QUARRY REHABILITATION PLANS Specifications (version 1.3)

Transcription

1 For all our quarries, a rehabilitation plan must be developed from the outset. It is an integral part of the quarrying plan and provides for progressive and co-ordinated rehabilitation whenever possible. When quarrying operations are over, rehabilitation must be completed without delay. The quarry rehabilitation plan must take into account : environmental protection and all existing regulations applicable locally, the views from stakeholders : landlords, neighbours, local authorities, and associations. It describes the reclamation and rehabilitation activities during and after operation, and the final use of the quarrying site. On each site, the person in charge of quarry rehabilitation is clearly nominated. A system of accruals in the operator s budget warrants adequate funds are set aside for the progressive reclamation, the closure of the site, the dismantling of installations, the demolition of buildings as well as the implementation of the rehabilitation plan. The implementation of the rehabilitation plan must be monitored on an annual basis by the local business units. This plan must be updated periodically to account for changing conditions : new regulations or techniques, new opportunities for final use (Quarry Rehabilitation Policy September 2000)

2 Table of contents Page Principles and definition 3 I Prerequisite data 4 II Rehabilitation plan 5 A Communication 5 B Detailed descriptions 5 1. Rehabilitation options 5 2. Infrastructure 6 3. Scientific and cultural heritage 7 4. Hydrological context 7 5. Biodiversity 7 6. Socio-economic issues 7 7. Health and safety 7 C Management 7 D - Required documentation 8 2/8

3 PRINCIPLES AND DEFINITION The rehabilitation plan shall describe the sequence of works to be coordinated with quarrying operations in order to make the site fit for its chosen after-use; it shall provide a detailed presentation of the post-closure characteristics of the site. The plan shall be defined in line with the local regulatory framework and in concert with landlords and other stakeholders (i.e., local authorities, site neighbors, associations and employees). The plan is a means of: - providing a comprehensive description of site features after the completion of mining operations; - coordinating rehabilitation works with the quarrying operations; - controlling the costs of quarry rehabilitation; - communicating within the Company and with others including local authorities, government agencies, landlords and associations, about the post-closure use of the site. It plays an important role in the Company s communications to the public. The rehabilitation plan shall be approved by all parties involved as well as by those directly in charge of the site. The Company shall strive systematically to achieve a broad consensus concerning its quarrying and rehabilitation plan. A plan showing how the site will look after mining operations are complete and/or the key intermediate phases (see Overall layout drawings) shall be displayed in a place easily accessible to any visitors to the site. The line manager shall appoint a project manager as the designated interface in charge of defining the plan and monitoring its implementation. It may prove necessary to make changes to the initial plan. Such amendments shall be made under the responsibility of the Operations Manager and at his request. IMPORTANT The various requirements presented in this document must be executed and implemented with due consideration for the size of the mining operations together with the nature and the sensitivity of its environment 3/8

4 I. PREREQUISITE DATA This section presents the totality of background information that are indispensable to the development of the Plan. These data have to be cross-referenced in the Plan and made available if needed 1. Geographical location: site map (scale: 1/25 000); detailed drawing(s) on a larger scale (1/5 000, 1/2 500, 1/1 000) showing initial topography and land use. 2. Zoning and legal status: planning regulations, ownership, zoning. 3. Environmental impact assessment: or the following studies: Geological surveys: Geological context and soil structure, fault lines, planned cuts and work faces, borehole logs, quantitative analysis Hydrological and hydrogeological survey of the site: surface water circulation, water course management strategy, collection of precipitation, extent of catchment basins, permeability of geological strata Monitoring of impact on the hydraulic and hydrogeological regimen: location of piezometers, pumping tests Survey of flora and fauna: scientific studies of native species and their habitats Landscape study: design and description of the lay of the land, the natural features of the site and its surrounding area. Description of site heritage features: location and description of the archeological and/or historical value of existing monuments and means of preservation and development Local infrastructure: location of access or transport systems (roads, railroads, power lines, gas and water mains) existing or to be developed on site. 4. Geotechnical surveys: Soil stability, calculation of angle of repose and any required measures (groundwater lowering, stormwater system and drainage, etc.). 5. Quarrying plan: sequencing of quarrying operations (topographical data, calculation of mineral quantities, fill volume, overburden volume). 4/8

