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Position statement
on preventing
catastrophic failure of
tailings storage facilities
December 2016
2 Position statement
Our members
African Rainbow Minerals
AngloAmerican
AngloGold Ashanti
Antofagasta Minerals
Barrick
BHP Billiton
Codelco
Freeport-McMoRan
Glencore
Goldcorp
Gold Fields
Hydro
JX Nippon
Lonmin
Mitsubishi Materials
MMG
Newcrest Mining
Newmont
Orano
Polyus
Rio Tinto
South32
Sumitomo Metal Mining
Teck
Vale
Position statement 3
Continued
Preventing catastrophic failure of tailings storage facilities
3 4 ‘The purpose
Recognition statements Commitments of the Tailings
governance
ICMM members recognise that: In addition to existing commitments under
the ICMM Sustainable development framework framework is to
1. Tailings production is inherent to mining enable enhanced
ICMM member companies commit to
and minerals processing and will remain
so for the foreseeable future. These
implement practices consistent with the focus on those
materials require engineered solutions
Tailings governance framework key elements
(the ‘Framework’) so that the risk of
for their long-term safe storage and of management
catastrophic failure of tailings storage
sustainable management.
facilities is minimised. and governance
2. TSFs undergo ongoing changes over their necessary
Tailings governance framework
life cycle which must be considered and to prevent
managed to ensure continued TSF safety The purpose of the Tailings Governance catastrophic
and structural integrity. Framework is to enable enhanced focus
failures of
3. Catastrophic TSF failures are unacceptable on those key elements of management
and governance necessary to prevent tailings storage
and owners and operators of such facilities
catastrophic failures of tailings storage facilities.’
should ensure systems, standards and
resources are in place to prevent failures. facilities (TSFs).
4.2
Planning and resourcing
The financial and human resources needed
to support continued TSF management and
governance are maintained throughout a
facility’s life cycle.
Position statement 5
December 2016
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