TemaNord 2014:501

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Best Environmental Practices in the

Mining Sector in the Barents Region
Best Environmental Practices in the International Conference 23–25 April 2013
Mining Sector in the Barents Region

The natural resources of the Barents Region are of strategic

importance for Europe. One intensively developing sector
is mining, which will bring new opportunities to the region,
but which will also cause changes in the environment. The
Conference on Best Environmental Practices in the Mining
Sector in the Barents Region was held in Rovaniemi in
April 2013. The Conference targeted the environmental
issues connected to the mining sector and promoted
best environmental practices for mines in the Barents
Region. The overall goal for the Conference was to increase
awareness of the challenges in the mining sector and to
exchange information on assessing and managing social
and environmental concerns. These Conference proceedings
present the Concept Note on Common Challenges of the
Conference and the abstracts of the presentations.

TemaNord 2014:501
ISBN 978-92-893-2668-1
ISBN 978-92-893-2708-4 (EPUB)
ISSN 0908-6692 conference proceeding

TN2014501 omslag.indd 1 23-01-2014 11:03:41

Best Environmental Practices
in the Mining Sector in the
Barents Region
International Conference 23–25 April 2013

TemaNord 2014:501
Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region
International Conference 23–25 April 2013

ISBN 978-92-893-2668-1
ISBN 978-92-893-2708-4 (EPUB)
http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/TN2014-501

TemaNord 2014:501
ISSN 0908-6692

© Nordic Council of Ministers 2014

Layout: Hanne Lebech

Cover photo: FQM Kevitsa Mining Oy

This publication has been published with financial support by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
However, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or recom-
mendations of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

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Content

Sammanfattning...................................................................................................................................... 7
Preface........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................ 11
Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 13
1. Welcoming address ..................................................................................................................... 15
2. Opening words.............................................................................................................................. 17
3. Development perspectives and environmental challenges of the mining
sector in the Barents Region .................................................................................................... 21
3.1 Mining industry and environmental questions
(abstract not available)................................................................................................. 21
3.2 Environmental problems in the mining and metallurgical
industries of the Murmansk region and problem-solving ways and
means (abstract not available) .................................................................................. 21
3.3 Environmental regulation of the mining industries in Norway – an
overview of current Norwegian practices
(abstract not available)................................................................................................. 21
3.4 Environmental policy, mining and development strategies ........................... 22
4. Regulatory and policy framework for responsible mining – how it
addresses the environmental and social challenges ....................................................... 25
4.1 Legal and regulatory framework for corporate responsibility in
environmental matters in the mining sector ........................................................ 25
4.2 Permits and control practices .................................................................................... 27
4.3 Environmental issues in permit granting at the regional level in
Russia .................................................................................................................................. 28
4.4 Advances in environmental and socio-economic performance:
Applying best practices in mineral development in Northern
Canada ................................................................................................................................ 33
5. National strategies and guiding principles – how it addresses the
environmental and social challenges.................................................................................... 35
5.1 SveMin Ethical Rules and guidelines ....................................................................... 35
5.2 The principles of the ecological sustainability of the mining sector
in the Barents region – an outlook from Komi ..................................................... 37
6. Emissions, use of chemicals and impacts ............................................................................ 39
6.1 Water and aquatic environments ............................................................................. 39
6.2 New advanced online measurement methods to study particulate
matter in mines and mining environments
(abstract not available)................................................................................................. 39
6.3 Waste management ....................................................................................................... 39
6.4 Environmental risk assessment ................................................................................ 44
6.5 REACH and mining industry (abstract not available) ....................................... 45
6.6 Uranium and mines (abstract not available) ........................................................ 46
7. Environment and social values............................................................................................... 47
7.1 Environmental valuation and external costs........................................................ 47
7.2 From social risks encountered to impact management
(abstract not available) ................................................................................................ 48
7.3 The problems and risks of mining for the Sámi and other
indigenous peoples of the Arctic Region................................................................ 49
7.4 Impacts of mining industry on reindeer herding................................................ 50
7.5 Nature values, nature-based livelihoods and mining........................................ 51
7.6 Social license to operate – what can mining companies do? .......................... 52
8. Best environmental practices in the mining sector ........................................................ 55
8.1 Challenges in remediation of mine waste.............................................................. 55
8.2 UNECE activities to improve the safety of tailing management
facilities.............................................................................................................................. 57
9. Applying best environmental practices in metal mines in the Barents
Region – practical examples .................................................................................................... 59
9.1 Pampalo Gold Mine – a case history from North Karelia ................................. 59
9.2 Kevitsa Mine (abstract not available) ..................................................................... 60
10. Panel discussion: How to reconcile environmental and social issues in the
mining sector ................................................................................................................................ 61
10.1 Presentations by panellists......................................................................................... 61
11. Conclusions: Common challenges to the environmental and social
performance of the mining sector ......................................................................................... 67
11.1 Commentary remarks................................................................................................... 67
12. Concept Note on Common Challenges of the Conference on Best
Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region...................... 69
12.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 69
12.2 Common Challenges ...................................................................................................... 70
12.3 Collaboration with the Mining Sector in the Barents Region ......................... 74
Appendix ................................................................................................................................................ 79
Conference on Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the
Barents Region ................................................................................................................ 79
 Sammanfattning

Gruvindustrin har utvecklats intensivt i Barentsregionen. Samtidigt har

miljöfrågor och gruvdriftens sociala konsekvenser gett upphov till dis-
kussion. Gruvdriften utgör både en utmaning och en möjlighet, eftersom
den medför ekonomiska fördelar men samtidigt förorsakar olika miljö-
konsekvenser och sociala konsekvenser.
I syfte att uppmärksamma dessa miljökonsekvenser och sociala kon-
sekvenser ordnade Barentsrådet en konferens om bästa miljöpraxis i
gruvsektorn i Barentsregionen den 23–25 april 2013 i Rovaniemi, Fin-
land. Deltagare från fem länder – myndigheter, forskare, industriella
aktörer och representanter för icke-statliga organisationer – samlades
för att uttrycka sina åsikter om och diskutera utmaningarna i gruvsek-
torn i Barentsregionen.
Konferensprogrammet bestod av sju sessioner och en paneldiskuss-
ion. Anförandena med såväl nationella som regionala aspekter omfat-
tade ett brett urval av miljöfrågor och sociala frågor, allt från nationella
strategier och lagstiftningsmässiga och politiska ramar till mer specifika
miljöfrågor, såsom avfallshantering, riskbedömning och sociala utsikter,
till exempel gruvdriftens konsekvenser för samerna och naturvärden. I
konferenspublikationerna ingår tillgängliga referat av talarnas och pane-
listernas anföranden samt konceptdokumentet om konferensens ge-
mensamma utmaningar, som belyser några av de viktigaste frågorna och
presenterar syftet med denna publikation.
Av diskussionerna under konferensen framgick att gruvindustrin be-
traktas som en källa till nya möjligheter, sysselsättning och investeringar
i Barentsregionen. Ett av de viktigaste budskapen från konferensen var
att miljöfrågor och sociala frågor måste hanteras omsorgsfullt i samband
med gruvprojekt och gruvdrift, i syfte att minimera eventuella negativa
konsekvenser och maximera gruvdriftens positiva inverkan: endast an-
svarsfull gruvdrift skapar värde. Samarbetet i Barentsregionen är viktigt
med tanke på möjligheterna att reagera på de miljökonsekvenser och
sociala konsekvenser som hotar regionen.
Preface

Natural resources in the Barents region are strategically important for

Europe. One intensively growing sector is mining, which will bring new
opportunities to the region, but which will also cause changes in the
environment. Therefore, it is important that environmental considera-
tions are taken properly into account.
The Barents Euro-Arctic Council’s Working Group on Environment
organised a Conference on Best Environmental Practices (BEP) in the
Mining Sector in the Barents Region in Rovaniemi on 23–25 April 2013.
The overall objective of the Conference was to promote BEPs for mines
in the region. The Conference was also aimed at getting a general under-
standing of present and future developments in the mining sector, in-
creasing awareness of the environmental challenges facing the sector
and exchanging information on assessment and management of the en-
vironmental concerns of the mining industry in the Barents Region. Ad-
ditionally, a Finnish report on Best Environmental Practices in Metal Ore
Mining has been translated into English and Russian.
The Conference programme consisted of seven sessions and a panel
discussion. Presentations were given by each Barents country and Cana-
da, from both the national and regional level. Authorities, researchers,
operators and NGOs expressed their views on the topics. The titles of the
sessions were:

 Development perspectives and environmental challenges of the

mining sector in the Barents Region
 Regulatory and policy framework for responsible mining — how it
addresses the environmental and social challenges
 National strategies and guiding principles — how it addresses the
environmental and social challenges
 Emissions, use of chemicals and impacts
 Environment and social values
 Best environmental practices in the mining sector
 Conclusions: Common challenges to the environmental and social
performance of the mining sector.
The Panel topic was “How to reconcile environmental and social issues
in the mining sector,” and it generated wide discussion. On the third day,
conference participants had a chance to visit First Quantum Minerals’
Kevitsa mine.
The Conference proceedings contain the abstracts of the presenta-
tions. The presentations and Conference material are available on the
website: www.barentsminingconference.fi. The Finnish report on Best
Environmental Practices in Metal Ore Mining is also available in English
and Russian on the Conference website.

Henna Haapala
Chair of the Working Group on
Environment of the Barents
Euro-Arctic Council 2012–2013

10 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

Acknowledgements

A large number of people and organisations were involved in the ar-

rangements and contributed to the success of the Conference and the
production of material for it. Financial support was provided by the Min-
istry of the Environment of Finland, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Fin-
land, Ministry of the Environment of Sweden, Ministry of the Environ-
ment of Norway and the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Regional Coun-
cil of Lapland and Finnish Environment Institute gave in-kind work
hours for the arrangements and the City of Rovaniemi hosted a pleasant
dinner. Rovaniemi-Lapland Congresses was responsible for the practical
arrangements. Students of the Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences
guided and assisted the conference speakers and participants. Gaia Con-
sulting provided expertise in planning the Conference and drafting the
concept note on Common Challenges. In addition, the Swedish Environ-
mental Protection Agency, the Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency
and the Institute of the Industrial Ecology Problems of the North (INEP)
contributed to the planning of the Conference and invitations to the
speakers. We would like to thank all the conference speakers and panel-
lists for bringing their expertise and information material to the Confer-
ence and all organisers for its successful outcome.
Summary

Mining activities have intensified in the Barents Region. At the same

time, environmental issues and social impacts of mining have generated
discussion. Mining is both a challenge and an opportunity, bringing eco-
nomic wealth but at the same time causing various environmental and
social impacts.
As a way to address this concern about the environmental and social
impacts of mining, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council arranged the Confer-
ence of the Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Bar-
ents Region, held on 23–25 April 2013 in Rovaniemi, Finland. Participants
from five countries – authorities, researchers, industrial operators and
representatives of NGOs – joined together to express their views and dis-
cuss the challenges in the mining sector in the Barents Region.
The Conference programme consisted of seven sessions and a panel
discussion. The presentations covered both the national and regional
level and included a wide range of environmental and social issues from
national strategies and regulatory and policy frameworks to more spe-
cific environmental issues, such as waste management, risk assessment,
and social aspects, e.g., the effects of mining on the Sámi people and nat-
ural values. The conference proceedings contain the available abstracts
of the presentations by the speakers and panellists and the concept note
on common challenges of the conference, which highlights some of the
main issues and introduces the aim of this publication.
In the discussions at the conference the mining industry was consid-
ered to bring new opportunities, employment and investments to the
Barents Region. One of the key messages from the conference was that
environmental and social aspects must be managed carefully in mining
projects and operations, in order to minimize potential negative impacts
and maximize the potential positive impacts of mining: only responsible
mining creates value. The collaboration in the Barents Region is im-
portant for responding to the threats to the region from the environ-
mental and social impacts.
1. Welcoming address

Mika Riipi, County Governor, Regional Council of Lapland, Finland

Honourable Permanent Secretary, dear speakers and participants of the

conference,
The mining of stone and metal has been done since prehistoric times
all over the world. It can be said that mining and agriculture are still the
two key industries which supply all the basic resources used by modern
civilizations.
Of course the nature of modern mining is quite different than in the
ancient times. Because of globalization we are experiencing nowadays a
big boom in the demand for minerals. The main reasons for this devel-
opment are the economic growth in many low- and middle-income
countries and the enormous investments being made in the infrastruc-
ture of many large cities.
This boom has impacted Finnish Lapland and the entire Barents
Region. We have probably one of the biggest mineral potentials in
Europe. There are a number of existing and working mines in Barents
region and the prospecting of new ore bodies is very active. The n a-
ture of modern mining processes creates a potential negative impact
on the environment both during the mining operations and in the
years after a mine’s closure.
Nature has always had a special value for the people who live in the
Barents arctic region. Clean environment and unfragmented wilderness
areas still have a significant meaning for our economic structure – the
best examples are of course tourism and reindeer management.
In this context it is inevitable that we open up the discussion of envi-
ronmental issues in mining sector. Contradiction between the branches
of industries can be avoided by open and timely dialogue. In this confer-
ence we have a great opportunity to start this discussion and share ideas
and good practices.
On behalf of the Regional Council of Lapland I’d like to welcome you
all to this conference here in Finnish Lapland and to the beautiful city of
Rovaniemi. Our slogan in Lapland is that everything here is above ordi-
nary. We think that we have here a special kind of Arctic magic and some
say also that here in Lapland there’s some kind of creative madness.
In that spirit I’d like to wish you all two very productive and creative
conference days.

