Optimising Environmental Management Systems

Land Use and Bio-diversity

	African Rock Python		A core component of a mining company’s EMP (Environmental  Management Plan) is to fulfill the Department of Minerals and Energy’s (DME) legal requirements relating to issues concerning the opening and closing of a mine. The disturbance of land associated with mines can either be in the form of large voids or shafts or else a more shallow degradation, depending on the type of mining undertaken. In the latter, the possibilities for rehabilitation are enhanced and the land can eventually be returned to communities for economic use (most often for arable, pastoral and game farming as well as recreational uses). To minimise the environmental impact of a mine, it is logical then to ensure its footprint is as small as possible. In terms of the legislation* all mining companies are required to make financial provision during the life of a mine to ensure the availability of sufficient funds to rehabilitate the mine when it is exhausted. Individual member companies have specific rehabilitation programmes that are monitored, measured and reported on as a component of the EMP report submitted to the DME. (The implementation of these EMP’s is also independently audited).
	The rehabilitation of certain mines has been so successful that members have been given environmental awards by both the authorities and the environmental agencies concerned. The overall aim is to return mined out areas to sustainable, useful end-users for future generations that won’t require further interventions by management. However, our concern for the environment is not just determined by the mine itself. After all, the entire mining operation often takes place near or in sensitive areas and in this context rehabilitation entails attempts  to preserve the bio-diversity and conservation dynamics of these areas. ACMP members have undertaken many different rehabilitation projects, including wetland protection, community bio-diversity projects, creation of conservation areas for bird life and animal siting programmes. We provide a short list of some of the projects undertaken by our members. * Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act No: 28 of 2002, Section 4

La Farge

The company’s Tswana lime quarry provides an excellent example of the strategies employed in rehabilitating a quarry. A self elevator scraper has been used to scrape off the over-burden on the mining face and place it on the quarry floor as part of the mining process. The material on the quarry floor is leveled by a grader allowing the vegetation to grow back.

In the mined-out areas all the high walls are bulldozed into gentle slopes. The resulting gentle rolling landscape proves ideal for grazing and is aesthetically pleasing.

 Afrisam

• Has invested large amounts into non-governmental environmental organisations since 2003
• As corporate members of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa, since 2003 the company has donated money to the SA Conservation Education Trust as well as suitable land towards the development of a new national park in Knersvlakte
• 2006 saw the company create the Holcim Southern African Conservation Bursary to cover the costs of students studying for diplomas or certificates at the Southern African Wildlife College (see right).

NPC-CIMPOR’s

• Over the past 7 years, NPC-CIMPOR’s Oribi Conservancy opposite its Simuma factory, has succeeded in clearing 130 hectares of its entire 230 hectare area of invasive alien plants (Lantana, Chromalina and Triffid Weed). This ongoing programme has not simply created ongoing employment for resident communities but has elicited support from neighboring farms – as well as high praise from conservation organisations.
• By opening up the Simuma Conservancy to the resident Trogan Bird Club the Simuma Conservancy has recently been incorporated into the Southern KwaZulu-Natal Birding Route. Having been ratified by the national birding organisation Birdlife South Africa, the conservancy can boast some 200 species which, officials say, will attract considerable national and international tourism.
• For the past four years NPC-CIMPOR has invested millions of rands in fully sponsoring the NPC Seaworld Education Centre at Durban’s uShaka Marine World . The thrust of this investment is to help instill the need and urgency for conserving SA’s marine environment. It has also provided an enormous educational experience for learners and disadvantaged schoolchildren surrounding NPC- CIMPOR’s factories throughout KZN.
• NPC-CIMPOR’s Durban factory recently won the prestigious Gardens of Pride competition (KZN division, commercial class) that is held throughout South Africa. The award is given to premises that exhibit the greatest contribution to conserving and greening the environment and using indigenous, water-wise gardening methods.

PPC

• Is currently carrying out concurrent rehabilitation of their mines as part of normal mining operations. By the end of 2006 the company had successfully completed all backlogged rehabilitation. Mines worked out prior to 1985 are currently being rehabilitated and enduse options are being discussed with stakeholders.
• The sensitive bio-diversity encompassed in the company’s Eastern Cape mining areas is carefully monitored and managed through its ISO 14001:2004 environmental management system (EMS). This includes the 1 330 hectares of land classified as sensitive Loerie Fynbos, the Grassridge operation in the Eastern Cape, which includes 16 000 hectares on Bontveld and Riebeeck where two hectares is covered by the endangered Cape Rhenosterveld. A further three hectares of this Cape Rhenosterveld has been identified at De Hoek where a conservation programme has been incorporated into the existing environmental management system.
• Special care was taken in the rehabilitation of the company’s Loerie Mine in the Eastern Cape (part of the greater Baviaanskloof biome), especially the preservation of Fynbos. The DME has approved the company’s application to close the mine within a three-year, post closure environmental responsibility programme.