5 II. REHABILITATION PLAN A. Communication The rehabilitation plan must be give rise to a constructive dialogue. First during its initial development, then in the course of its implementation and finally whenever updated. At each of these stages, it is important to consult local authorities, neighbors, nature conservation organizations not to mention the Lafarge personnel and notably the quarry manager. The rehabilitation plan has to be held at the disposal of the public and communicated under the appropriate form, especially in the form of a displayed plan accessible to all person arriving on the quarry. B. Detailed descriptions This section reviews the types of detailed descriptions to be provided for each rehabilitation scenario. 1. Final usage of the site and rehabilitation options A detailed description shall provide the specific characteristics of each section of the rehabilitation plan: a) Rehabilitation as a nature reserve The natural features of the site shall be maintained, restored or developed in response to community demand, and whenever this rehabilitation option can promote biodiversity. Delineation of areas to be maintained in their natural state; description of procedures -- such as grading and removal of unstable rock from cutting faces -- to enhance site safety. Typology of the dry-land ecosystems, cliffs and/or escarpments; description of lakes, wet prairies, reed beds, moors, woodlands, potable water intakes, etc. to be reinstated. Techniques for restoration of habitats and species. Processes for introducing new species into a habitat designed to enhance biodiversity: introduction of native ecotypes by relocation, natural or assisted seeding, monitoring of hydrostatic levels, characteristics of waste rock and top soil, types of forestation and revegetation. List plant or animal species preserved or reintroduced, and reintroduction techniques. b) Rehabilitation as farmland Representing either a new use or a return to earlier agricultural use: reconstitution of arable land and prairies, planting of orchards. - Type of activities selected: prairie, extensive or soilless farming, orchards, etc. - Type of reconstituted soils: soil characteristics and thickness, stormwater system and site drainage, crop rotations - Prior amendments and fertilizations - Means for monitoring grain, vegetable, fruit or livestock production - Creation of crop protection and access: (hedges, windbreaks, access paths) 5/8

6 - Procedures for land consolidation and rezoning c) Rehabilitation as woodlands Detailed description of the planting objectives (timber stands) Characteristics of the soils to be reconstituted Prior amendments and fertilizations (organic fertilizers) Means of soil treatment and maintenance List of tree species and types of maintenance (e.g., thinning, pruning) Management terms d) Recreational and cultural rehabilitation Description of the various rehabilitation projects intended for athletic and recreational use (stadiums, racetracks, golf courses, climbing walls, angling, hunting, scientific observatories, lakes and forests, landscaped parks) Technical description of each of the selected rehabilitation options Description of development projects intended to enhance the value of unique paleontological, archeological and geological features and ruins e) Rehabilitation as wetlands or aquatic ecosystems Description of rehabilitation targets: e.g., biodiversity (birds, plants, insects, pisciculture), ecotourism, flood routing, potable water intake Technical means and procedures for establishment and management Means of monitoring water quality and ecosystem development: ecological balances, monitoring of hydrostatic levels Description of the development program f) Other industrial and commercial development options Layout plan showing infrastructure and installations: development of marina and/or industrial port facilities. Single-family housing programs or recreational facilities Procedure for reconstitution of soils and grading to establish future building sites Procedures for water use monitoring and management; reservoirs, flood control and control of headward erosion 2. Infrastructure Alignments of roads, railroads, service roads Power lines; water and gas mains; potable water intake Sequencing of construction and relocation operations Location of visitor center and parking areas 6/8