16 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

2. Opening words

Hannele Pokka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment of Finland

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to warmly welcome you all to the first mining conference
dedicated to environmental issues in the Barents Region. I’m happy to see
that there are so many here today. Rovaniemi is a very appropriate place
for this conference, since we are in the middle of a mining boom here.
A year ago a report on Best Environmental Practices in the Metal Mining
Sector was published in Finland. It gives an extensive and comprehensive
overview of the mining sector, covering mining activities and their envi-
ronmental impacts throughout the whole life cycle of a mine. The mining
sector, research institutes and authorities jointly prepared the report.
It was somewhat of a surprise to us that this report was the first of its
kind in Europe. We realized immediately that we wanted to discuss the
developments in the mining sector and related environmental issues,
and to exchange experiences on good practices in the sector with our
partners in the Barents Region.
Why is it important to talk about these issues right now? The answer
is simple: the sector is experiencing intensive development in many
places, as it also is here in the Barents Region. Global population growth,
depletion of natural resources and climate change are megatrends that
have sparked a high interest in the underground wealth of our region. In
particular, there is a huge demand for these resources in Asia’s growth
centres. Moreover, if we look at our own consumption, very few of the
technical devices we use daily do not contain metals. Metals are needed
in our mobile phones, computers, domestic appliances, cars and many
other consumer goods.
We here in Finland are proud of our high technological know-how,
including environmental technologies, and the ways that we can im-
prove environmental performance in the mining sector. On one hand,
because of new complex technology, we can extract ores from deposits
and recover minerals where it wasn’t feasible to do so even a few years
ago. New complex technology is introduced to utilize these deposits. At
the same time, old – already closed mines – are being reopened, because
of modern technologies for ore recovery. This development has chal-
lenged and will continue to challenge the technological expertise in the
mining sector.
In the Barents Region, the mining sector is bringing new employment
opportunities and investments in remote areas, which is not an insignifi-
cant matter.
What kind of issues then concerning the mining sector are under dis-
cussion in Finland? Much basic information on and knowledge of the im-
pacts of the mining sector already exists. One example of this is the report
on Best Environmental Practices. This report will be available soon in
both English and Russian and will be published on the conference website.
One of the first points of discussion is the challenging work of as-
sessing the environmental impacts of a mine. No mine is so environmen-
tally friendly that it will never leave permanent traces in the environ-
ment. Of course, each mine has different emissions and discharges and
therefore environmental impacts, depending on the properties of the ore
being extracted, among other things. The mining companies also differ in
their working methods. It goes without saying that one badly managed
operation can spoil the image of the whole sector for a long time.
A second important issue is that local residents, authorities and the
mining sector representatives must have a clear understanding of the
environmental impacts of a mining project. The company responsible for
the project is in a key position as planner of the process and as principal
consultant. Careful management of the planning process in the early phas-
es of the environmental impact assessment is essential for flexibility.
Thirdly, we are discussing how to reconcile the different interests,
who makes decisions when conflicts arise, and whose interests take
precedence. Although most of the existing mines and sites under explo-
ration are found in northern and eastern Finland, seemingly remote
areas, they are not so remote that a big mining project has no neigh-
bours nor any impact on them. These neighbours can be a tourism en-
trepreneur, a reindeer herder, or the owner of a holiday home or a forest
plot. Our ores lie in an area called the Fennoscandian shield, and it is rich
in ore. But the ground above is also rich in valuable nature areas and
supports many important livelihoods like tourism and reindeer herding.
A fourth topic of discussion is corporate social responsibility. Once a
new mine begins operating in an area, it might be there for decades. This
means it bonds with the local community and becomes a neighbour to
the local residents and other companies that are already there. Legisla-
tion and regulations allowing the company operations to exist are not

18 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

enough – the company also needs a social license from the surrounding
community to operate for the whole life cycle of the mine.
We have also recognized that for multinational corporations, includ-
ing those in the mining sector, a good environmental reputation is ex-
tremely important. If the environmental issues are not in order, it is the
market which will react first.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The discussion in Finland continues on what exactly are the best en-
vironmental practices in the mining sector. Our government is now pre-
paring an action programme for a sustainable mining sector. The prime
minister and key ministries, the mining sector, authorities, companies
and organizations are all involved in this work, which will soon be com-
pleted. Additionally, a process for investigating how mines are prepared
to handle risks will be started in May. This is known as a stress test for
mines. The Government is launching these stress tests in reaction to
problems that have arisen in some new mines. The Ministry of the Envi-
ronment is coordinating these tests, and the methods have been devel-
oped together with different institutes in the field and the mining sector.
I wish you all a very good conference and many fruitful discussions
here in Rovaniemi.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 19

3. Development perspectives
and environmental
challenges of the mining
sector in the Barents Region

3.1 Mining industry and environmental questions

Harri Juvonen, Director of Expert Services, Finnish Environment Institute,
Finland (abstract not available)

3.2 Environmental problems in the mining and

metallurgical industries of the Murmansk region
and problem-solving ways and means
Vladimir Masloboev, Director, Institute of the Ecology Problems in the
North (INEP), Russia (abstract not available)

3.3 Environmental regulation of the mining

industries in Norway – an overview of current
Norwegian practices
Harald Sørby, Head of Section, Climate and Pollution Agency, Norway (ab-
stract not available)
3.4 Environmental policy, mining and development
strategies
Eva Smith, Senior Advisor, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,
Sweden (presentation in the Conference by Caroline Dickson)

3.4.1 Mineral strategies for sustainable metal and

mineral extraction
Mining is an intensely developing sector, which will bring both opportu-
nities to the Barents region, as well as environmental concerns. It is be-
coming increasingly evident that the exploitation of mineral resources
needs to be carried out in a sustainable way in order to preserve and
develop the cultural and natural environment. This has been observed in
many national and international forums. Work is currently under way in
many countries to produce mineral strategies aimed at creating condi-
tions for a sustainable mining and minerals industry.

3.4.2 Increased resource efficiency and recycling to

protect the environment
Mining operations always have an impact on the environment. Large
areas of land are often occupied, which affect not only nature conserva-
tion, but also the prerequisites for other industrial development and
public interests. Discharges of pollutants to the surface water and into
groundwater, especially from mining waste, may affect the environment
for a long time to come. The extraction and processing of virgin minerals
also contribute to a large part of the global climate impact, while recy-
cling of metals and minerals usually saves a lot of energy. This is an im-
portant argument for the increased recycling of metals and minerals
from discarded products and waste. Even if recycling is increased, we
need to further develop mining activities in the foreseeable future in
order to achieve sustainable development globally.

3.4.3 Design for closure

Mining operations that have been closed down will leave traces in the
form of pits and landfills. Good knowledge is required of how the mine
affects the environment even after activity has ceased. Based on that
knowledge, activities can be planned so that future problems can be
anticipated and prevented to the greatest extent possible. By planning

22 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

and designing for closure in an environmentally friendly way even at the
design stage of the mine, the chances of creating a sustainable business
will increase.
Given that the setup time for the mining and quarrying operations
are normally many years and investments are high, it should be in the
mining company’s interest to take this into account. It is important that
the factors that can seriously affect the assessment of the viability of
extracting a mineral resource are well defined and preferably tested at
an early stage. The costs of remediation of closed sites are large and
cannot be disregarded in determining whether a mine will be profitable.

3.4.4 “Smarter regulation”, dialogue and collaboration

Clear and predictable basic rules for a mining establishment are of great
importance for all stakeholders. Regulations within the EU for waste
management, remediation, economic security, etc. have been developed
in recent years. Common regulations within the EU increase the chances
of similar and competitive neutrality rules. Cooperation in the Barents
region with the exchange of information on best practices and good ex-
amples further increases the prospects for a sustainable development
within a region where mining operations are so important and the envi-
ronment so vulnerable.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 23

4. Regulatory and policy
framework for responsible
mining – how it addresses
the environmental and social
challenges

4.1 Legal and regulatory framework for corporate

responsibility in environmental matters in the
mining sector
Kai Kokko, Professor of Environmental Law, University of Lapland, Finland

4.1.1 Background
The Talvivaara mining company in the municipality of Sotkamo has been
in the news because of several environmental problems in recent years.
Talvivaara Mine has raised the question: how well does the enforcement
of environmental legislation work in practice? The report about
Talvivaara Mine ordered by the Ministry of the Environment includes
some recommendations for improving environmental administration
and amending the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) in Finland.

4.1.2 Main purpose of the limited liability companies,

corporate governance and environmental
legislation
The main purpose of a limited liability company is to generate profits for the
shareholders, unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Association (the
Limited Liability Companies Act 1:5). Companies try to avoid costs in order
to earn the profit in the light of normal corporate governance. Thus, some
environmental goals, for example energy efficiency, can be in line with the
purpose of the companies at least when the time frame is long enough.
However, without proper enforcement of environmental legislation, the
temptation to generate the short-term profits for the shareholders without
properly considering external environmental costs becomes too high in
some companies. Moreover, environmental law principles like “the polluter
pays” are needed to balance the main purpose of the companies.

4.1.3 Environmental responsibility

According to the section 20.1 of the Constitution of Finland “nature and
its biodiversity, the environment and the national heritage are the re-
sponsibility of everyone.” In this context, “everyone” includes companies.
This responsibility is enforced via and with ordinary environmental
legislation. In fact, this responsibility includes angles of civil, public and
criminal liability. Also the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Europe-
an Union, article 37, stresses a high level of environmental protection
and the principle of sustainable development.

4.1.4 Civil environmental liability

Civil liability, for example in cases of contaminated soil, must be taken
into consideration in contracts when buying or selling real estate. Also
neighbours’ rights must be honoured properly, and emissions like noise,
smell and dust must be handled without causing an unreasonable degree
of nuisance for neighbours. Moreover, it is necessary to take precautions
to avoid cases of compensation for environmental damages.

4.1.5 Public environmental liability

The main idea in public environmental liability is that the environment
is protected as a public interest. The protection is supervised by public
authorities. Also operators, like mining companies, have general duties.
For example, the operators must have sufficient knowledge of environ-
mental impacts, risks and ways to reduce any harmful effects of their
activities (knowledge requirement, the EPA section 5.1). Moreover, the
liability would follow if general and total prohibitions were violated by
the operators. These prohibitions concern, among others, cases of litter-
ing, groundwater pollution or soil contamination. The public liability is
concretized in practice with different policy instruments like mining or
environmental protection permits.

26 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

4.1.6 Criminal environmental liability
In legal guidance criminal law is the final threshold to stop environmen-
tally harmful behaviour in companies. A person who acts, intentionally
or through gross negligence, against environmental legislations and the
criminal code may be sentenced to a fine or to imprisonment. Moreover,
the responsible company may be sentenced to pay a corporate fine.

4.1.7 Closing remarks

In general Finnish legal and regulatory framework for the corporate
responsibility is actually quite good, although accidents in the Talvivaara
Mine, as an individual case, give important signals of the possible weak-
nesses of the environmental regulation. Some improvements are surely
needed on environmental legislation. However, without careful study we
should not rush to increase regulative processes. The current legislation
can already set commonly accepted environmental standards to mining
companies with the aims of a high level of environmental protection and
sustainable development. The environmental legislation also forms
equal and justified regulatory framework for the mining companies to
act with similar economic and legal conditions in Finland. The Survey of
Mining Companies 2012/2013 by Fraser Institute shows actually very
well that valid Finnish environmental regulation has all in all very lim-
ited influence on the will of the mining companies to invest in Finland. In
that sense the legal framework seems also to function pretty well with-
out losing the main objective of environmental protection in Finland.

4.2 Permits and control practices

David Berggård, County Administration of Norrbotten, Sweden

4.2.1 Permit process

Importance
The permit process is very important to identify different impacts from
mining activities on people’s health and the environment. The permit
process is also very important to identify solutions to avoid, mitigate and
compensate negative impacts on people’s health and the environment. If
this can’t be achieved, a central goal with the permit process is not ful-
filled, and a permit then might not be given within the framework of the
Swedish environmental code.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 27

 Due to increased public awareness of new environmental techniques,
the land rights of indigenous people, high nature values, health and envi-
ronmental issues, great concern therefore must be taken to this matter
in the permit process.

Impacts
Many people living close to mining activities do not accept such impacts
on their standard of living and their environment, which perhaps were a
natural part of living before. People wish to have a nice standard of liv-
ing without disturbances of noise, vibrations, dust etc.
A very important matter is also that the impacts from many mining
activities nowadays, both direct, as well as indirect, can have much more
significant effects than before and also be very complex.
Therefore the permit process has to deal with higher standards and
considerations to developments of new techniques.

An example
Many important questions in speaking about Best Environmental Prac-
tices (BEP) and mining activities revolve around designs for closure, acid
mine drainage, direct environmental impacts from open pit mining etc.
In the county of Norrbotten the questions about BEP are much more
than that. Most of the iron mines are also associated with advanced
pelletizing production plants, which give rise to a lot of talk about BEP.
These production plants are one of the biggest point emission sources to
airborne pollutants in Sweden, such as NOx. The example that follows in
the Powerpoint presentation might give you some ideas about BEP and
applying new techniques in pelletizing plants, which in Norrbotten also
is a central part of the mining activities.

4.3 Environmental issues in permit granting at the

regional level in Russia
Yuriy Lisin, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources of the
Republic of Komi

The Komi Republic lies in the north-east of European Russia and has an
area of 416,600 km2, which is approximately 2.5% of the territory of
Russia. Komi has a population of 889,800 people (0.8% of the population
of Russia). The Komi Republic has substantial and varied natural re-

28 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

sources. This includes mineral, forestry, land and water resources, all of
which form a vital prerequisite for the economic development of Komi.
The volumes of fossil fuels make the Komi Republic the principal source
of fuel in Russia’s European north.
The Republic’s mineral resources play a defining role in its natural
potential, incorporating a broad range of minerals that include oil, me-
tallic and non-metallic deposits, as well as groundwater that is of great
significance for the economy of Komi and Russia as a whole.
The deposits that have been explored in the Komi Republic contain
the following approximate percentages of Russian reserves: oil – 3%,
coal – 4.5%, barite – 13%, bauxite – 30%, titanium – 50%, quartz vein
materials – 80%.

Coal
The Pechora coal basin is the second in Russia in terms of reserves, and
is a major source of raw material for the development of the coke chem-
istry and power industry. Across the basin there are approximately 30
known deposits of coal.

