- The current technical knowledge available about managing risks of the NUMA to the environment
- Preventing the production of contaminants or, if prevention is not possible, minimising the impact of the release of contaminants
What are the main types of mine rehabilitation practices?
1. Hydrogeology
Assess the hydrogeology of the site and all connected strata, and develop a conceptual model of the mine site’s groundwater systems.
2. Flooding
Section 3.4 of the guideline requires flood plain modelling for the purpose of voids located within a flood plain being rehabilitated to a stable condition.
3. Soil and capping material assessment
The conservation of soil is a critical component of rehab planning. This methodology should include soil assessment activities (including topsoil) to be conducted at appropriate intervals.
4. Waste characterisation
Characterise mine wastes in a report that describes the likely physical behaviour and chemical reactivity of the waste materials under the conditions in which they would be stored.
5. Landform and cover design
A final landform design must demonstrate that the land will be safe and structurally stable. A cover design is required for the surface treatment of a mine landform or other waste material.
6. Water management
The management of surface and groundwater is a key consideration in achieving long-term rehabilitation success.
7. Revegetation
A revegetation plan must propose activities that will establish self-sustaining vegetation communities that are appropriate for the intended PMLU (e.g. natural ecosystems, grazing, forestry and some agricultural and other land uses)
8. Tailings storage facilities
Tailings storage facilities (TSF) commonly contain some of the most hazardous materials on a mine site and may represent a significant long-term risk to environmental values.
FAQ:
What is mine rehabilitation?
According to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, mine rehab (rehabilitation) is “the process used to repair the impacts of mining on the environment. Mine rehabilitation can also be referred to as coal mine rehabilitation, land rehabilitation, mine site rehabilitation or mine site restoration. The long-term objectives of rehabilitation can vary from simply converting an area to a safe and stable condition, to restoring the pre-mining conditions as closely as possible to support the future sustainability of the site”.
What are the different types of mine rehabilitation practices?
There are several types of mine rehabilitation practices including: - Hydrogeology - Flooding - Soil and capping material assessment - Water characterisation - Landform and cover design - Water management - Revegetation - Tailings storage facilities
Is my Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan (PRCP) compliant?
Organisations carrying out mining activities in Queensland (QLD) are legally obligated to rehabilitate the land. A progressive rehabilitation and closure plan (PRC plan) is a critical element of the QLD Government’s Mined Land Rehabilitation Policy. When submitting a site-specific application for an Environmental Authority (EA) for a new mining activity relating to a mining lease, applicants are required to develop and submit a proposed PRC plan as part of their application. Download your free guide below to find out: https://www.decipher.com.au/MineRehabilitationGuideQLD
Useful links:
- National consortium on mine closure passes first hurdle
- What are the different types of mine rehab?
- Speak to our team for a free demo of our mine rehabilitation tool, DecipherGreen
- See how our solutions help manage environmental, standard and approval requirements for mine rehabilitation here
