Mining Environmental Accidents, Pollution, Tailing Dams and Abandoned Mines – Page 45

Indonesia faces environmental time bomb after coal bust – by Fergus Jensen (Reuters U.S. – June 29, 2016)

June 29, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

SAMARINDA, INDONESIA – Thousands of mines are closing in Indonesia’s tropical coal belt as prices languish and seams run dry. But almost none of the companies have paid their share of billions of dollars owed to repair the badly scarred landscape they have left behind.

Abandoned mine pits dot the bare, treeless hillsides in Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan province on Indonesia’s part of Borneo island. It is ground zero for a coal boom that made Indonesia the world’s biggest exporter of the mineral that fuels power plants. Abandoned mining pits have now become death traps for children who swim in them, and their acidic water is killing nearby rice paddies.

Indonesia has tried, mostly in vain, to get mining companies to keep their promises to clean up the ravaged landscape. But it doesn’t even have basic data on who holds the many thousands of mining licenses that were handed out during the boom days, officials say.

Alaska Natives, environmentalists add to push for action on nearby Canadian mining – by Erica Martinson (Alaska Dispatch News – June 28, 2016)

June 28, 2016

http://www.adn.com/

WASHINGTON — Alaska Native and environmental groups on Monday petitioned the Interior Secretary to launch a formal investigation into whether pollution from mines in British Columbia is causing problems for wildlife across the border in Southeast Alaska.

The groups pointed to a 1971 amendment and several international agreements to argue that Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has a duty to launch an investigation into the potential Alaska environmental impacts from six hard-rock mines in British Columbia. And they want the agency to support a joint United States-Canada commission to hash out the issue.

Earthjustice attorney Kenta Tsuda charged the U.S. government with “waiting on the sidelines” as Canadian mine companies barrelled ahead, and Frederick Olsen Jr., chairman of the United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group, called the state of affairs “federal under-reach.”

Mount Polley Mine to reopen 2 years after tailings pond disaster (CBC News British Columbia – June 23, 2016)

June 24, 2016

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/

The Canadian Press – A gold and copper mine in British Columbia’s Interior is reopening nearly two years after its tailings pond collapsed, setting off an environmental disaster.

In August 2014, a massive breach at the Mount Polley Mine site sent 24 million cubic meters of waste and water into nearby rivers and lakes. The province’s mines minister said Thursday that senior staff have authorized the mine to go back into full production, one year after it was approved for restricted operations.

“We do have more work to do, but we’re very deep into our overall effort in government to respond to this accident to ensure it can never happen again,” Bill Bennett said Thursday over teleconference.

A Desperate Search for Gold After Brazil’s Worst Mining Disaster Ever – by R.T. Watson (Bloomberg News – June 21, 2016)

June 21, 2016

http://www.bloomberg.com/

In the red-dirt hills of Minas Gerais, a part of Brazil named for the mines that provided livelihoods for generations, the country’s worst-ever environmental disaster has unearthed a new opportunity for locals stung by recession and job losses — panning for gold.

Wildcat mining is on the rise in communities devastated by the collapse of a dam that in November unleashed a deadly avalanche of sludge from the giant Samarco iron-ore mine, killing residents and destroying homes. Thousands were left jobless amid a deep national recession. But the landslide also churned up riverbeds enough to expose flecks of precious metal like those that sparked Brazil’s first gold rush three centuries ago.

While no one knows how many people are digging illegally to make ends meet, the number of complaints to the environmental military police in the city of Mariana jumped about 30 percent since the disaster, said Sgt. Valdecir Nascimento, a 24-year veteran of the unit.

[South Africa] Govt prioritises fight against acid mine water in Gauteng – by Dylan Slater (MiningWeekly.com – June 17, 2016)

June 17, 2016

http://www.miningweekly.com/page/americas-home

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Government’s acknowledgment of the severity of acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, and the subsequent priority given to taking steps to alleviate the problem are of “significant importance”, states Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) CEO Mariette Liefferink.

After years of numerous mines having decanted, or verged on the precipice of decanting acid mine water, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has taken strategic steps with the allocation of funds and plans to tackle the issue of acid mine water poisoning water courses throughout South Africa.

Acid mine water is commonly referred to as AMD. AMD is generated when sulphide-bearing minerals, often in the form of pyrite (which is iron sulphide found in reefs mined for gold), are exposed to oxygen and water. This process, termed pyrite oxidation, is characterised by the generation of sulphuric acid and dissolved iron.