Hydrocarbons
Reserves and resources of hydrocarbons are concentrated in the central
and southern areas of the Timan-Pechora oil field. The Komi Republic
has extensive reserves of oil shale, metallic and titanium ore, minable
ferrous and non-ferrous metals as well as rare, trace and rare-earth
metals. Tremendous peat reserves amount to approximately 8.4 billion
tons. The raw titanium ore is the largest such resource in Russia and
neighbouring countries. The Yarega oil and titanium field is unique in its
stocks, holding approximately 50% of Russia’s reserves. In this list of the
Komi Republic’s mineral resources are also manganese and chromite ore
and the non-metallic minerals which can be used in the mining and
chemical industries. There are also raw materials for metallurgy, for
jewellery production and for the building sector.
The establishment of an effective system for the exploitation and pro-
tection of mineral resources in the Komi Republic is a defining condition
for its stable political, economic and social development. The legal and
economic basis for the integrated rational exploitation and protection of
mineral resources is stipulated in the Russian Federation Law “On Min-
eral Resources”, which protects the interests of the state and the citizens
of Russia, as well as the rights of the mineral developers. The Russian
Federation, jointly with its sub-federal units, implements the ownership,
exploitation and distribution of state stocks of mineral resources within
the territory of Russia and in the interests of the people living here.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 29

 The executive authorities of sub-federal units are authorized to regu-
late mineral resource exploitation in their territory by issuing licenses
for the use of subsoil plots of local significance. Subsoil plots of mineral
resources of local significance include:

 subsoil plots that contain common minerals

 subsoil plots that are used for the construction and exploitation of
underground facilities of local and regional significance that are not
connected with the extraction of minerals.

The list of common minerals in the Komi Republic is specified in the

Joint Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the
Russian Federation and the Government of the Komi Republic. The list
contains 23 types of mineral resources. Of 236 deposits in the allocated
stocks, 124 were developed in 2012, yielding sand, sand-gravel, clay,
dolomite, limestone, peat and other common minerals.
Subsoil resources are provided for exploitation through special state
permits in the form of licenses. The licenses contain clauses on imple-
menting stipulations in the legislation, standards, norms and regulations
for the protection of subsoil resources and the environment. The whole
licensing procedure for the right to exploit mineral resources is tightly
regulated by active legislation. Environmental requirements that are
covered by environmental legislation must be complied with as a top
priority at all stages of mineral exploitation, including forecasting, plan-
ning, design and research.
The guiding principles behind environmental policy in the Komi Re-
public are:

 use of technology that is environmentally safe and conservation-

friendly
 improvement of systems for monitoring the condition of the
environment
 availability of special equipment for localizing potential accidents
and carrying out effective environmental rehabilitation.

No less vital is the future development of environmental programmes at the

Ministry of Natural Resources of the Komi Republic, as well as the passing of
legislation and regulations by the State Council of the Komi Republic to en-
hance environmental protection during mineral exploitation and to control
compliance with the law. Safety for human life and public health, as well as
protection of atmospheric air, land, forests, waters, fauna and other envi-

30 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

ronmental features is provided for during exploitation of subsoil resources
by means of systematic environmental monitoring, and scrutiny of the im-
plementation of environmental protection measures.
The Government of the Komi Republic is authorized by law to moni-
tor compliance with environmental protection requirements by mineral
developers. It does this by:

 performing inspections of mineral developers at their production sites

 coordinating actions by the public prosecutor’s office, the federal
environmental protection agencies, NGOs and citizens in order to
implement effective oversight of compliance with environmental
protection requirements
 undertaking agreements of cooperation with major mineral
developers, such as LUKOIL Komi, Severstal Resources, Rosneft, and
Mondi Syktyvkar, wherein are detailed additional issues of compliance
with environmental protection requirements, as well as oversight of
implementation. Agreements of this type have been undertaken with
all the principal mineral developers in the Komi Republic.

Because of the long history of industrial exploitation of natural resources in

the Komi Republic, few people in the last century thought about environ-
mental protection during industrial exploitation of the deposits and the
impact on nature of such industrial activities. As a result, we now face prob-
lems of past environmental damage which must be resolved.
Examples of such sites of environmental damage in the Komi Repub-
lic include two exploitation shafts for the extraction of salt by leaching at
the Seregovo rock salt deposit; the ownerless shafts are from unallocat-
ed stocks of mineral resources.

Coal mining
Coal mining includes mines, but also territories occupied for a whole
range of different purposes that are connected to the work of the mines:
enrichment plants, waste heaps, ash pits, sludge dumps, waste solid stor-
age, tailing ponds, production buildings and communications facilities.
It is obvious that the ecological situation in coal-mining regions, es-
pecially beyond the Arctic Circle, demands special attention in the man-
agement of the coal sector at the national level.
What is being done now? It is comforting to note that work is under-
way at the mines to reduce methane emissions. For example, a ventila-
tion shaft at Severnaya mine has equipment installed for two gas-fuelled
power plants to generate heat and electricity for the energy needs of the
mine. The efficiency of the gas generator will determine whether or not

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 31

similar stations can be installed on other mines belonging to
Vorkutaugol. The company has organized and carries out monitoring of
the state of subsoil resources and the environment at coal deposits in
the Vorkuta district.

Ore mining
Ore mining in the Komi Republic is a developing industrial sector which
is typified by a broad range of production in extraction and processing,
and further development is the subject of keen interest on the part of the
authorities in Komi. The growth of the industrial potential of existing
capacities and increase of mineral extraction speeds must occur while
ensuring that world standards are maintained in health and safety, as
well as industrial and environmental safety. It is possible today greatly
to reduce environmental impact through correct planning and environ-
mental management, as well as to help maintain or restore bio-diversity
during mining operations and land re-cultivation.
The government of the Komi Republic pays as much attention to is-
sues of environmental protection as it does to economic development.
This encompasses the conservation of untouched wilderness, unique
natural systems, plant and animal gene pools. This work is performed by
the creation of specially protected natural sites on which no mineral
development is permitted.
At the current time there are 240 specially protected natural sites in
the Komi Republic, with an overall area of approximately 6 million hec-
tares, which amounts to almost 13.5% of the territory of Komi (approx-
imately 3% of Russia as a whole). The largest and most famous are the
Pechora-Ilych State Nature Biosphere Reserve and the Yugyd Va Nation-
al Park. Their total area is about 3 million hectares, and in 1995 they
were named as a natural UNESCO World Heritage site under the umbrel-
la name of “Virgin Komi Forests”. In addition to this, there are integrated
nature reserves and sanctuaries classified as specially protected natural
areas of regional significance, incorporating landscapes, forests, flora,
marsh, fish and other natural features.
The Ministry is particularly attentive to issues of environmental edu-
cation, producing a large number of publications and brochures that are
accessible to all strata of Komi’s population. We understand how im-
portant it is to work not only with industrial companies, but with the
public as well. The Komi Republic Red Book has had two editions – 1998
and 2009 – and is aimed not only at specialists in environmental protec-
tion, but also at people who make management decisions in the exploita-
tion of natural resources, including subsoil mineral extraction.

32 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

 A map has been produced, entitled “Protected Natural Territories of
the Komi Republic.” Since 1991, an official government report has been
published each year “On the state of the environment in the Komi Re-
public” which provides detailed information about the condition of the
environment, including at all sites of subsoil mineral exploitation in Ko-
mi. This government report is sent to all institutions, schools and librar-
ies in the Republic. I should like to note that joint efforts have led to a
positive shift in attitudes to environmental protection among industrial
enterprises and the broader public.
We understand perfectly that the problem of environmental protec-
tion and the quality of habitat is directly linked to the living conditions of
humans. We are acutely aware that the unity and harmonious coexist-
ence of humankind with nature holds a particular place in this regard.

4.4 Advances in environmental and socio-economic

performance: Applying best practices in mineral
development in Northern Canada
Rick Meyers, Vice President, Technical & Northern Affairs, The Mining As-
sociation of Canada

The Canadian mineral industry contributes significantly to the country’s

economy and has positioned Canada as a leading player in global re-
source development. Canada’s arctic region is vast and remote, lacking
developed land access routes, local energy supply and modern infra-
structure. As a result, many northern communities must deal with a high
cost of living, low employment and few economic opportunities.
Mineral development has brought about positive changes and new
opportunities for Canada’s northern populations. The settlement of na-
tive land claims has provided Aboriginal groups ownership of selected
lands and resources throughout the north, motivating developers to sign
impact benefit agreements with regional indigenous communities. Such
agreements provide social, economic and environmental commitments
that must consider the traditional and cultural activities of Aboriginal
people. Increased employment, new business development, advanced
skills training, as well as advances in education and community devel-
opment are some examples of improvements that have taken place.
Enhanced environmental performance in the northern mining indus-
try has been driven by the need to demonstrate stewardship and collab-

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 33

oration, overcome past legacies, adapt to changing climate conditions
and earn a social license to operate. The northern operating environ-
ment is supported by an improved and robust regulatory framework
designed to minimize environmental impacts and incorporate communi-
ty participation, while enabling well-designed mine development pro-
jects to move forward and continue to contribute to the economic devel-
opment that is so essential to a thriving northern community.

34 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

5. National strategies and
guiding principles – how it
addresses the environmental
and social challenges

Elisabeth Gammelsæter, Secretary General, Norwegian Mining and

Quarrying Industries, Norway (abstract not available)

Riikka Aaltonen, Chief Inspector of Mines, Ministry of Employment and the

Economy, Finland (abstract not available)

5.1 SveMin Ethical Rules and guidelines

Tomas From, Deputy Managing Director, Swedish Association of Mines,
Mineral and Metal Producers (SveMin), Sweden

Mining is an activity that always has an effect in nature where the

extraction is taking place and some impact on the surrounding
environment. A mineral deposit has to be mined where it has been
created by geological processes, and the location cannot be chosen.
Instead permission of the operation in the specific location is granted or
denied, considering how technical solutions can be chosen to minimize
impact and make them acceptable. This is a dynamic process as
technology develops over time as well as the acceptance of the impact
varies with values in society. The Swedish mining industry is devoted to
technical development and continued improvement, and initiatives are
undertaken in cooperation with government and authorities to develop
R&D on both national and EU levels. The “SMIFU Sustainable and
Innovative Mine of the Future” program is a basis for the ambitious
work. To make this proactive approach possible, the industry must be
competitive and profitable.
 Our modern and sustainable society needs minerals and metals in
order to function. And for the foreseeable future, the needs of a growing
global population moving away from poverty will need mining.
Recycling alone will not be enough by far. This fact demands that regions
with potential for mining, such as the Barents Region, must take a
responsibility for production. It is not a solution to deny mining with the
“not in my vicinity” or “Not in my backyard – NIMBY” argument. This has
to be acknowledged by society in large and government, authorities and
industry must spread this knowledge.
To improve the performance of the industry and enhance acceptance
of mining in society, the Swedish mining industry, through its
association SveMin, has established ethical rules that all members are
committed to follow where applicable. These rules cover in short almost
all aspects of the operation of the companies. In some areas policies,
guidelines and other printed information have been developed, as
shown below.

Environment
 “Emissions of nitrogen from mining industry – risks for the
environment, demand for reductions in emissions and possible
actions”. In Swedish.
 Swedish Guidelines for Design Flood Determination for Dams. In
Swedish and English.
 Dam Safety Policy. In Swedish and English.
 “Remedial work on mine waste”. In Swedish.
 “Economic assurance”. In Swedish.

Health & Safety

 “BRAGS – guidelines for mine hoists”. In Swedish.
 Environment, Health and Safety Guidelines – for Machinery Used in
the Mining and Minerals Industry. In Swedish and English.
 “Guidelines for follow up and revision”. In Swedish.
 “Guidelines for measurement of exhaust emissions on mine vehicles”.
(Due to revision.) In Swedish.

Fire protection
 Fire Safety in Mines and Underground Constructions. In Swedish and
English.
 “Rules for fire safety and protective equipment”. In Swedish.
 “Statistics on fire and near fires.” In Swedish.

36 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

Competence
 Metals – in society and in the Environment. In Swedish, Danish,
Norwegian, Finnish and English.
 Metals in Society and in the Environment. In English and summary in
Swedish.
 “Metals and Minerals in the Service of Mankind – School Material”. In
Swedish.

Exploration and land issues

 Guidance for exploration in Sweden. In Swedish and English.
 “Guidance for good environmental praxis when prospecting in
protected areas”. In Swedish.
 Swedish translation of Euromines “Guide to the Guide” to EC
Guidance on: undertaking non-energy extractive activities in
accordance with Natura 2000 requirements.

Reporting on mineral resources and reserves

 Fennoscandian Review Board (FRB), standards and guidelines. In
Swedish and English.

5.2 The principles of the ecological sustainability of

the mining sector in the Barents region – an
outlook from Komi
Naum Oberman, Head of the Komi Territorial Centre for State Monitoring
of Subsurface Condition, Mireko, Komi Republic, Russia

The location of significant area of Komi Republic and Nenets Okrug in

the region of permafrost, predetermines the specificity of the mentioned
principles, which are especially significant in view of the global climate
warming. It became the cause of cardinal change in mining-geological
conditions: permafrost, hydrogeological and engineering-geocryological.
According to 40-years of monitoring the permafrost temperature, the
depth of zero annual amplitude increased 0.7–1.7 оС, depending on
landscape conditions. Due to the thermokarst, within quarter of the cen-
tury the average annual marks of earth decreased by 0.1–0.6 m. Varia-
tions of these changes depend on landscape conditions. The thickness of
closed taliks, which existed before the beginning of the warming (1970),
increased; new taliks occurred. As the result the southern border of

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 37

near-surface permafrost had shifted 30–40 km northward in Bolsheze-
melskaya tundra according to our map.
Spring melting of the active layer for recent 5 years occurs 1.5 month
earlier, on the average, and in winter this layer freezes a month later than
during the initial 5 years of the climate warming. As a result of almost
double increase in duration of ground waters infiltration, and, to a smaller
extent, by ice melting from permafrost, the average annual water levels in
the eastern part of region had increased since 1970 by 1–10 m in various
hydrogeological conditions. This increase occurred upon the background
of increased levels of moisture of the area, but contrary to the insignificant
reduction of annual atmospheric precipitation. The increasing number of
taliks together with partial thaw in it water-containing soils resulted in
growing capacitive and natural resources of ground waters. For example,
in the area of 13.9 thousand km2 this growth resulted in addition of
67 thousand m3/km2 during the warming period; mine inflows of sub-
permafrost waters increased.
The above-stated information allows to formulate the principles of
the ecological stability of mining sector specifically for permafrost area
of the region. Long-term background permafrost monitoring is neces-
sary. It should envelop the most significant landscapes of the region. The
monitoring should be complex, including geocryological, hydrogeologi-
cal, engineering-geocryological, meteorological and other observations.
From the practical point of view, the most desirable is the medium-term
(15–25 years) permafrost forecast.

