C. TolleyB
A MBS Environmental Pty Ltd
BSandfire Resources NL
Speed dating has become popular in recent years as a novel way for singles to meet each other. Arguably it increases changes of finding a romantically compatible mate as first impressions are often permanent. Some may find lifelong love after five short minutes.
The environmental approvals process can be analogous with speed dating in the sense that you need to put yourself out there to meet and greet your regulators and get the most for your buck. If it goes well, the reportedly elusive “happily ever after” can be achieved. Legislation and approval procedures rapidly change and to keep abreast of current knowledge, you need to remain attentive and receptive. It pays to find out early in the assessment process who you need to engage with and which officers will have involvement or will be responsible for assessment of your project. The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) have designated Environmental Officers for Minerals Fields and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has multiple regional and Perth based divisions that may be involved with individual mining projects. If you are complacent, your date book may not include all the people you need to engage with, you may be at the wrong place wondering what you have done to deserve a no show, or you may miss the bell ringing to tell you that you are moving onto a brand new officer. Life happens and things change.
This presentation will explore the current environmental assessment process in WA for mining projects with lessons learnt in particular from the Sandfire Resources NL DeGrussa Copper Project. Gaining approvals in a timely manner should not be though of as akin to finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. You just need a good treasure map to get you started, a team of committed and flexible people to go looking with, set realistic goals and then hold on tight and enjoy the ride to get to happy ever after.
Download pdf of Environmental Approvals, Speed Dating and Achieving Happily Ever After Construction paper.
Download pdf of Environmental Approvals, Speed Dating and Achieving Happily Ever After ppt presentation.
Fauna Management in Gas Pipeline Construction
D. O’Brien and S. Davey
During construction of onshore gas pipelines, long stretches of deep open trenches pose a threat to native fauna that inhabit the adjacent landscapes. In Western Australia there have been significant incidents resulting in large scale fauna deaths associated with pipeline construction.
In recent years, the regulatory environment for pipeline environmental management in Western Australia has become more rigorous. In particular, the conditions imposed for fauna management during pipeline construction have created a number of challenges.
With the growing demand for gas supplies to remote mining operations as well as ongoing gas exploration, there is likely to be an increase in the number of pipeline constructions across the state. MBS Environmental have Western Australian pipeline experience and in this presentation we identify significant challenges associated with fauna management, highlighting regulatory compliance requirements and detailing effective fauna management strategies.
Download pdf of Fauna Management in Gas Pipeline Construction paper.
Download pdf of Fauna Management in Gas Pipeline Construction ppt presentation.
Waste Characterisation; Pitfalls to Pit Voids
D. Allen and C. Galli
Reliable waste characterisation data is a prerequisite for effective rehabilitation of Waste Rock Stockpiles, Tailings Storage Facilities and other areas disturbed by mining activities. History has shown that many preliminary waste characterisation assessments in Australia and overseas using traditional acid-base accounting procedures are inaccurate more often than not; usually by grossly under-estimating or over-estimating potential for Acid and Metalliferous Drainage (AMD). Others do not consider potential contamination by neutral or alkaline mine drainage, which can result in offsite impacts just as severe as AMD.
A holistic approach is required to generate accurate and appropriate characterisation data for both waste and rehabilitation materials. In addition to traditional geochemical assessment methods, use of petrology, mineralogy, soil physics, plant nutrition and soil biology all have roles to play, with their relative contributions dependent on the geological and hydrological setting of the project.
This paper provides examples in which traditional geochemical assessment techniques provide an inadequate or, in some cases, erroneous indication of potential for contamination of the environment.
Download pdf of Waste Characterisation; Pitfalls to Pit Voids paper.
Download pdf of Waste Characterisation; Pitfalls to Pit Voids ppt presentation.
Ecological Risk Assessment – What Is It and Why Should I Think About Using It?
A. Botfield, J. Cumming, K. Ganza and D. Allen
Environmental risk assessment has been used within the mining industry for a number of years, primarily as a tool to assess the potential impacts of a project or a specific task and to prioritise work programs. It is effective in investigating how a project or activity interacts with the broader environment and generally involves assessment of impacts on flora, fauna, water and air. The management recommendations that come from this assessment process are not usually based upon a detailed understanding of geochemical processes, contaminant transport or ecological toxicity. This may result in recommendations that do not address key contaminant issues at the mine or that are overly conservative, resulting in unnecessary capital expenditure.
Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) is a more specialised and targeted means of assessment that is now being used in the mining approval process. It provides a set of formal, scientific methods used for defining and estimating the probabilities and magnitudes of adverse impacts on plants, animals and/or whole ecosystems posed by a particular contaminant or stressor. The ERA process identifies ecological receptors of concern, estimates the contaminant concentration that they may be exposed to and based on the magnitude of this concentration, determines whether they are at risk.
Mine sites typically have complex environments. Conventional environmental risk assessment methodologies were not established to deal with this level of complexity. In contrast, the ERA process is based upon a comprehensive appraisal of contaminant exposure pathways and toxicity in the receiving environment. Recommendations from this risk assessment process can be tailored to more effectively suit the specific geochemical and ecological environments surrounding a project.
Download pdf of Ecological Risk Assessment paper.
Download pdf of Ecological Risk Assessment ppt presentation.