7 3. Scientific and cultural heritage Mapping of ancient monuments or other features of historical value Features of archeological significance, fossil beds (preservation digs) Location of unique geological features to be preserved Planned management system 4. Hydrological context Diagrams of the hydrological regimen of the site before and after the rehabilitation plan Cross sectional and elevation drawings of the hydraulic structures to be built. Mapping of stream and water course diversions, creation of flood control systems and sills System for surface run-off control, taking the sensitivity of the hydrographic network into account (embankments, benches and berms), management of sedimentation basins Identification of new water sources Techniques for monitoring hydrostatic levels, types of banks, re-created lakes and wetlands 5. Biodiversity Description of elements contributing to the restoration of biodiversity in the rehabilitated site, list and location of the targeted biomes. Means envisaged to achieve targets and proposed indicators to measure progress. 6. Socio-economic issues Description of the impacts (positive / negative) of the rehabilitation project on the local socio-economic environment (jobs, education, forests, agriculture, cattle raising, hunting, fishing, tourism, culture, drinking water, floods, ) 7. Health and safety Means for monitoring soil stability: embankments, drainage beneath waste rock faces, reshaping of cutting faces, embankments and slopes Site protection system: fencing, berms and guard-rails around potentially unstable areas Means and frequency of air quality monitoring in order to eliminate sources of particulate emissions Means of water quality monitoring: circulation, sedimentation Clear marking and signage of pathways open to the public C. Management A budget shall be defined to cover the overall cost of the rehabilitation plan as an integral part of the quarry operating budget. It shall include the specific costs of the rehabilitation measures as well as the corresponding financial accruals set aside in accordance with Company accounting rules. 7/8

8 The operator shall keep all accounting records related to write backs of provisions. Guarantees and bonds related to the rehabilitation plan shall be held, updated or liquidated as appropriate and in a timely manner. Justification shall be available for all plan commitments, and their costs defined in detail. The rehabilitation plan must be formally approved by the line management, notably the operations manager and the Company manager as well as the Technical Center or Department who prepared the mining plan. D. Required documentation A site map on a scale of 1/ to situate the quarry in its geographical context General layout drawings on a scale of 1/5 000, 1/2 500 and 1/1 00 showing topography and identifying the sections successively opened and rehabilitated. These drawings shall be established in accordance with industry practice (by an architect, landscape architect or planner) and shall provide a clear and aesthetic view of the rehabilitated site and its immediate surroundings. The after-use of the quarry defined as one or more possible rehabilitation options according to the section. The sequencing of rehabilitation works (dimensioned drawings of each phase of rehabilitation works) - Overview of the sequencing of mining and rehabilitation works: description of operations for each section of mining and rehabilitation; scheduling and calculation of quantities of earth moving: overburden, top soil, waste rock, necessary fill quantities*, etc. - Ongoing reclamation of stripping benches and cutting faces (reshaping, stabilization, contouring and removal of unstable blocks) - Sequencing of decommissioning of treatment facilities, buildings, roads and dirt roads used by site traffic. The goal of coordinating rehabilitation with mining operations means that the Company can minimize the area opened for quarrying operations by releasing worked-out sections more promptly for rehabilitation. One or more cross-sectional drawings showing the final topography of the rehabilitated site. A series of detailed descriptions (see II below) covering each section of the quarry to reflect their specific after-uses. Additional descriptions shall be prepared explaining how various situations are handled (reconstruction of infrastructure, preservation of heritage features, etc.). Details of solutions to issues such as drainage control and site safety shall also be provided. Financial accruals to cover site follow-up along with details of any corrective measures needed to meet plan objectives (monitoring of hydrostatic levels, renewal and enhancement of plantings, etc.). When specifically requested: 3D computer model, mock-up, video. * in the case where filling is achieved using borrow materials, the following additional documents must be provided : Initial and final topographical maps Filling techniques Procedures for inspection of borrow materials Records: establishment and regular updating of a delivery register for borrow materials 8/8