38 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

6. Emissions, use of chemicals
and impacts

6.1 Water and aquatic environments

Astri Jæger Sweetman Kvassnes, Research Scientist, Norwegian Insititute
for Water Research – NIVA, Norway (abstract not available)

6.2 New advanced online measurement methods to

study particulate matter in mines and mining
environments
Risto Hillamo, Research Professor, Finnish Meteorological Institute (abstract
not available)

6.3 Waste management

Marja-Liisa Räisänen, Research Professor, Geological Survey of Finland

6.3.1 Introduction
Mine waste implies that the material has no current economic value.
Mining wastes include overburden and waste rocks excavated and
mined from surface and underground operations. Waste rock (country
rock) is wall rock material removed to mine ore. Particle sizes of waste
rocks range from clay size particles to boulder size fragments. Pro-
cessing wastes include fine-grained tailings, sludge and waste water
from mineral processing. In some mines, flotation of metal and mineral
ores produces an intermediate product, a mineral concentrate, which is
the input of the extractive metallurgy: hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy
or electrometallurgy. These processes destroy partially or entirely ore
minerals and associated minerals and result in the production of various
waste products (metallurgical wastes) including atmospheric emissions,
flue dust, slag, roasting products, waste water, and leached ore.
 The main focuses in this presentation are on waste characterization,
environmental management, and risks of solid mine wastes. The main
reference is the Finnish guide on the Best Environmental Practices on
Metal Mining Operations.1 In the guide, focusing on Finnish conditions,
the best available techniques and practices for the mine waste manage-
ment are chosen partly from the designs in Finnish new mines and part-
ly from those presented in the Global Acid Rock Drainage Guide2 and
European Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for Man-
agement off Tailings and Waste-rock in Mining Activities.3

6.3.2 Potential environmental impacts of mine wastes

Mine wastes pose a problem not just because of their enormous volume
and aerial extent, but because some of them may impact local ecosys-
tems. Therefore, one of the most challenging issues at any mine is how to
manage large volume of mine waste so as to minimize not only the
short-term impacts but also the long-term impacts. Waste disposal facili-
ties have environmental (either physical or chemical) and socio-
economic consequences. They occupy land that was previously produc-
tive as wildlife habitat, economic forestland or farmland. It may be a
very long time before the previous level of productivity is achieved if
facilities are not rehabilitated adequately. In most cases, landscape is
changed by waste disposal facilities despite of the designing according to
topographical variations. Above all, most concern is given to the impact
on surrounding ecosystems and especially on water ways, and conflict in
public eye. Where wastes are not physically stable, erosion or cata-
strophic failure may result in severe or long-term impacts. Where they
are not chemically stable, they can serve as a more or less permanent
source of pollutants to natural water systems. These impacts can be ex-
tremely difficult and costly to address through remedial measures. As a
result, in many cases mine wastes must be isolated or treated to reduce
oxidation, toxicity, erosion or unsightliness, and to allow the waste re-
positories to be used for other purposes after mining ceases. On the oth-
er hand, the waste can still be rich in resource ingredients, which should
be kept in mind during the planning stages, not just the closing stages.

1 Kauppila, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and S. Myllyoja 2011. Metallikaivostoiminnan parhaat ympäristökäytännöt

(English summary: Best Environmental practices in metal mining operations). The Finnish Environment
29/2011, 213 p.
2 INAP 2009. The GARDGuide. The Global Acid Rock Drainage Guide. The International Network for Acid

Prevention (INAP). http://www.gardguide.com/ Accessed 10 th November 2010.

3 EC 2009. Reference document on Best Available Techniques for Management of Tailings and Waste-Rock in

Mining Activities. January 2009. European Commission (EC). 511 p. ftp://ftp.jrc.es/pub/eippcb/doc/

mmr_adopted_0109.pdf. Accessed 7th September 2010.

40 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

 The most serious and pervasive environmental problem related to
waste facilities of metal ore mining is acid drainage. Acid generating
phenomenon, generally called acid mine drainage (AMD), begins in the
circum neutral pH range when iron sulphide minerals are exposed to,
and react with, oxygen and water. In addition, temperature, acidity lev-
els (pH), ferric/ferrous iron equilibrium and microbiological activity
(e.g. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans) influence the oxidation rate of iron and
other metal sulphides.4 Depending on the neutralisation capacity of the
waste, leachate (seepage) can have either acidic or neutral pH and ele-
vated concentrations of dissolved, toxic metals and sulphates.5 The con-
taminants plumes can spread into surface water ways if not collected
properly by circulating drains and via the basements of the facility into
groundwater if not isolated with waterproof lining.6
Dust spreads from waste rock during dumping and from the tailings
pond from the sites where material is dried on the surface. Secondly, the
sparse or non-existent vegetation on waste heaps promotes erosion and
transportation of reactive and unreactive waste particles into surround-
ing soils and streams.7
Minor experience is available on the management of hydrometal-
lurgical (heap leaching / tank leaching) and pyrometallurgical (e.g.
pressure-oxidation in an autoclave) fine-grained wastes such as the
residue of bioleached ore and the sludge with various secondary pre-
cipitates (e.g. gypsum, Fe, Al and Mn hydroxyloxides) that contain
more or less process chemical remnants. Metals and hazardous com-
pounds are easily mobilized from these solid waste types, e.g. if the
membrane-lined dam ruptures or the single- or multi-lined pad leaks
or degrades. Secondly, the water discharged from sludge ponds con-
sists generally of more or less hazardous elements and compounds
and needs to be purified before outflowing into natural water ways.

4 Nordstrom, D. K. and C. N. Alpers 1999. Geochemistry of acid mine waters. In: G. S. Plumlee and M. J.
Logsdon (Eds). The Environmental Geochemistry of Mineral Deposits, Part A: Processes, Techniques, and
Health Issues, Review Economy Geology 6A: 133–160.
5 Heikkinen, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and R. H. Johnson 2009. Geochemical Characterisation of Seepage and

Drainage Water Quality from Two Sulphide Mine Tailings Impoundments: Acid Mine Drainage versus Neutral
Mine Drainage. Mine Water and the Environment 28, pp. 30–49.
6 Heikkinen, P.M., K. Korkka-Niemi, M. Lahti and V.-P. Salonen 2002. Groundwater and surface water contam-

ination in the area of the Hitura nickel mine, Western Finland. Environmental Geology 42, 313–329.
Heikkinen, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and R. H. Johnson 2009. Geochemical Characterisation of Seepage and Drain-
age Water Quality from Two Sulphide Mine Tailings Impoundments: Acid Mine Drainage versus Neutral Mine
Drainage. Mine Water and the Environment 28, pp. 30–49.
7 Närhi, P. M. L. Räisänen, M. L. Sutinen and R. Sutinen 2012. Effect of tailings on wetland vegetation in Rau-

tuvaara, a former iron–copper mining area in northern Finland. Journal of Geochemical Exploration Vol 116-
117: 60–65.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 41

6.3.3 Environmental risk management of mine wastes
from planning to aftercare
Overall, information relating to the waste facility design, selection of the
site and disposal method is compiled from literature surveys and field and
laboratory investigations. The resolution is syntheses of environmental,
planning, aftercare and economic factors.8 The main elements are:

 physical, chemical and geotechnical characteristics of wastes and

knowledge on potential interactions between waste and surrounding
environment that determine
o lining demand and dam structure
o leachate water management in operational and long-term
phases
 knowledge on state of environment, hydrology, physical and
hydrogeological properties of Quaternary sediments underlying
alternative facility sites
 demand for leachate collection, and active or passive purification in
operational and aftercare phases
 possibilities to backfill wastes into a pit and/or an underground mine
 existing roads and rails, and electric lines or disincentives for traffic
and transport
 land-use needs during operational and aftercare phases, and
potential conflicts with landowners and locals
 close proximity of the settlement and demands for recreational areas,
hunting, fishing, berry picking, mushroom picking, etc.
 close proximity of protected areas and areas of endangered species.

Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of wastes are driving forces for

diminishing emissions of mine waste facilities and preventing negative
impacts on soil, waterways and groundwater, population and human
health. Initial material characterization is done in the planning stage of the
mine, but it is continuously followed-up and renewed on demand during
the operational phase of the mine. First of all, minimizing the content of
iron sulphide minerals (depyritisation) in the waste is the best preventive
measure against acid generation. The iron sulphides can be separated
from tailings waste for a byproduct during flotation or afterward during
the decommissioning of the waste facility. Furthermore, it is important to
identify and quantify remnants of process chemicals (flotation or solvent)

8Kauppila, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and S. Myllyoja 2011. Metallikaivostoiminnan parhaat ympäristökäytännöt

(English summary: Best Environmental practices in metal mining operations). The Finnish Environment
29/2011, 213 p.

42 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

as well as explosive chemicals (nitrogen compounds), which can have
negative impacts via mobilization from waste-rock heap or tailings and
settling ponds into waterways and groundwater. In most cases, the chem-
icals can be degraded, e.g. oxidizing cyanides before the waste slurry is
pumped into the waste pond. In addition, the dosage of the chemicals in
the process markedly influences the remnant content.9
In addition to waste properties, the base construction of waste facili-
ty directs aftercare options. The greatest challenge in the decommission-
ing is to prevent and retard acid generation and metal mobility.
Mixing either encapsulation or layering iron sulphide bearing waste
with alkaline material (e.g. carbonate bearing waste rock) or by-product
(e.g. fly ash, steel slag) markedly inhibits sulphide oxidation.10 This gen-
erally precedes the classification of waste materials in relation to their
neutralization and acid generating properties.11 Furthermore, subaque-
ous disposal prevents the oxidation and can be implemented by backfill-
ing waste material into the mined-out pit or underground tunnels or by
flooding the waste pond. In Finland, constructions of multi-liners such as
high density polyethylene (HDPE) liner or bituminous liner underlaid
with a bentonite layer are generally required for the base construction
of the facility if the waste is acid generating and/or contains hazardous
elements and chemical remnants.12 Alternatively, compressed peat or
dumping on a bog where peat is compressed in long-term will form a
waterproof basement.13

9 Kauppila, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and S. Myllyoja 2011. Metallikaivostoiminnan parhaat ympäristökäytännöt

(English summary: Best Environmental practices in metal mining operations). The Finnish Environment
29/2011, 213 p.
10 Räisänen, M. L. & P. Juntunen 2004. Decommissioning of the old pyritic tailings facility previously used in a

talc operation, eastern Finland. In: Jarvis, B.A. Dudgeon and P.L. Younger (eds.) Proceedings of the Symposi-
um Mine Water 2004 – Process, Policy and Progress vol. 1, 91–99.
Räisänen, M. L. 2005. A sustainable use of magnesite tailings as a cover for acid generating wastes – A case
study of an old copper mine. In: Securing the future International Conference on Mining and the Environment
Metals and Energy Recovery June 27 – July 1 Skellefteå 2005, Proceedings vol. 2, 826–636.
INAP 2009. The GARDGuide. The Global Acid Rock Drainage Guide. The International Network for Acid
Prevention (INAP). http://www.gardguide.com/ Accessed 10th November 2010.
11 Kauppila, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and S. Myllyoja 2011. Metallikaivostoiminnan parhaat ympäristökäytännöt

(English summary: Best Environmental practices in metal mining operations). The Finnish Environment
29/2011, 213 p.
12 Kauppila, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and S. Myllyoja 2011. Metallikaivostoiminnan parhaat ympäristökäytännöt

(English summary: Best Environmental practices in metal mining operations). The Finnish Environment
29/2011, 213 p.
13 Räisänen, M. L. 2003. Rehabilitation options for tailings impoundments – case studies of wet cover and

wetland treatment. In: C. Hebestreit, J. Kudełko and J. Kulczycka (eds.) Mine Waste management Best Availa-
ble Techniques. CBPM Cuprum, Wroclaw and MEERI PAS, Kraków, 141–150 pp.
Räisänen, M. L. 2005. A sustainable use of magnesite tailings as a cover for acid generating wastes – A case
study of an old copper mine. In: Securing the future International Conference on Mining and the Environment
Metals and Energy Recovery June 27 – July 1 Skellefteå 2005, Proceedings vol. 2, 826–636.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 43

 Nevertheless, a key aspect in the best management of mine wastes is
to opt for an ore processing technique that minimizes waste volume and
optimizes recovery of resource ingredients. The waste can still be rich in
resource ingredients, which should be kept in mind when planning the
mining, not only during closure. It is important to know the wide range
of elements, e.g. high-tech metals, and mineral composition of mine
wastes that might have no current economic value but could be integral
in the future. Developing techniques for degrading chemicals before
pumping sludge into the pond may promote recycling of chemicals,
which diminishes emissions from waste facilities.14
Above all, it is important that the operation is designed for closure
from the very start and that adequate data is collected to quantify the
long-term environmental impacts of the mine wastes. Recovery starts
with end-filled waste heaps and sections of the tailings facility during
the operational phase, not only during the closing phase. This is one of
the best practices to diminish dust and water emissions of the waste
facilities during active mining.

6.4 Environmental risk assessment

Tommi Kauppila, Chief Scientist, Geological Survey of Finland

Environmental risk assessment, as defined in this presentation, is “a

systematic procedure for predicting potential risks to human health or
the environment.” Risk, on the other hand, can be defined as “the poten-
tial that a chosen action, inaction or activity will lead to an undesirable
outcome.” Defined this way, environmental risk assessment for mine
sites looks at the ecological and human health effects arising from regu-
lar mining operations rather than focusing solely on the likelihood and
consequences of sudden failures such as tailings dam breaches. Emis-
sions from failures can be incorporated as well but it is often useful to
compare the effects of various management and design options for regu-
lar operations of mining operations.
Possibility to environmental damage is inherent to metal mining. Re-
quirements for mining operations to attain and demonstrate high envi-

Heikkinen, P. M., M. L. Räisänen and R. H. Johnson 2009. Geochemical Characterisation of Seepage and Drain-
age Water Quality from Two Sulphide Mine Tailings Impoundments: Acid Mine Drainage versus Neutral Mine
Drainage. Mine Water and the Environment 28, pp. 30–49.
14 INAP 2009. The GARDGuide. The Global Acid Rock Drainage Guide. The International Network for Acid

Prevention (INAP). http://www.gardguide.com/ Accessed 10 th November 2010.