Alaska group raises international concerns in Ottawa over B.C. mine operations – by Bruce Cheadle (Vancouver Sun – June 16, 2016)

June 16, 2016

http://vancouversun.com/

Ottawa — A delegation from Alaska says it is time to enforce the century-old Boundary Waters Treaty between Canada and the United States when it comes to northern British Columbia mining activity. The group is in Ottawa this week seeking to enlist federal help in stopping B.C. copper and gold mines from polluting the headwaters of key salmon rivers that flow from Canada into Alaska.

They’re also pushing the U.S. State Department to refer the matter to the International Joint Commission, which was created under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty to help resolve disputes along internationally shared waters.

Frederick Otilius Olsen, an indigenous tribal vice-president from Kassan, Alaska, says the catastrophic failure of the Mount Polley mine tailings dam in 2014 was a “huge wake up call” that galvanized concerns over what he sees as British Columbia’s lax mining regulations.

New Mexico again criticizes EPA over handling of mine spill – by Dan Elliott (Santa Fe New Mexican – June 14, 2016)

June 15, 2016

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/

AP – New Mexico again criticized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday over a massive mine waste spill that tainted rivers in three states, accusing the agency of lying about the seriousness of the blowout.

New Mexico Environment Secretary Ryan Flynn said the EPA misrepresented test samples taken after the spill to make water quality look better than it was.

He also criticized the EPA for saying the water met recreational standards for contamination after the spill instead of using the more stringent residential standard. In a statement, the EPA defended its testing procedures, saying they were thorough and science-based.

An EPA-led crew inadvertently triggered the release of 3 million gallons of acidic wastewater from the inactive Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado while doing preliminary cleanup work last August.

Brazil judge dismisses $5.7 billion civil suit against Samarco: Vale (Reuters U.S. – June 13, 2016)

June 14, 2016

http://www.reuters.com/

Brazilian iron ore miner Vale SA said on Monday that a 20 billion reais ($5.7 billion) civil lawsuit seeking environmental and property damages for last year’s deadly Samarco mine disaster has been dismissed.

The mine is operated by Samarco Mineração SA, a joint venture between Vale and the world’s largest mining company, BHP Billiton Ltd. Vale said the judge did not rule on the merits of the case.

A tailings dam burst at the mine in November and unleashed 60 million cubic meters of mud and mine waste that devastated a village, killed at least 13 people and polluted a major river valley.

EXPENSIVE: Increase in costs for cleaning up abandoned mine sites in British Columbia – by Robert Seagraves (Canadian Mining Journal – June 13, 2016)

June 14, 2016

http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

Information recently released by the B.C. Crown Contaminated Sites Program (CCSP) has Mining Watch Canada calling on the provincial government to “stop talking and start acting” to prevent future mine sites environmental disasters.

MiningWatch Canada supports both the Auditor General’s and the Union of BC Indian Chief’s, (UBCIC) recommendations for a stricter, independent environmental oversight of the mining sector in BC, as well as a much stronger financial security regime that would ensure that the public is never left to foot the bill to clean up contaminated sites.

“Almost two years after the Mount Polley mine disaster, multiple cases of environmental mismanagement, and exponentially growing costs to clean up contaminated mine sites at taxpayers’ expense, it’s about time the B.C. government starts ‘walking the talk’ on desperately needed reforms in the province’s mining sector,” says Ugo Lapointe, Canada Program Coordinator at MiningWatch Canada.

Environment, mining groups back Duterte’s shape up call for miners (The Philippine Star – June 13, 2016)

June 13, 2016

http://www.philstar.com/

MANILA, Philippines – Environment and mining groups have voiced support for president-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s call for mining companies to “shape up.”

For a country with a rich biodiversity and island ecosystems profile like the Philippines, there is no place for illegal miners and destructive mining practices, said Ysan Castillo, secretary general of Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST). “We are fully behind President Duterte in admonishing firms to practice responsible mining because it is the only way for us to achieve sustainable development,” Castillo added.

In a statement, Michael Toledo, senior vice president for public and regulatory affairs of Philex Mining Corp., one of the country’s oldest and largest mining firms, said they fully support Duterte’s campaign against illegal and irresponsible mining and commit to work with the incoming administration in addressing this problem.

