Mining Responsibly
Safety and Environment
POLICY
We have a Sustainable Development Policy, which outlines our principles and commitments towards people, communities and the environment. In order to support the commitments in our policy, we develop and maintain safety, health, environment, and community management systems as required to meet the demands at each phase of mine development. We refer to this as our Safety and Environment (S&E) management system.
Figure 1) SHEC documentation structure
Our management system is being developed in line with international standard requirements (e.g. ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001). In developing our own standards, we consider and follow international best practice policies, principles, standards and management practices, including:
BASELINE REPORTS AND MONITORING
Baseline reports are undertaken in order to provide an idea of what the environment and society in the project area are like prior to commencing activities. They provide the framework against which we undertake our impact assessments, design our operation performance criteria and develop our control measures. And through baselines, key indicators can be identified for future monitoring programs.
Northland has undertaken extensive biophysical and social baseline studies covering all the project areas. Baseline studies were undertaken covering :
Monitoring
In order to maintain an uninterrupted history of monitoring data for surface water, Northland has continued with the surface water monitoring program. Sampling is undertaken at over 60 sites around Tapuli, Sahavaara, Hannukainen, Äkäsjokisuu and Pellivuoma, five times a year.
During the permitting process, a monitoring plan to monitor possible impacts arising during the construction and operation of the mine is agreed upon with authorities. This monitoring plan will involve the key receptor points downstream of the operations.
Northland will make its annual monitoring reports available through the website.
PERMITTING
The development of a mine involves a protracted and detailed permit process which generally takes at least three or more years. The purpose of the permit process is for the proponent, Northland, to demonstrate to all interested and affected parties that the proposed mining activities can take place in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
Key steps in the permitting process include:
We have a Sustainable Development Policy, which outlines our principles and commitments towards people, communities and the environment. In order to support the commitments in our policy, we develop and maintain safety, health, environment, and community management systems as required to meet the demands at each phase of mine development. We refer to this as our Safety and Environment (S&E) management system.
Our management system is being developed in line with international standard requirements (e.g. ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001). In developing our own standards, we consider and follow international best practice policies, principles, standards and management practices, including:
- World Bank Operational Directive on Involuntary Resettlement
- The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The ten principles of the International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM) Sustainable Development Framework
- The International Financial Corporation's (IFC) Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability.
- Industry best practice standards and techniques
BASELINE REPORTS AND MONITORING
Baseline reports are undertaken in order to provide an idea of what the environment and society in the project area are like prior to commencing activities. They provide the framework against which we undertake our impact assessments, design our operation performance criteria and develop our control measures. And through baselines, key indicators can be identified for future monitoring programs.
Northland has undertaken extensive biophysical and social baseline studies covering all the project areas. Baseline studies were undertaken covering :
Monitoring
In order to maintain an uninterrupted history of monitoring data for surface water, Northland has continued with the surface water monitoring program. Sampling is undertaken at over 60 sites around Tapuli, Sahavaara, Hannukainen, Äkäsjokisuu and Pellivuoma, five times a year.
During the permitting process, a monitoring plan to monitor possible impacts arising during the construction and operation of the mine is agreed upon with authorities. This monitoring plan will involve the key receptor points downstream of the operations.
Northland will make its annual monitoring reports available through the website.
PERMITTING
The development of a mine involves a protracted and detailed permit process which generally takes at least three or more years. The purpose of the permit process is for the proponent, Northland, to demonstrate to all interested and affected parties that the proposed mining activities can take place in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
Key steps in the permitting process include:
- Consultation with all interested and affected parties;
- Performing a detailed social, health and environmental impact study (ESHIA) based on a detailed technical description of the proposed mine;
- Using the ESHIA as a basis for permit applications to various authorities for various aspects of the mine development process, such as an Exploitation Concession, and Permit to Mine.
- Granting of the Tapuli Exploitation Concession by the Mines Inspector in November 2008;
- Submittal of an application for Mining Permit for Tapuli to the Environmental Court in March 2009;
- Drafting of an EIA Program as required under Finnish mine permit law for Hannukainen;
- Submittal of an application for Mining Permit for Tapuli to the Environmental Court in April 2009, fully taken over by the Finnish-Swedish Border River Commission in May.
- Submittal of an application for the Sahavaara Exploitation Concession in November 2009.
