HIGH PROFILE
Engineers of Record
Tailings dam at a mine in Peru
phases and even after commissioning , they must have a broad range of experience through the life of a TSF . The EOR has an overarching responsibility to monitor the safety of the TSF . Our services as EOR therefore include design of the TSF , construction assurance and quality control , and detailed inspections . The exact requirements vary from mining company to mining company . Effectively we are serving to closely monitor the health of the entire TSF and make recommendations to improve its safety .
Successful tailings management requires qualified Engineers of Record – Paul Moore talks to Stantec ’ s Evan Hsiao , Principal and Senior Geotechnical Engineer about the role and responsibilities
Tailings management and the safe construction and operation of tailings dams are challenges that require qualified Engineers of Record ( EORs ). Identifying , developing , and maintaining qualified EORs requires commitment , innovation , and solutions from the entire mining industry . The EOR is at the forefront of successful tailing management . This critical role is now expected as part of regular governance and the industry is facing an overall lack of appropriately qualified EOR candidates .
In the management and governance section of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management ( Global Standard ), first published in 2020 , is Principle 9 ( one of 15 ) which for compliance requires the appointment and empowerment of an Engineer of Record . The Global Standard defines the EOR as : “ The qualified engineering firm responsible for confirming that the tailings facility is designed , constructed , and decommissioned with appropriate concern for integrity of the facility , and that it aligns with and meets applicable regulations , statutes , guidelines , codes and standards . The Engineer of Record may delegate responsibility but not accountability .”
It further requires that the firm nominate a senior engineer , approved by the operator , to represent the firm as the EOR , and verify that the individual has the necessary experience , skills and time to fulfil this role . “ Alternatively , the operator may appoint an in-house engineer with expertise and experience in comparable facilities as the EOR . In this instance , the EOR may delegate the design to a firm ( Designer of Record ) but shall remain thoroughly familiar with the design in discharging their responsibilities as EOR . Whether the EOR or the DOR is in-house or external , they must be competent and have experience appropriate to the Consequence Classification and complexity of the tailings facility .” The operator should also “ empower the EOR through a written agreement that clearly describes their authority , role and responsibilities throughout the tailings facility lifecycle , and during change of ownership of mining properties . The written agreement must clearly describe the obligations of the Operator to the EOR , to support the effective performance of the EOR .”
There should be establishment and implementation of “ a programme to manage the quality of all engineering work , the interactions between the EOR , the RTFE and the Accountable Executive , and their involvement in the tailings
facility lifecycle as necessary to confirm that both the implementation of the design and the design intent are met .”
Given its potential impact on the risks associated with a tailings facility , “ the selection of the EOR shall be decided by the Accountable Executive and informed , but not decided , by procurement personnel . Where it becomes necessary to change the EOR ( whether a firm or an in- house employee ), develop a detailed plan for the comprehensive transfer of data , information , knowledge and experience with the construction procedures and materials .”
IM set out to clarify from Stantec , a leading global supplier of EOR services , exactly what an EOR is and the role it plays in a tailings
management system . Editorial Director Paul Moore spoke to Stantec ’ s Evan Hsiao , Principal and Senior Geotechnical Engineer who is one of those leading the fast-growing EOR business within the company .
Q From your perspective what does EOR mean and what services does it include ? A I would say the EOR is a qualified individual
who must have a multi-disciplinary support team .
Because the EOR and their team are responsible for the design , or detailed review the design , of a tailings facility as well as providing continuous observations during construction / operation
Q Has the EOR requirement always existed or has become more prominent since the Global Standard publication ? Why is Stantec chosen to provide these EOR services over others ? A It is definitely becoming more common – clearly the Global Standard has played a big part in that . In terms of Stantec our ability to remain independent given the nature of the work is very important ; as is having a large and experienced support team behind the EOR . The mine operator may just have a key account executive and a responsible site engineer . They will manage the scope of the work . When Stantec is chosen to provide EOR services , we expect to build a strong partnership with the client and bring the width and depth of our team ’ s knowledge to the project . We should remember that TSFs are multidisciplinary and complex facilities which require a wide range of expertise within the EOR team , including geotechnical , geochemical , hydrogeology , hydrology , and other disciplines .
Q So you have the mining company but in some cases also a large EPC / EPCM company as well as technical consultants specialising in areas like the tailings transport and disposal method . As the EOR how do you collaborate with these diverse stakeholders ? A You could think of us as a bridge to all of these parties – and as such we try to keep the same team in place for as much of the lifetime of a project as we can in order to provide consistency and retain institutional knowledge . We need to know the whole history of the TSF right from the
Evan Hsiao , Principal and Senior Geotechnical Engineer , Stantec
40 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2023