Brazil Police Say BHP, Vale At Fault for Dam Disaster – by Paul Kiernan (Wall Street Journal – June 9, 2016)

June 10, 2016

http://www.wsj.com/

Federal investigation says executives put production ahead of safety, which led to destruction of mining village and 19 deaths

RIO DE JANEIRO—A catastrophic dam failure that killed 19 people and polluted hundreds of miles of rivers in Brazil last year was the result of a mining company’s repeated decision to prioritize production over safety, Brazil’s Federal Police said Thursday.

Top executives at Samarco Mineração, the joint venture between global mining giants Vale SA and BHP Billiton Ltd., for years were aware of cracks and drainage problems at the so-called Fundão tailings dam that collapsed Nov. 5, the police said.

“Don’t call it an accident,” Roger Lima de Moura, head of the Federal Police task force that investigated the disaster, said in an interview. The companies were “more than negligent,” he said.

Sudbury’s air quality continues to improve – by Ben Leeson (Sudbury Star – June 9, 2016)

June 9, 2016

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Greater Sudburians should be breathing a little easier these days, based on the results of Clean Air Sudbury’s newest report.

Clearing in the Air, the third report by the local non-profit group on air quality trends in the city, was released on Wednesday. Based on data from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the National Pollutant Release Inventory and the Greater Sudbury Sulphur Dioxide and Particulate Monitoring Networks operated by Vale and Glencore, the report showed that Greater Sudbury’s air quality continues to improve.

“This is a trend we have seen over a number of decades,” said Ray Potvin, a former air quality specialist for the province and private sector, who authored the report. “This report shows that trend is ongoing. These improvements are consistent with what we’ve seen across the province, in terms of air quality, during the past 10 years. This is a result of governments requiring stricter emission controls.”

Philippine President-Elect Duterte Warns Miners on Environment – by Ian C Sayson and Andreo Calonzo (Bloomberg News – June 5, 2016)

June 6, 2016

http://www.bloomberg.com/

Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has warned mining companies whose operations threaten the environment to either upgrade their practices or face closure.

“Mining people must shape up,” Duterte told supporters Saturday at a Davao City concert celebrating his May 9 election victory. Much of what they do now, “especially in Surigao,” is problematic. “They have to stop. They are spoiling the land. They are destroying Mindanao.”

Mindanao, Duterte’s home and the second-largest Philippine island, is estimated to sit on $300 billion worth of mineral deposits, from nickel, copper to gold. The region is mostly undeveloped due to a combination of government neglect and decades of insurgency from leftists and Islamic separatists.

Duterte to big miners: “you have to stop;” small miners: “we will support you” – by Carolyn O. Arguillas (Minda News.com – June 5, 2016)

June 6, 2016

http://www.mindanews.com/

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/05 June) — Large-scale firms engaged in destructive mining in Mindanao have no place under the Duterte administration as President-elect Rodrigo Duterte vowed to give priority and assistance to small-scale miners who will band into a cooperative. “The mining people must shape up,” said Duterte, citing the destruction wrought by big mining firms, especially in Surigao. “You have to stop,” he said.

Addressing thousands of residents and out-of-town visitors who attended the “One Love. One Nation” thanksgiving party at the Crocodile Park on Saturday night, Duterte said of these big mining firms, many of them Manila-based but operating in Mindanao: “They’re spoiling the land. They’re destroying Mindanao.”

What is more painful, he added, is that even the Moro people who have been marginalized due to historical injustices, remain along the marginal side of business endeavors in Mindanao.”

Development restrictions around old mine site ‘unacceptable,’ says Pickle Lake mayor (CBC News Thunder Bay – May 31, 2016)

May 31, 2016

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/

The mayor of Pickle Lake, Ont., says the future of his town is being threatened by development restrictions imposed by the province, related to an abandoned mine site. Development has long been restricted in some areas because of contaminated tailings containing arsenic, left behind by the Central Patricia Mine, which closed in the early 50s, said Mayor Karl Hopf.

But the draft of a new official plan for the township would further block new development within a thousand metres of a mine headframe (the structure built above a mine shaft), he said.

“Now, the old headframe from 1952 is roughly 50 metres off our main highway corridor that goes to our commercial and industrial area,” he said, adding that about 700 acres of land could be included, and the province would also put further conditions on development on land bordering the restricted area.