ENVIRONMENTAL RISK –IDENTIFICATION AND MITIGATION

AusIMM Risk Masterclass20th April 2017

Introduction

• What is Environment and what is Risk?• Tools and Techniques for identifying and understanding risk• What are the key risks?• Management and Mitigation of risk• Case studies• Final summary

What is Environment?Environment means different things to different people….

What is Environment?

A useful definition is;

The environment is everything around us. This is all external conditions and factors, living and nonliving, which can affect any living organism or ecosystem.

What is Risk?Risk is also different things to different people.

What is Risk?The definition of Risk from ISO 31000 Risk Management is;– the effect of uncertainty on an organisation’s objectives

Event – occurrence or change of a particular set of circumstances

Consequence – outcome of an event affecting objectives

Likelihood – chance of something happening

So – what is Environmental Risk?Environmental Risk is…..The likelihood of an event leading to aconsequence that is harmful to theenvironment.

Potential consequences include……- environmental harm (animals, soil, etc)- reputational harm- delays to mining approvals- interruption to operations

Tools and Techniques• Project Definition – exactly what is your project ?

• Publicly available mapping –

• GIS integration –

Tools and Techniques• Past or existing projects (published data)

• Due diligence -

• Site specific studies –

Tools and Techniques• Local knowledge –

• Communication –

• Use a certified environmental professional

What are the Key Risks?It boils down to; Water Quality – management of extreme weather events, erosion, pollution, flow, saline, acid and metalliferous drainage.

Social Impacts – noise, air quality, traffic, community.

Approval timing – getting that ML and associated licenses in a timely manner.

Managing the Key Risks – Greenfield siteIt really is project specific…

• Start early – to identify the risks• Collect basic data - groundwater, sulfides, surface water,

weather• Ecology and aquatic ecology - baseline studies• Prediction of impacts – water quality, air quality, noise etc. • Iterative process – project design• Communication – stakeholders

Managing the Key Risks – Operating siteFor a site that is operating;

• Understand all activities being undertaken on site• Track inputs and outputs• Licence and approval conditions• Risk assessment process to identify potential consequences• Prepare an Environmental Management Plan (EMP)• IMPLEMENT the EMP

Remember - risk changes over time – keep on top of it!

Environmental Management PlanKey messages for the implementation of an EMP;

• Communicate – site workers, community, • Systems – make sure the requirements are integrated into

the site systems• Monitoring – of impacts• Assessment – of monitoring results• Review and update the plan

Risk changes during operations – keep on top of it!

Case Studies – how not to do it

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Case Studies – good examples① ②

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Final Remarks -

Don’t under estimate….

Start Early

Managing environmental risks is ongoing

Get good advice (CEnvP)