44 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

ronmental performance have increased during the past decade. Risk-
based environmental assessment is especially useful for mines because
each mine site is unique, mining operations and their life cycles are ex-
ceedingly complex, metals have unique properties as hazardous agents,
smooth environmental permitting requires a wealth of data, mining op-
erations need to secure financing, risks and effects from mines need to
be communicated to the outside world in a comprehensible way, risk
management options need to be compared, and plans made for mine
closure and post-closure monitoring.
The environmental risk assessment process for mining consists of eco-
logical and health risk assessment that are preceded by an examination of
the mining processes, emissions, transport of contaminants and the result-
ing concentrations in the surrounding media. Because of this complexity,
comprehensive environmental risk assessment requires expertise from
fields such as geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, hydrogeology, toxicology,
ecotoxicology, and ecological and health risk assessment. Major challenges
for the processes and emissions section of such modelling include estimat-
ing unit emissions from mineral processing already at the planning stage
and the already classic challenge of making long term predictions of the
quality of seepage waters from tailings facilities. Both the human health and
ecological risk assessments can be taken beyond the simple comparisons of
environmental concentrations to their respective guideline values, an ap-
proach which is nowadays almost solely used. While the health risk assess-
ment involves modelling exposures of humans living around the mine and
comparing these to dose-response relationships, the ecological risk assess-
ment faces the challenges of deriving the correct predicted no-effect con-
centrations for metals in different environmental compartments. The pre-
dicted effects are compared and, if the risk constructed model includes
causal chains from processes to environmental concentrations, various
options for mining processes can be evaluated.

6.5 REACH and mining industry

Hanna Korhonen, Senior Advisor, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency –
Tukes, Finland (abstract not available)

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 45

6.6 Uranium and mines
Dina Solatie, Head of Laboratory, STUK – Radiation and Nuclear Safety
Authority, Finland (abstract not available)

46 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

7. Environment and social
values

7.1 Environmental valuation and external costs

Matleena Kniivilä, Forest Economist, Pellervo Economic Research PTT,
Finland

In addition to economic benefits, mining activities create adverse envi-

ronmental effects which cause costs and loss of well-being in the sur-
rounding society. These external impacts include noise disturbances and
odour nuisances, harmful emissions to water and air, as well as the de-
struction and disturbance of ecosystems. Even if these impacts can be
highly significant, in the decision-making they often do not get the
weight they need as many of them are not easily measurable in mone-
tary terms or not even quantifiable, and thus they are not directly com-
parable to the benefits of mining. However, if these external costs are
not taken into consideration, the decisions made are not optimal or sus-
tainable from society’s point of view.
In environmental economics, several methods have been developed
which enable the economic assessment of adverse environmental im-
pacts. Estimates of the impacts can be used, e.g. in social cost-benefit
analyses or in the assessment of monetary compensations needed. The
simplest way to approximate the costs is to estimate the expense of
avoidance of environmental damage, the costs of restoration of damaged
resources, or the costs of damage already done. With these methods,
however, only a part of the economic impact can be covered. If the total
economic value of the project is to be assessed, more sophisticated valu-
ation methods, which capture the change in well-being of the target
population, must be used. The use of these methods, however, requires
careful design of surveys, detailed information on the impacts and suffi-
cient resources.
Even at the global scale there are only few studies in which the envi-
ronmental impacts of mining have been assessed using economic valua-
tion. In autumn 2012, PTT in collaboration with the Finnish Environ-
ment Institute carried out a pilot study on the economic impacts of se-
lected mines in Finland.15 Based on earlier studies, the economic value of
the adverse environmental impacts of mines was roughly estimated. In
the study, e.g. the costs of noise disturbances and odour nuisances and
harmful emissions to water and air were assessed. The economic impact
of several adverse environmental impacts could not be estimated due to
the lack of data. The study concluded that the economic benefits of min-
ing for the national economy clearly exceeded the costs. However, this is
supposing that environmental damage due to mining operations does
not exceed the consequences pre-estimated in the environmental impact
assessment and permit procedures. The result doesn’t change the fact
that the adverse effect experienced by a person living in a neighbour-
hood of a particular mine can be quite significant, and that there are
significant differences between mines. In addition, unforeseen environ-
mental damage can substantially change the ratio between benefits and
adverse effects. The value of an adverse effect can become significant for
a single mine, even exceeding that of benefits, if it remains in nature for a
long time after the mine’s operations have ended or if it remains there
permanently.

7.2 From social risks encountered to impact

management
Rauno Sairinen, Professor of Environmental Policy, University of Eastern
Finland (abstract not available)

15Haltia, E., P. Holm & K. Hämäläinen 2012. Kaivostoiminnan taloudellisten hyötyjen ja ympäristö- ja hyvin-
vointivaikutusten arvottaminen. PTT Working Papers 138, 61 p. (Valuation of economic benefits, environ-
mental impacts and effects on wellbeing that result from mining activities. Abstract and summary also in
English.) www.ptt.fi/dokumentit/tp138_0611120801.pdf

48 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

7.3 The problems and risks of mining for the Sámi
and other indigenous peoples of the Arctic Region
Pekka Kauppala, Special Adviser of the President of the Sámi Parliament,
Finland

The indigenous peoples of the Arctic belong to the group, which in practice
benefit the least and lose the most from the mining activities in the Barents
region. The question of harmonizing the interests of mining and of the in-
digenous peoples of the Arctic must be considered as one of the crucial chal-
lenges for the improvement of environmental practices of mining.
The biggest indigenous peoples of the European Arctic and the sole
indigenous peoples in the whole EU are the Sámi. Sámi populations live
in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. In the Sámi homelands there
was until today no significant mining in the current territories of Fin-
land, but much in the other countries. Sweden and Norway even have
their biggest mines in the traditional Sámi home areas, and also in Rus-
sia the mines of the region have international significance. Likewise in
Finland, it cannot be guaranteed that mining shall not grow in the Sámi
homelands.
The most significant damages for the culture of Sámi are made in
Russia. Through mining in the Kola Peninsula and militarisation of its
coastlands, the Russian Sámi have lost the biggest parts of their territory
for traditional reindeer herding. Furthermore, mainly because of the
nickel mines in the former Finnish territory of Petchenga (Petsamo), its
annexation demanded by the USSR in 1944, which led to the emigration
of all local Sámi to Finland or into inner Kola Peninsula. Today the Sámi
culture and language have nearly disappeared from the Kola Peninsula.
In Sweden and Norway, the iron mines have proved to be cleaner
than the mines of nickel, apatite, etc. However, even here the Sámi peo-
ple have lost land traditionally used for reindeer herding, fishing and
hunting. The trains, cars and shafts for the mines kill many reindeer
yearly. The formation of mining cities inhabited by the majority people
of the state has also increased problems for the preservation of Sámi
language and culture.
Reindeer herding is most sensitive to conflicts with mining, because
it requires large and clean pasture areas, and these pasture areas are
often depleted. Even deeper conflicts with indigenous peoples along this
line can be found in Arctic Russia in the areas of the Khanty and Nentsy.
Solving these problems is essential, so that the majority of mining opera-
tions do not have to be merely seasonal in the regions of the indigenous

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 49

peoples. Indigenous peoples should also definitely have rights to be in-
cluded in the decisions of which mines can and should be opened, and
under which conditions, as the declaration of the UNO on the rights of
indigenous peoples stipulates.

7.4 Impacts of mining industry on reindeer herding

Marja Anttonen, Adviser, Reindeer Herders’ Association, Finland

Reindeer herding has been a vital element of northern culture from at

least the 16th century. Unlike many other traditional professions in mod-
ern societies, reindeer herding is still a living profession. It has been able
to adapt to the changing world and still maintains the traditions, culture
and language, and makes a profit in the Arctic areas. Unlike many other
traditional professions, reindeer herding has also survived in the hearts
of young people.
Reindeer herding is based on natural pastures and free ranging of
reindeer. Vast areas are needed because reindeer use different areas at
different times of the year. As the industrialized world is expanding to the
Arctic, the space for this traditional livelihood grows smaller and smaller.
The mining industry has multiple impacts on reindeer herding. Mines
are causing changes to the pasture use of reindeer, direct and indirect
loss of pastures and other areas, impacts on forage plants and lichens,
drinking water and snow conditions, loss of reindeer herding infrastruc-
ture or the usability value of the infrastructure, increase of work and
expenses, increase of accidents (traffic, mine sites) and so on. Due to
this, the profitability of the livelihood decreases, and the reindeer herd-
ing culture and way of life suffers.
What are the “best practices” from the reindeer herding point of view
then? Reindeer herders must be respected as the original, traditional us-
ers of the area who have rights protected by law to use the land for their
livelihood. The sustainable way is to take into account the local, traditional
livelihood and the people. Reindeer herding environments and practices
must be studied properly before construction (EIA, SIA). Mines must be
planned in such way that harmful effects are prevented or minimized.
Extra costs and losses must be compensated. During construction and
operation the impacts on reindeer and reindeer herding must be moni-
tored. Also the effects on environment from the reindeer herding point of
view must be monitored (e.g. forage plants). Monitoring enables herders

50 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

and mining companies to react if something arises and agree on new ways
to minimize and compensate the effects. For all this, open and honest
communication with the herding community in all phases of planning,
constructing and operating the mine is crucial.
Assessing the impacts might be difficult, and the consultants who are
making the assessments are often unfamiliar about reindeer and rein-
deer husbandry. For that reason, the so-called “Reindeer EIA” guidelines
were written by the Reindeer Herders Association’s expert group. Guide-
lines can be downloaded from website www.paliskunnat.fi/poroyva (only
in Finnish as of yet.)

7.5 Nature values, nature-based livelihoods and

mining
Mikko Jokinen, Researcher, Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla, Finland

The revival of the mining sector is coming to Finland. The closure of

many large mines took place in 1980s due to low global market prices of
ore, and in late millennium there were no large future prospects for the
mining sector in Finland. At the same time the rise of the tourism busi-
ness started in northern Finland and helped local communities and
economies who suffered the depression.
In this paper I represent a study conducted in 2012 concerning rec-
onciliation of mining and tourism from the viewpoint of tourists in Ylläs
and Levi, two of the biggest tourist destinations in Lapland. We inter-
viewed in total 1,703 tourists with questionnaires and asked about their
opinions on mining. The Hannukainen iron-ore mining project is located
near the Ylläs tourist destination, and there is major public concern that
mining can have a negative impact on tourism. To assess possible im-
pacts and build scenarios for the near future is a top goal of the local
agenda. Our results show that the majority of tourists see contradictions
between mining and nature-based tourism, yet a great part of the tour-
ists feel neutral about mining.
Local people and owners of holiday homes in the municipalities of
Kolari, Kittilä and Muonio recognize that mining can have negative im-
pacts on natural assets such as clean water, air and landscape. Changes
in physical environment create challenges for the reconciliation com-
munication, risk scenarios, transparent management and environmental
administration are key elements for sustainable mining, best practices
and reconciliation of mining and nature-based livelihoods.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 51

7.6 Social license to operate – what can mining
companies do?
Håkan Tarras-Wahlberg, Researcher, Stockholm School of Economics,
Sweden

A “Social License to Operate” is not a legal document, but something that

mining companies may try to establish in addition to securing applicable
and necessary legal permits. An SLO refers to a situation where a mining
company has obtained widespread stakeholder support, most notably
among the local communities that are directly impacted by a proposed
mining activity. From the company perspective, efforts to obtain an SLO
may relate to a wish to reduce the risks of social conflicts that may, in
turn, cause problems and delays for mining projects.
In Sweden, two main permits are required for mining: an exploitation
concession and an environmental permit. Both these permits require an
EIA and associated stakeholder consultations in accordance with applica-
ble parts of the environmental law (enacted 1 January 1999). This presen-
tation provides preliminary findings from an ongoing study which investi-
gates whether and/or how mining companies in Sweden make any special
efforts to establish local community and stakeholder support during and
before the process of applying for exploitation concessions.
At the end of 2012, there were some 140 valid mining licenses in Swe-
den, most of which were held by local companies. About one third of the
licences were applied for after EIAs became obligatory; and of the remain-
ing licenses, more than a third were applied for in December 1998 – that
is in the month preceding the establishment of the requirement for EIAs.
This suggest that at that time, mining companies in general chose to avoid
the EIA process and associated stakeholder consultations.
The study shows that since 1999, the EIAs that accompany applica-
tions for mining licenses have become increasingly more ambitious and
comprehensive. This trend may have been caused by growing expecta-
tions on part of the authorities and/or other important stakeholders.
However, the study suggests that one of the main drivers has been the
increasing presence of foreign controlled companies in Sweden. Foreign
companies have, overall, produced more ambitious and comprehensive
EIAs. This, in turn, may be related to the presence of international stand-
ards and guidelines, and the role of the international financing bodies that
provide financial services to these foreign-based firms.

