Trends in the stewardship of tailings dams

Tailings impoundments frequently represent the most significant environmental liability associated with mining projects, both during the operational and decommissioning phases of a project. A spate of recent and well-publicized incidents involving tailings impoundments has placed the mining industry in general, and those responsible for tailings impoundment design and safety in particular, under intense scrutiny. Frequently, the seeds for such incidents are sewn as a result of a combination of design flaws and inadequate stewardship practices. Proper stewardship is critical in that, through implementation of quality assurance practices such as independent peer review of designs or risk assessments, it can protect the owner from faulty designs. For proper designs, good stewardship provides a tailings facility designer with reassurance that the facility will be constructed, operated, and monitored in accordance with that design. This paper discusses recent trends in the stewardship of tailings facilities, both in Canada and world-wide. These include proactive initiatives by industry associations, and individual mining companies specifically addressing stewardship issues. The paper also discusses the roles that tailings dam design consultants can play in assisting the mining industry in this regard.