Closure Objectives, Guidelines and Actual Outcomes

Authors: Jones, H Paper is not available for download Contact Us

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_23

Cite As:
Jones, H 2008, 'Closure Objectives, Guidelines and Actual Outcomes', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett, I Weiersbye & P Dye (eds), Mine Closure 2008: Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 245-254, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_23



Abstract:
The paper outlines the closure objectives of some commonly referenced guidelines, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), some governments, and major companies, with particular reference to stability requirements of waste dumps and tailings structures. It considers what the term “stable landforms” (geotechnical and erosion resistance) could mean in these publications. It discusses how guidelines evolve, their practical status on mine sites and how they relate to legislation. The paper then considers “prescriptive” and “enabling” approaches to legislation and discusses how they can impact on setting and attaining closure objectives. The paper evaluates various legislative standards around the world and considers them as methods of attaining an acceptable final outcome for waste structures. Examples of mine waste landforms are used to illustrate the resulting outcomes of the objectives and guidelines. The author draws conclusions from some of the outcomes and suggests methods of economically improving the long-term stability performance of post-mining landforms.

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