52 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

 Overall, the drivers that control the behaviour of mining companies
in Sweden need to be understood in the context of the particularities of
the country which, for example, is characterised by strong, independent
state institutions that may not always be keen to support foreign con-
cepts that go beyond stipulated legal requirements. The applicability of
the concept of SLO in Sweden and the other Nordic countries therefore
warrants further study. The research reported on here will provide a
basis upon which to decide what measures related to SLO that may be
applicable and useful in the Nordic context.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 53

8. Best environmental practices
in the mining sector

8.1 Challenges in remediation of mine waste

Lena Alakangas, Senior Lecturer, Technical University of Luleå, Sweden

The 27 countries of the European Union generate more than 670 million
tons of mine waste. Swedish mines produce about 90 million tons annu-
ally, and of that two thirds is sulphuric.
The most important potential long-term environmental consequence
of mining activities is the formation of Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) from
sulphide-bearing mine wastes, which can continue for hundreds or
thousands of years after mine closure.
Economic factors have a significant impact on the viability of meth-
ods for treating ARD because decommissioned mine sites require long-
term maintenance even in cases where walk-away solutions have been
implemented. The costs incurred by the mining industry for the treat-
ment of such wastes and any environmental problems they might cause
depend on the approach used to manage closed sites, and can potentially
be minimized by adopting long-term post-closure treatment plans. It is
therefore important for the industry to adopt and implement new tech-
niques designed to minimize the production of waste with the potential
to form ARD during the mining phase, and the severity of the problems
caused by ARD formation. Once ARD formation has begun, it is generally
difficult and costly to control or suppress, and so it is more cost- and
material-efficient to prevent or minimize sulphide oxidation at the
source than to treat ARD-contaminated waters.
Common ways to deal with ARD from mine waste are:

 prevention of sulphide oxidation by limiting water and oxygen

infiltration, which is the method preferred in Sweden
 limit the presence of active sulphides
 liming the collected effluents in sedimentation ponds, generating
huge amounts of potentially toxic sludge, and
 treating the effluents in receiving water systems.
Sulphides, especially pyrite, are the main source of ARD formation.
Therefore, pyrite separation during ore processing is one possible solu-
tion, which requires special handling of the pyrite concentrate and de-
veloped mineral processing to produce a desulphurised tailings with as
low pyrite content as possible. The outcome is lower amounts of pyrite-
rich tailings to handle, and large amounts of desulphurised tailings
which could be used in cover constructions.
The most common way to handle a pyrite concentrate is to cover it.
The challenge for remediation of sulphide waste is to construct covers
with very low hydraulic conductivity and high water retention capacity
that sustain in a long term perspective. The covers should be able to
withstand climatic stress such as frost heave, drought and erosion, in
order to enable the construction of thinner covers which reduce the
material needed. The use of by-products would reduce the need and
costs for natural materials such as till, and solve two waste problems at
the same time.
In on-going projects at the Division of Geosciences and Environmen-
tal Engineering in collaboration with Boliden, by-products such as green
liquor dregs, fly ash and fibre sludge from paper industries, slag and
sewage sludge are evaluated for construction in covers or as additives
for prevention of sulphide oxidation, or to increase the neutralising ca-
pacity. Crucial for the success of the treatment are detailed mineralogical
and geochemical characterization of the by-products used, the mine
waste and products formed, and their leachate quality, to avoid unwant-
ed effects. These investigations are necessary to be able to evaluate the
long-term-stability of new methods.
The wide range of research topics within Luleå University of Tech-
nology enables research collaboration throughout the mining process,
which is important for the prevention of environmental problems in the
early stages of the mine life. The mining industry and the suppliers are
partners to us in CAMM (Centre for Advanced Mining and Metallurgy).
This results in research needs that are formulated in collaboration and
that research results can be directly applied by the end-users.

56 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

8.2 UNECE activities to improve the safety of tailing
management facilities
Gerhard Winkelmann-Oei, Senior Advisor, Federal Environment Agency,
Germany

8.2.1 Background
The failure of tailings management facilities (TMF) is a major problem
worldwide that regularly leads to major disasters.
Within Europe, the severe environmental damage in the Danube ba-
sin caused by dam failures of retention reservoirs in gold processing in
the Romanian Baia Mare and Baia Borsa in 2000, is known. Even then,
the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
(ICPDR) found that the large retention reservoirs in industrial mineral
processing represent, by far, the greatest risk potential in the Danube
basin. In October 2010 there was a disaster in the Hungarian Kolontar.
The trigger here was the dyke breach of an industrial basin for the waste
slurries of an aluminium factory. By then, it was the largest spill in the
Danube river basin ever.
As a consequence of these accidents, ICPDR urged for measures to
improve the safety of tailings management facilities. By far the highest
risk potential of retention reservoirs was determined to be in the Dan-
ube countries of Ukraine, Romania and Hungary. Furthermore, an UNEP
expert group assessed the problems of retention reservoirs in Ukraine,
near the town of Kalush, to be exceptionally critical because of the signif-
icant dam failure risk posed by snowmelt and heavy spring rains. In ad-
dition, the problems in Ukraine are not only limited to the Danube basin
(Carpathian region). There are also giant retention reservoirs in the
Dnieper River Basin (Dnipropetrovsk region), and they pose an enor-
mous threat to the entire Black Sea region. An accident in the Ukrainian
city Nikolayev in January 2011 illustrated another potential danger of
retention reservoirs: due to a long period of drought, the reservoirs of an
aluminium plant (see Kolontar, Hungary) dried out. Strong winds led to
the fact that the deposited residues were stirred up which then exten-
sively contaminated the environment and ground water in the vicinity.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 57

8.2.2 The UNECE Strategy
Based on these findings the United Nations Economic Commission For
Europe (UNECE) started a joint activity between the “Industrial Acci-
dent”- and “Water”-Convention to develop tools for improving the safety
of TMF. As a result, in 2008/9 Safety Guidelines and Good Practices for
Tailings Management Facilities was published. The UNECE safety guide-
lines include both recommendations to UNECE countries and authorities
on the necessary legal basis for issuing permits for the safe operation of
tailings management facilities as well as recommendations to operators
on the safe design of tailings management facilities. UNECE called on the
governments of UNECE countries and on TMF operators to include the
safety guidelines in the national regulations and technical standards and
to apply them. In the subsequent years, it emerged however that the
implementation of the safety guidelines was fraught with difficulties.
As a consequence the 7th CoP to the “Industrial Accident”-Convention
pointed out the need for an additional tool to support the implementa-
tion of the Guidelines in the UNECE member countries: a user-friendly
checklist combined with a catalogue of measures to facilitate the imple-
mentation of the UNECE safety guidelines.
This activity will be supported by the German Umweltbundesamt and at
the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of the Environment, and the practical
approach will be carried out within the next two years in the Ukraine.

58 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

9. Applying best environmental
practices in metal mines in
the Barents Region – practical
examples

9.1 Pampalo Gold Mine – a case history from North

Karelia
Markus Ekberg, Chief Executive Officer, Endomines Ab, Finland

Endomines AB is a Nordic gold mining and exploration company with its

first operating gold mine in production since early 2011. The Pampalo
Gold Mine is located in Eastern Finland, on the Karelian Gold Line, which
is a part of the Achaean Ilomantsi greenstone belt. The company owns
mining concessions and claims over all the currently known gold depos-
its along this 40 km long gold-critical belt, which has similar geological
features to the Southern Cross belt in Australia.
Construction of the Pampalo Gold Mine commenced in late 2009 and
was completed at the end of 2010. The project adhered to schedule and
budget throughout. With a total investment of €20 million, the Pampalo
Mine is now targeting to produce 900–1,000 kg of gold per year.
Endomines’ business practices and mining operations are based on
sustainable principles and on minimizing any adverse impact on the
environment. The municipality of Ilomantsi, where the Pampalo Gold
Mine is located, belongs to a highly sensitive biosphere reserve area.
Pampalo Gold Mine recirculates all of the process waters. Water from
the underground mine and beneficiation process is pumped to the tail-
ings settling ponds, which are adjacent to the processing plant, and then
pumped back into the system. The underground mine uses environ-
ment-friendly emulsion explosives which minimize the nitrogen load.
The Pampalo Gold Mine currently employs around 110 people on-
site, both its own personnel and contractors. Approximately 70% of
personnel has been hired locally and trained by Endomines under a local
government employment subsidy program.
Results from an extensive exploration and drilling campaign carried
out during summers 2011 and 2012 have confirmed the vast potential of
the Karelian Gold Line. Significant gold-bearing intersections have been
obtained from several targets, including the newly- discovered Korvilan-
suo deposit.
Endomines’ total proven and probable ore reserves are 1.4 Mt with
an average gold grade of 3.9 g/t (175,000 oz.), with 110,000 oz. at Pam-
palo and 65,000 oz. in deposits along the Karelian Gold Line. The com-
pany also has 2.2 Mt with an average grade of 1.8 g/t in the other depos-
its along Karelian Gold Line.
Endomines AB shares are quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm
main market under ticker ENDO.ST. The company will be applying for
secondary listing on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki main market during
Q2/2013.

9.2 Kevitsa Mine

Andrew Reid, General Manager, FQM Kevitsa Mining Oy, Finland (abstract
not available)

60 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

10. Panel discussion: How to
reconcile environmental and
social issues in the mining
sector

Panellists
 Hannele Pokka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment of
Finland.
 Rauno Posio, Marketing Director, Lapland Safaris Group.
 Jouni Nissinen, Head of Environmental Policy Unit, the Finnish
Association for Nature Conservation.
 Anna Prakhova, Working Group of Indigenous Peoples of the Barents
Euro-Arctic Council.
 Joanna Kuntonen-van’t Riet, Environment and Safety Manager,
Northland Resources.
 Timo Rautajoki, Chief Executive Officer, Lapland Chamber of
Commerce.

10.1 Presentations by panellists

10.1.1 The mining industry will succeed in Finland, from

the perspective of the tourist industry
Rauno Posio, Marketing Director, Lapland Safaris Group

Each year, Finland is visited by around 7.3 million foreign tourists, who
spend up to four billion euros in the region. On top of this, the appeal of
Finland as a tourist destination is constantly on the rise and each year
the tourists in the region bring more revenue than in previous years. We
should also remember the impact tourism has on employment, as over
130,000 Finns receive income from the tourist industry. For the State,
this equates to approximately 5.2 billion euros of tax revenue each year.
 For Lapland, tourism is an even more important livelihood, and the
annual income from tourism has already reached more than 600 million
euros. The impact the industry has on employment is also significant at
around 5,000 man-years. In practice, tourism is one of the fastest grow-
ing industries globally, from which Finland and Lapland also collect their
own share. An annual growth of approximately five percent has been
predicted for tourism, despite the economic downturn.
The guiding principle for tourism in Lapland is to become Europe’s
leading nature and lifetime experience destination by 2020, and to ad-
here to the principles of sustainable development. The intention is to
increase the number of overnight stays to 2.6 million within the next two
years. Around half of these will be foreign visitors. Furthermore, the goal
is to triple the income received from tourism and the double the number
of jobs in the tourist business by 2030.
Lapland’s appeal is based specifically on its natural assets, with the
key factors being the tranquillity and purity of the wilderness. Many
have indeed rightly questioned how the mining industry fits into this
equation, as it is feared mining can cause many environmental problems
in the long term. After the damage caused by Talvivaara, the debate as to
whether mining and tourism can exist side-by-side is even more heated.
Coexistence is definitely possible, but it will require much clearer
ground rules. Mining projects should be placed sufficiently distant from
the tourist resorts, as the mines unquestionably cause harm with respect
to dust and noise. There cannot be many tourists seeking the tranquillity
of the wilderness who would be happy to see an open pit from the ski
slopes or their hotel room windows.
For instance, the distance of the Kittilä Mine and protection zone
from the ski resort is sufficient at around twenty kilometres, but in Ruka
and Ylläs, the mines are planned for the within the immediate vicinity of
the resorts. It goes without saying that this is a genuine threat, not only
for the resorts in question, but also for the entire reputation of tourism
in Lapland.
Another big issue is traffic safety. With the introduction of the mines,
increasing numbers of heavy goods vehicles will travel along the roads
in Lapland, and close to the tourist resorts. At the same time, the already
congested roads have been planned to take more tourism-related traffic.
These are important and difficult issues that have to be resolved, where
decision makers are forced to somehow balance out the requirements of
two quickly expanding industries.
In respect to the Lapland tourist industry, this is nevertheless a ques-
tion of fundamental values and mutual keys to success. As we have seen

62 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

with other industries, once your reputation has been lost, it is extremely
difficult to restore. When talking about nature tourism, this restoration
is significantly harder.

10.1.2 Remember stakeholders!

Jouni Nissinen (MSc), Head of Environmental Policy Unit, the Finnish Asso-
ciation for Nature Conservation

Before the mine is founded, a mining company and the society that
grants the mining permits have a unique one-time opportunity to take a
decision about the exact location of the mine. Some places are simply not
suitable for a mine.
A mining company should consult the local stakeholders before the
environmental impact assessment (EIA) process has even begun. It is
essential to try to figure out how the locals feel and what they expect.
To sum up the initial phase, here are three suggestions for starting
points:

 Make sure you know who the real stakeholders are. Make a real effort
to find them; don’t just publish an ad in a newspaper. Try to locate
the local opinion leaders and build common ground with them.
 Give the stakeholders a real chance to get information.
 Give the stakeholders a real chance to influence the plans.

=> A social license to act in the community is crucial, and this is a good
way to start the application process!

One of the important next steps: the EIA

The social license can be promoted through a thorough EIA that includes
a social impact assessment and pays serious attention to the findings of
related research in the community, in nature and among the people. It is
necessary to ask for expert evaluation of the assessment promptly, and
to implement it during the EIA process, if necessary.
During the EIA, it’s important to assess the environmental absorption
capacity in exceptional natural circumstances, too, such as, periods of
heavy rain. Also, assessment needs to include joint impacts of possible
other mines and industrial facilities in the area. Attention needs to be
paid to the particularities of the local natural conditions, e.g. the sensitiv-
ity of particular natural areas.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 63

 Before and during the operation, losses to livelihood need to be com-
pensated properly. In local livelihoods, the loss often has an impact on
future generations as well. Possible damage that is caused needs to be
compensated fairly, not only the bare minimum that the law demands. In
the best cases, the compensation takes the form of supporting local sus-
tainable entrepreneurship: locals are hired as subcontractors, local re-
newable energy is produced and purchased, etc.
During the operation of the mine, the impact to the surroundings
needs to be monitored actively. Should a problem arise, it is very good if
the company acts even before the authorities do. They should not cover
up negative issues; somebody always discovers them anyway, and the
outcry is louder if you are caught hiding things. In possible conflict situa-
tions, authorities must act as mediators, defending the law and actively
trying to find a solution, not taking the side of the companies.
The companies need to listen to citizens also during regular opera-
tion, not only when it’s required by law. Consistency is a virtue: open-
ness, discussion, and proactiveness have been emphasized by several
researchers here in the Rovaniemi conference.
Finally: a legislative idea: currently, it is very difficult for a private
person to sue a company, because the costs of the process can be astro-
nomical. Thus, the possibility of a class action law suit should be includ-
ed in the environmental legislation.

