PROFILE
RG: What steps do you need to follow for a
successful rehabilitation of a quarry or surface
mine? What should mine managers be aware of?
CC: It is important for people to consider the
true purpose of the rehabilitation, and that
is not simply to obtain a Closure Certificate
from the DMR. Right from the start-up phase,
the final land use for an operation should be
considered and planned for. Surface mines
present opportunities for society during the
life of the mine — through the products they
provide — as well as at the end of the life of
the mine — through the landscape features
they result in. Past surface mines have been
transformed into shopping centres, business
parks, reservoirs and landfills, among many
other land uses, so having a vision of that end
use is important, as is working towards that
vision throughout the life of the mine.
Concurrent rehabilitation, as far as
possible, is also critical. In life, we try to
clean up as we go and that is something
we should emulate in surface mining too.
Concurrent rehabilitation allows for the
land to start returning to a more natural/
climax state more quickly, and also reduces
the overall cost of rehabilitation (if it is done
correctly the first time and maintained as
required). It is also important to stay on top
of the legislation on rehabilitation, especially
regarding the financial provisions.
RG: What is the importance of environmental
practices and rehabilitation in the efficient
operation of quarrying companies?
CC: I would say they are very important. In
our work, we promote the integration of
environment and health and safety into the
business processes as much as possible. We
believe that it should not be production first
and then “those things that cost us money”,
that is, environment as well as health and
safety. We need to create an industry where
management of our impact and environmental
stewardship are second nature. This is not only
to the benefit of current and future society but
also, in terms of the current legislation, the
price of doing something correctly the first
time is far less than the costs of rehabilitating
or cleaning something that was done wrong.
And that excludes the costs that may arise if
there are penalties imposed because of non-
compliance with the law.
RG: What role should environmental management
play in the operation of a surface mine or quarry?
Should it be a priority in the overall strategy?
CC: Simply, yes! To truly optimise businesses,
we need to see environmental management
(and health and safety) as an integral part of
our business. In this day and age, a business
cannot function simply as an entity for profit.
Businesses need to have core values, and to
present and champion them. As an industry,
we need to show that we value the needs of
society, both present and future. A central
tenet of this must be proper environmental
stewardship and management.
In addition, as a result of the
environmental legislation, the consequences
of not prioritising environmental
management can be huge and can result in
not only the closure of an operation, but in
the potential fining and/or imprisonment
of the people involved at all levels of an
organisation.
In terms of the financial incentive, if
the environmental impacts of our actions
are handled correctly and mitigated or
minimised the first time, this will save huge
costs down the line and may also help us to
realise other business opportunities.
RG: How does management regard environmental
management at the moment? What can be done to
prioritise it in surface mine operations?
CC: Environmental management is incredibly
varied. I have been to operations where the
enthusiasm and ownership of the people
who work there for their environmental
management has taken my breath away
and left me feeling so inspired. I have also
been to operations where I have needed that
prior inspiration to shield me from utter
despondency. For the most part, however,
I believe that when people know better,
they do better. Education, and popularising
environmental management, are critical for
prioritising environmental management and
environmental stewardship.
Top management involvement is also
critical. If the people working at the
operations have proactive, enthusiastic, and
responsive leadership, the environmental
management is generally greatly improved.
To prioritise environmental management,
I think developing the knowledge base
within the industry when it comes to the
principles of environmental management
and environmental law, in a broad,
easy-to-apply way, will help to develop
understanding and to contribute to
increasing the priority of environmental
management. That knowledge can also serve
as a base from which people can delve into
the more complex aspects of environmental
management without feeling overwhelmed.
RG: What are your views about current
environmental legislation in South Africa?
CC: I believe that the current environmental
legislation is so extensive and so punitive
because it is difficult to get people’s
attention when it comes to environmental
management and environmental
conservation any other way. I feel strongly
about the importance of the Bill of Rights
as contained in the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa, 1996, and section
24 in particular [“Everyone has the right
to an environment that is not harmful to
their health or well-being and to have the
environment protected through reasonable
legislative measures.”] I wholeheartedly
support any legislation that helps us to fully
realise that right.
Again, a major problem is a lack of
awareness and understanding of the
environmental legislation — there is so much
of it that people look at it and switch off, and
there is a lack of clarity as to how exactly
it is all implemented. But I am hopeful that
with time and active participation between
industry, supporting industries such as
consultants, and government, we can work
together to make sure that the legislation
achieves its objectives.
RG: In terms of environmental issues, what would
the ideal quarry of the future look like — while
operating and after closure?
CC: Surface mining operations are amazingly
varied, from the environment in which they
operate to the team and the size, shape, and
feel of the operation, so it is difficult to have
one vision. However, I think the ideal quarry
is one that has been properly planned so as
to optimise the opportunities and minimise
risks and adverse impacts. This has to do with
things like stormwater management, and
anticipating and preparing for the effects of
dust and noise, especially on neighbours, and
with considering the mining plan and how
to optimise the site design to take advantage
of it, with minimal use of resources such as
diesel and e quipment. Ultimately, what is
needed is to consider the final land use from
before the operation starts throughout the
life of the operation, so that rehabilitation
is properly prepared for and implemented,
concurrently as far as possible. n
“We need to create
an industry where
management of our
impact and environmental
stewardship are second
nature.”
QUARRY SA | NOVEMBER 2017 _ 33