10.1.3 Back to basics – fundamental elements for a social

license to operate
Joanna Kuntonen-van’t Riet, Environment and Safety Manager, Northland
Resources

In the mining industry we tend to have a strong focus on hard facts and
figures, and sometimes we forget the basics which are pivotal to achiev-
ing social and environmental acceptance. These basics are:

 have the right attitude

 communicate, Listen, and Understand
 know your business well.

If you get these three things right, it sets a good solid foundation upon
which to build your SHECQ management systems, processes and practices.

64 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

The right attitude
Having the right attitude means that top management and the board
have agreed upon a vision and pathway towards responsible operation,
and have documented this in policy. Not only has this been documented,
but top management also consistently makes decisions that reflect the
commitments they have made.
The right attitude also means that the company takes social and envi-
ronmental issues seriously and provides adequate resources to manage
these effectively. This means experienced skilled environmental and
community liaison staff in place from the very early stages of a project,
provision of material resources to undertake the work, and time to do
the work properly.
Finally, in a company with a good attitude, management leads by ex-
ample. They use the correct rhetoric, and walk the talk. Management is
visible at the coalface as well as taking the lead on “soft” issues.

Communication
Communication is an undervalued skill. We may think we are doing it,
but mostly we aren’t doing enough of it and when we do it, we do it bad-
ly. A good approach would be to place oneself in the role of the audience.
How would you feel in the situation, and what would you want to know?
Understanding the audience’s perspective brings humility and focuses
the message on key issues important to those being addressed. It is also
important to truly listen to the responses and ultimately to respond to
the fears, needs and demands through, wherever possible, taking these
into consideration in the project or operation.

Know your business well

A mining company’s key aim is obviously to be a successful business: to
operate efficiently and make profit for its shareholders. This is the very
important third leg of sustainable development—the economic dimen-
sion. A financially successful company can then in turn afford the time,
energy and resources to invest in research and development, common
good in the community and continuous improvement.
Every project and mine is different, as is every setting and receiving en-
vironment. Therefore it is pivotal to understand well the enviro-social con-
text in which the activities are planned or take place. This requires compre-
hensive studies of both the natural, as well as socio-economic baseline.
It is critical that the operation fully understands its process, its im-
pacts and risks to the environment and the surrounding communities.
The SIA and EIA should be undertaken as part of the feasibility and
planning processes. This ensures that there is technical input for the

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 65

impact assessment processes, and conversely the impact assessments
feed into the technical planning processes. The impact assessments must
also be participatory and transparent. The key issues should be identi-
fied and particular attention paid to these. In the longer term, compre-
hensive monitoring of key social and environmental indicators that have
been chosen in cooperation with the authorities and stakeholders indi-
cates whether the company is operating within the agreed boundaries.
It is essential to integrate safety, environmental and social aspects in-
to business decisions. You know that you are getting there when it is the
operational personnel around the table who are pointing out the envi-
ronmental and social impacts of their designs and suggesting options to
eliminate, minimize or mitigate them.

Permit to operate
Authorities also have a role in setting the minimum standards for re-
sponsible operation through the permitting process. In permitting, the
aim should be to develop a set of rules everyone can live with: practical
enough that the mine can enforce them, and strict enough to provide
stakeholders with the reassurance that social and environmental aspects
are adequately protected.

66 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

11. Conclusions: Common
challenges to the
environmental and social
performance of the mining
sector

11.1 Commentary remarks

Mads Løkeland, Friends of the Earth, Norway

The world needs mining, but not all mines are necessary. As we are speak-
ing of non-renewable resources, often with large negative consequences for
the environment and for indigenous peoples, the opening of a new mine is
not a question to be decided by the market and the mining companies. Gold
mines are examples of unnecessary mines, as there are enormous amounts
of stored gold internationally, with no real need for new gold. Similar as-
sessments of the basic international need for the particular mineral or metal
should be made for every proposed mine, respecting indigenous rights.
According to WWF Living Planet Index, overall world consumption
corresponds to the ecological capacity of 1.5 earths, and the consump-
tion in western countries corresponds to the ecological capacity of 4–5
earths. The conclusion is a need for large cuts in consumption in western
countries, including large cuts in the use of metals and minerals, and
increased reuse/ urban mining.
The International Conference on Extractive Industries and Indigenous
Peoples in Manila 2009 called on states “to ban particularly harmful extrac-
tive practices, including … submarine tailings disposal, mountain top re-
moval and large scale open-pit mining.” The declaration was signed by rep-
resentatives from the Sami people and Russian indigenous peoples, and
should be taken into account when discussing mining in the Barents region.
Similarly there are large rallies and protests against open pit mining
in Europe, Asia and America. In a Europe stricken by economic crisis and
unemployment, we see large rallies and protests against many mining
plans, showing regard for the environment and indigenous rights as
more valuable than new jobs. Early 2013, 20,000 protested in Thessalo-
niki and 700 in Stockholm.

11.1.1 Submarine tailings disposal (STD) is a crime against

nature
Norway, Turkey, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are the only coun-
tries still using the cheap way of dumping of mining waste into the sea.
Norway is dumping mining waste in shallow and biologically very active
waters (30–80 meters), while the other countries dump at 1,000–4,000
meters. Due to the negative effects on marine life, UNEP is working
against STD, and the World Bank has rules stating shallow STD as un-
acceptable industrial practice. Norway is probably in breach of the Wa-
ter Framework Directive, and FoEN is preparing a complaint to stop
Norwegian STDs and asks for international support in this issue.

11.1.2 Zero waste mining as a goal for the Barents region

India gives mining permits to companies according to how close they
come to zero waste, United Kingdom has taxes on “virgin” gravel and
stone, to make it profitable to reuse tailings for construction purposes,
and Poland has taxes on landfills of mining waste, making alternative
use profitable.
FoEN wants zero waste mining as a goal, with underground mining as
the general rule, using backfilling and alternative use to reduce or re-
move the need for tailings landfills. The countries in the Barents region
should learn from countries like India, UK and Poland and create a Bar-
ents version of zero waste mining.

11.1.3 Is rehabilitation always possible?

Rehabilitation of mining areas in the Barents region could prove very
difficult at many locations, such as Biedjovagge (Kautokeino) at 600
meters height, with failing attempts to restore nature and reindeer are-
as. There is a need for research to establish proven methods of rehabili-
tation in the local climate and vegetation zone before permits for new
mines are granted.

68 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

12. Concept Note on Common
Challenges of the Conference
on Best Environmental
Practices in the Mining
Sector in the Barents Region

The Conference was held on 23–25 April 2013 in Rovaniemi, Finland. It

was organized within the framework of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council’s
Working Group on Environment. The Conference included presentations
and panel discussions from key stakeholders in the region and particular-
ly addressed environmental and social impacts of mining in the region. In
addition to the presentations and discussions, this Common Challenges
Report highlights some of the main issues that have been raised in con-
nection to environmental and social questions of mining and that were
discussed at the Conference. The aim of this paper is also to provide ideas
for environmental cooperation in the Barents Region.

12.1 Introduction
Population growth, urbanisation and economic development drive the
growing global mining industry. Sustainable management of mineral
resources and responsible resource-based industries are essential ele-
ments for prosperity and economic growth. The Barents Region has
strong mining traditions, and the natural resources of the Barents Re-
gion are of strategic importance. Regions in Northern Sweden, Norway,
Russia and Finland host a number of mines, and there are far-reaching
plans to reopen old mines, expand current mines and open new extrac-
tion sites.
This development brings new opportunities to the Barents Region. The
mining industry is already a sizeable employer in the region and signifi-
cant new investments are planned in mining sites, transportation and
energy infrastructure. Rapid expansion of the mining industry, growing
export and tax income, and new jobs in the service and R&D sectors
raise economic hopes but also create threats. However, environmental
changes, social impacts and risks to other livelihoods are weakening the
social license of mining companies who take a business-as-usual ap-
proach in their operations.
All of this amplifies the importance of collaboration in the Barents Re-
gion. The Conference on Best Environmental Practices in the Mining
Sector in the Barents Region, held on 23–25 April 2013 in Rovaniemi,
Finland, provided an excellent opportunity to bring together operators
and authorities from Russia, Norway, Sweden and Finland to discuss
environmental and social issues around the mining industry and to
promote best environmental practices for mines in the Barents Region.
The purpose of the Conference was to get an overall understanding of
the present and future development of the mining sector, increase aware-
ness of the key environmental and social challenges of the mining sector
in the Barents Region, present and disseminate knowledge about the best
environmental practices in this sector in Barents countries, and promote
the exchange of information on assessing and managing environmental
and social concerns in the mining sector. Additionally, the positive eco-
nomic development opportunities that the mining industry brings to the
region were discussed. One of the key messages from the discussions at
the Conference is that environmental and social aspects must be managed
carefully in mining projects and operations in order to minimise potential
negative impacts and to maximise the potential positive impacts from
mining. The duration of the impacts and the life cycle of the mines are to
be taken into account from the very beginning to the very end of opera-
tions in order to manage the long-term impacts of mines.

12.2 Common Challenges

12.2.1 Mining is a Challenge and an Opportunity

Environmental changes. By its nature, mining causes changes in the envi-
ronment, and some of these changes are irreversible. Adverse environ-
mental impacts from mining can include erosion, loss of biodiversity, soil
contamination, and changes to groundwater and surface water quality
and quantity. Mining operations also cause air, noise and dust pollution,
waste generation and transport emissions and contribute to greenhouse
gas emissions through vehicle exhaust emissions, energy consumption,
burning of biomass and limestone use. On the other hand, climate

70 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

change may bring changes to the conditions necessary for operating
mines. In the Barents Region, increasing precipitation, changes in the
snow cover and melting permafrost are additional challenges for the
mining sector, especially concerning water management at the mines.
Social impacts. Economic opportunities that the mining projects will
bring to the region arouse high hopes, especially in the remote regions.
However, at the same time, perceived and actual environmental and
safety impacts of mining can cause harm to other businesses in the re-
gion, such as tourism, reindeer herding, agriculture, and fishing and
could contribute to negative impacts on the value of land and property
in the vicinity of a mine. Anticipated and realised discrepancies in in-
come distribution and tax income are questions that have been raised.
Local authorities face challenging decisions on investments in mining.
Another issue is the rights of indigenous people, who are a fundamental
part of the identity of the region. Indigenous peoples should have the
right to be included in planning and decision-making processes, as stat-
ed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. For this
purpose, as highlighted by the indigenous peoples in the region, it would
be very helpful if all the countries in the Barents Region were to ratify
the ILO Convention No. 169.
Employment and investments. Today, the mining industry is a key em-
ployer in the region, and important new job opportunities are expected
in the mining sector and in the metal mine cluster. All of the Barents
countries and regions view positively the economic impacts that the
industry is likely to create.
Education, training and research. A quickly developing mining indus-
try needs trained and experienced employees. New training, re-
education and research programmes help to meet the demands for spe-
cialized skills and new know-how, and offer opportunities for local em-
ployment. However, the lack of experienced people remains a challenge.
Cleantech and Safe Infrastructure. The region is home to excellent
know-how in mining technology and cleantech, and offers a high-level of
R&D and services required for a competitive mining sector. Cleantech
solutions, combined with environmental monitoring, and information
and administration capabilities, make it possible to minimise pollutant
releases, dust, noise, and the use of water resources, and could help to
create safe, energy-efficient and more responsible mining operations, as
well as offering leading-edge solutions to the global mining boom.
The strategic development of transport corridors in the region also
offers potential synergies with the mining sector. Ore, mineral, refine-
ment and goods transport in the region is increasing rapidly. Railway

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 71

lines, roads and harbours are under development to offer safe and eco-
nomical transport options for decades to come, but the environmental
impacts of these must be carefully assessed and negative impacts must
be minimised. Energy demand in the region is growing. Decisions on
energy production, grid capacity, and local and regional services for the
energy sector should focus on new opportunities for low-carbon and
renewable energy solutions and promote synergies between the mining
sector and regional and local development. However, significant envi-
ronmental changes because of impacts from the new energy infrastruc-
ture should be avoided.

12.2.2 Only Responsible Mining Creates Value

Mining companies must earn a social license to mine. Support for mining
development can vanish quickly. Public investments in supporting infra-
structure, education and training can be justified if the mining industry
acts responsibly. In order to earn their trust, the mining sector must
pursue open communication with local communities, governments, cli-
ents and other stakeholders and be proactive in minimising environ-
mental impacts. Furthermore, mining companies are expected to work
with stakeholders to identify and manage social impacts, while respond-
ing to the growing demand for a reduction in environment impacts.
The clean, pristine and vulnerable nature of the Barents Region is
known worldwide for its beauty and remarkable natural values. The
region has faced and is facing the challenge of reconciling various differ-
ent interests, such as nature protection, indigenous traditions and cul-
ture, reindeer herding, forest industry, modern development and tour-
ism. Now the mining industry has become a serious stakeholder in this
combination.
The region has a flourishing and growing tourism industry which gen-
erates significant income and offers substantial employment opportuni-
ties in the region. The mineral deposits in the Barents Region lie under
an area that offers existing and potential value for tourism. For the oper-
ators in the tourism sector, their business is built on an image of clean
and pristine nature.
Safety and responsibility are important building blocks of competitive
mining. Today’s factors for a profitable mining business are resource
efficiency and energy effectiveness, strict management of industrial pro-
cesses, minimised emissions and a strong safety culture at mines. Fluc-
tuating global metal and mineral markets pose an economic challenge to
the mining industry. In order to generate shareholder value, extraction

72 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

industries must apply best practices where safety, environmental im-
pacts and resource efficiency are given a high priority.

12.2.3 Good Governance and Best Practices

Mining requires intensive investments and longer-term planning. Transpar-
ent and well-functioning administrative processes, forward-looking poli-
cy-making and strict, but solution-oriented, government control are pre-
ferred conditions for responsible mining. The regulatory environment
must demand careful assessment of environmental and social impacts and
foster the use of best available technology and best environmental prac-
tices to minimise negative short- and long-term impacts along the whole
production chain, from extraction through processing and waste disposal.
Government regulations must ensure compliance with relevant interna-
tional conventions (see the list of conventions on page 75).
Permits and licenses are not forever. National law, land use plans and
competent regional and local authorities must be well-equipped to guide
site selection for exploration and extraction, protect the natural and cul-
tural heritage and manage conflicting interests between mining and other
livelihoods. Governance must be able ensure that mining can be fostered
without compromising environmental protection, tourism, reindeer herd-
ing, fishing, or forestry, which are all vital elements of the Barents Region.
Mistakes and accidents at mines can be very costly. Failures in tailings
management and chemical accidents have led to disasters, but even
smaller safety incidents result in significant costs to industry and sur-
rounding communities. Risk assessments, the strict application of safety
programmes, active monitoring and the control of risk factors are im-
portant elements of mining operations. Governmental norms for risk
management must be sufficient to protect the common good, but can
also be used to guide the companies in better, more cost-effective man-
agement of their assets.
Compliance plus. Modern environmental management systems, vol-
untary measures for consulting various stakeholders, active environ-
mental reporting and corporate responsibility programmes are actions
the mining companies can take, along with investments in the most ef-
fective technologies. These actions will help companies in managing
stakeholder expectations and establishing the required foundations for a
social license to mine. For many global mining companies who operate
in a range of different environments and under diverse legislative re-
gimes, operating responsibly and well beyond compliance, and adhering
to the best international standards, is already an existing practice. These

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 73

companies understand that an environmentally prudent, safe and re-
sponsible mine is also a profitable mine.
More than two thirds of the world’s minerals are extracted in unstable
developing countries. International initiatives are furthering the intro-
duction of voluntary measures within the industry to promote best prac-
tices and responsibility. International organizations are also calling for
measures for transparency and action against corruption. Furthermore,
clients, as well as clients of clients, are increasingly interested in the
origin of the metals they purchase. This development is viewed positive-
ly by a responsible mining sector.
Means and capabilities of the authorities must meet the clear mandate
to govern, inform and guide. Man-power and competence are often
stretched and quickly expanding mining operations put additional stress
on public authorities. Rightful demands by communities, NGOs, media,
neighbours and other interest groups for neutral and objective infor-
mation are testing authorities. The credibility and neutrality of the au-
thorities must not be compromised. Still, consultative collaboration be-
tween the companies and administration could help in ensuring the
adoption of the soundest solutions for environmental monitoring and
protection without compromising the authorities’ mandate.
Investors value clear, steady and proactive governance. The long-term
trends in the global market prices of metals and minerals show growth,
but price variations from period to period make the risk of investment
particularly decisive. International surveys of senior mining officials and
investors show that investment-friendliness is linked to good govern-
ance. And many of the countries in the Barents Region feature at the top
of the list of “good countries to mine.”

12.3 Collaboration with the Mining Sector in the

Barents Region
Cooperation in the Barents Region has continued for 20 years. The parties
strive to share knowledge, network, and seek common ground on issues
such as the economy, the environment, health, transport, culture, youth
issues and health. In their efforts to achieve tangible results, the parties
active in the Barents cooperation will move more towards issues with defin-
ing importance – such as transport connections, climate change and mining.
All of the countries in the Barents Region have a lot at stake with min-
ing operations. The Precambrian shield, which contains a range of metals
and minerals, is one of the assets of the region. Exploitation of these

74 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

resources raises questions about the rightful sharing of the benefits
between communities and corporations, the environmental changes
that extraction unavoidably causes and the conflicting interests of
mining companies and other stakeholders. Potential gains from the
extraction industry could easily be wiped out by pollution, damage to
other economic activities, environmental changes and losses to in-
digenous culture. Lastly, the areas with metals and minerals can also
opt not to extract the riches now, but rather to preserve the deposits
for future generations.
International agreements and guidelines regulate and provide guid-
ance. Numerous multilateral environmental agreements provide valua-
ble guidance for mining development and govern cross-border collabo-
ration. In particular, the following UNECE conventions are relevant to
economic activities, including mining:

 Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a

Transboundary Context.
 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary
Watercourses and International Lakes.
 Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents.
 Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in
Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

In addition, relevant OECD council recommendations on transboundary

pollution provide important guidance. The Barents Euro-Arctic Region
Agreement on Cooperation within the field of Emergency Prevention,
Preparedness and Response is an example of particular achievement in
the region.
In addition, relevant guidelines for mining operations include the
following:

 The UNECE safety guidelines and good practices for tailings

management facilities.
 OECD Due Diligence Guidance for responsible supply chains of
minerals.
 IFC Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines for Mining.
 The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Good
Practice Guide: Indigenous Peoples and Mining (2010).

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 75

 Human Rights in the Mining & Metals Sector – Handling and
Resolving Local Level Concerns & Grievances (2010).
 Good Practice Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity (2010).
 GRI Mining and Metals Sector Supplement (2010).

Akwé Kon guidelines (2004) of the Convention on Biological Diversity are

voluntary guidelines for conducting cultural, environmental and social
impact assessments of development projects proposed to take place on, or
which are likely to have an impact on, sacred sites and lands and waters
traditionally occupied or used by indigenous and local communities.
Proposals for Future Actions. Environmental cooperation in the Barents
Region on mining could continue along the path of identifying specific
common interests and sharing best practices. Examples of this kind of
cooperation already exist: 1) In Finland, a report on Best Environmental
Practices (BEP) in Metal Ore Mining was published in 2012. This report
has been translated into English and Russian and has been published at
the website of the Conference. 2) A training course on BAT-based
environmental permitting for representatives of authorities and
businesses in the Barents Region in the mining and metallurgy sectors has
been implemented within the framework of the Russian–Swedish bilateral
environmental cooperation programme for 2011–2012. During the
project, study tours, training seminars and webinars have been arranged
for the participants from the Russian part of the Barents Region.
During the Conference several common themes were brought up.
Many of these themes include possibilities for future development and
improvements by all the stakeholders involved. The common themes are:

 Careful and long-term planning and environmental and social impact

assessments from the beginning and during the operation of a mine,
and designing the closure of the mine
 Cleantech and safe infrastructure
 Open pit or underground mine
 Recycling of wastes – innovations needed
 Improvements in water management and closed water-circulation
systems
 Improvements in tailings management facilities
 Corporate social responsibility.

76 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

The regional cooperation within the framework of the Barents Euro–
Arctic Council could:

 actively share experiences on good environmental governance – from

laws to implementation
 foster application of measures within the industry to reduce
environmental impacts; and
 strengthen the body of knowledge to assess the potential environmental,
social and economic impacts of mining and to execute sustainable land
use planning, given the particular characteristics of the region.

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 77

Appendix

Conference on Best Environmental Practices in the

Mining Sector in the Barents Region

Programme

Day 1 (23. April 2013)

8:00–9:30 Registration and welcome coffee

9:30–11:30 Welcoming address

Mika Riipi, County Governor, Regional Council of Lapland, Finland

Opening words
Hannele Pokka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment of Finland

Development perspectives and environmental challenges of the

mining sector in the Barents Region
Chair: Mika Riipi, County Governor, Regional Council of Lapland, Finland

Keynote speakers
 Mining industry and environmental questions
Harri Juvonen, Director of Expert Services, Finnish Environment
Institute, Finland
 Environmental problems in the mining and metallurgical industries
of the Murmansk region and problem-solving ways and means
Vladimir Masloboev, Director, Institute of the Ecology Problems in the
North (INEP), Russia
 Environmental regulation of the mining industries in Norway – an
overview of current Norwegian practices
Harald Sørby, Head of Section, Climate and Pollution Agency, Norway
 Environmental policy, mining and development strategies
Eva Smith, Senior Advisor, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,
Sweden
11:30–13:00 Lunch

12:30–13:00 Press conference, by invitation only

13:00–14:30 Regulatory and policy framework for responsible

mining – how it addresses the environmental and social challenges
Chair: Hannele Pokka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment
of Finland

 Legal and regulatory framework for corporate responsibility in

environmental matters in the mining sector
Kai Kokko, Professor of Environmental Law, University of Lapland,
Finland
 Permits and control practices
David Berggård, County Administration of Norrbotten, Sweden
 Environmental issues in permit granting at the regional level in Russia
Yuriy Lisin, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources of the
Republic of Komi
 Advances in environmental and socio-economic performance:
Applying best practices in mineral development in Northern Canada
Rick Meyers, Vice President, Technical & Northern Affairs, The Mining
Association of Canada

14:30–15:00 Coffee

15:00–16:30 National strategies and guiding principles – how it

addresses the environmental and social challenges
Chair: Maija Uusisuo, Development Manager, Ministry of Employment and
the Economy, Finland

 Elisabeth Gammelsæter, Secretary General, Norwegian Mining and

Quarrying Industries, Norway
 Riikka Aaltonen, Chief Inspector of Mines, Ministry of Employment and
the Economy, Finland
 Tomas From, Deputy Managing Director, Swedish Association of Mines,
Mineral and Metal Producers (SveMin), Sweden
 The principles of the ecological sustainability of the mining sector in
the Barents region – an outlook from Komi
Naum Oberman, Head of the Komi Territorial Centre for State
Monitoring of Subsurface Condition, Mireko, Komi Republic, Russia

80 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

16:30–18:00 Panel discussion: How to reconcile environmental and
social issues in the mining sector
Moderator: Pasi Rinne, Chairman of the Gaia Group

Participants
 Hannele Pokka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment of
Finland
 Rauno Posio, Marketing Director, Lapland Safaris Group
 Jouni Nissinen, Head of Environmental Policy Unit, the Finnish
Association for Nature Conservation
 Anna Prakhova, Working Group of Indigenous Peoples of the Barents
Euro-Arctic Council
 Joanna Kuntonen-van’t Riet, Environment and Safety Manager,
Northland Resources
 Timo Rautajoki, Chief Executive Officer, Lapland Chamber of Commerce

20:00–22:00 Buffet dinner hosted by Esko Lotvonen, Mayor of

Rovaniemi
Restaurant Pohjanhovi, Hotel Rantasipi Pohjanhovi, Pohjanpuistikko 2,
Rovaniemi

Day 2 (24. April)

9:00–11:30 Emissions, use of chemicals and impacts

Chair: Kimmo Silvo, Head of Unit, Finnish Environment Institute

 Water and aquatic environments

Astri Jæger Sweetman Kvassnes, Research Scientist, Norwegian
Insititute for Water Research – NIVA, Norway
 New advanced online measurement methods to study particulate
matter in mines and mining environments
Risto Hillamo, Research Professor, Finnish Meteorological Institute
 Waste management
Marja-Liisa Räisänen, Research Professor, Geological Survey of Finland
 Environmental risk assessment
Tommi Kauppila, Chief Scientist, Geological Survey of Finland
 REACH and mining industry
Hanna Korhonen, Senior Advisor, Finnish Safety and Chemical Agency –
Tukes, Finland
 Uranium and mines
Dina Solatie, Head of Laboratory, STUK – Radiation and Nuclear Safety
Authority, Finland

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 81

11:30–13:00 Lunch

13:00–15:00 Environment and social values

Chair: Pekka Suomela, Executive Officer, Finnish Association of Extractive
Resources Industry – FinnMin

 Environmental valuation and external costs

Matleena Kniivilä, Forest Economist, Pellervo Economic Research PTT,
Finland
 From social risks encountered to impact management
Rauno Sairinen, Professor of Environmental Policy, University of
Eastern Finland
 The problems and risks of mining for the Sámi and other aboriginal
people of the Arctic
Pekka Kauppala, Special Adviser of the President of the Sámi
Parliament, Finland
 Marja Anttonen, Adviser, Reindeer Herders’ Association, Finland
 Nature values, nature-based livelihoods and mining
Mikko Jokinen, Researcher, Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla,
Finland
 Social license to operate – what can mining companies do?
Håkan Tarras-Wahlberg, Researcher, Stockholm School of Economics,
Sweden

15:00–15:30 Coffee

15:30–17:00 Best environmental practices in the mining sector

Chair and introduction: Marja-Liisa Räisänen, Research Professor, Geolog-
ical Survey of Finland

 Challenges in remediation of mine waste

Lena Alakangas, Senior Lecturer, Technical University of Luleå, Sweden
 UNECE activities to improve the safety of tailing management
facilities
Gerhard Winkelmann-Oei, Senior Advisor, Federal Environment
Agency, Germany

82 Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region

Applying best environmental practices in metal mines in the
Barents Region – practical examples
 Pampalo, Markus Ekberg, Chief Executive Officer, Endomines Ab, Finland
 Kevitsa, Andrew Reid, General Manager, FQM Kevitsa Mining Oy, Finland

17:00–17:30 Conclusions: Common challenges to the

environmental and social performance of the mining sector
Commentary remarks:

 Matti Posio, Editor-In-Chief, Lapin Kansa.

 Mads Løkeland, Friends of the Earth, Norway.

Closing of the Conference

Henna Haapala, Ministry of the Environment of Finland, Chair of the
Working Group on Environment of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council

Day 3 (24. April 2013)

8:00–17:00 Excursion
First Quantum Minerals Kevitsa Mining Oy, Sodankylä

Best Environmental Practices in the Mining Sector in the Barents Region 83

 TemaNord 2014:501
Ved Stranden 18
DK-1061 Copenhagen K
www.norden.org

Best Environmental Practices in the

Mining Sector in the Barents Region
Best Environmental Practices in the International Conference 23–25 April 2013
Mining Sector in the Barents Region

The natural resources of the Barents Region are of strategic

importance for Europe. One intensively developing sector
is mining, which will bring new opportunities to the region,
but which will also cause changes in the environment. The
Conference on Best Environmental Practices in the Mining
Sector in the Barents Region was held in Rovaniemi in
April 2013. The Conference targeted the environmental
issues connected to the mining sector and promoted
best environmental practices for mines in the Barents
Region. The overall goal for the Conference was to increase
awareness of the challenges in the mining sector and to
exchange information on assessing and managing social
and environmental concerns. These Conference proceedings
present the Concept Note on Common Challenges of the
Conference and the abstracts of the presentations.

TemaNord 2014:501
ISBN 978-92-893-2668-1
ISBN 978-92-893-2708-4 (EPUB)
ISSN 0908-6692 conference proceeding

TN2014501 omslag.indd 1 23-01-2014 11:03:41