Ok Tedi Mining

Discharging mine waste into the river systems has significant impacts on the river and floodplain environments, and the people whose livelihoods depend on them.

Effective environmental monitoring is essential so that impacts can be accurately measured, mitigation measures assessed and meaningful reports provided to the government regulators.

Environmental monitoring and reporting at Ok Tedi commenced prior to first operations in 1984. OTML's approach to environmental monitoring and reporting has changed significantly over time. From 1990 to the end of 2001, monitoring and reporting was dictated by an Acceptable Particulate Level regime based on 13 compliance measures at specific locations within the Fly River system. These measures included suspended solids, fish biomass, dissolved and particulate copper and navigability.

The Mine Waste Management Project and many other environmental assessments undertaken to measure and understand the impacts of the mine have led to the need for an updating of the monitoring, environmental management and reporting regime.

In late 2001, OTML submitted to the PNG Government a proposed new environmental regime. This regime puts into place a program of activities that provides a better understanding of the cause - effect process of impacts and encourages the investigation of potential mitigative actions. Its successful implementation ought to allow the PNG Government make decisions on the mine's continuance from an environmentally informed basis.

The regime is underpinned by a set of values against which ongoing impact can be assessed. These values relate to water quality parameters, the availability of aquatic and terrestrial resources and, where applicable, their safe edibility and the navigability of the main channels of the Ok Tedi and Fly River by commercial shipping and village craft.

The environmental regime comprises four major programs:

• ARD management
• riverine aquatic ecology management
• riverine terrestrial ecology management, and
• industrial site management.

Each of the first three programs is divided into domains, or ecologically-based study areas, with environmental activity addressing the relevant environmental values within each domain. The Industrial Site Management Program's domains are organised around specific operational areas.

The OTML Environmental Regime was brought into effect in December 2001 through passage of the Mining (Ok Tedi Mine Continuation (Ninth Supplemental) Agreement) Act.

OTML employs about 35 scientists and staff to undertake the majority of its environmental work. It has a dedicated research vessel, the MV Tahua Chief, access to a helicopter, an extensive network of hydrometric monitoring stations and an accredited laboratory. Analysis work is performed both locally and overseas to meet international quality control standards.

Local people assist OTML's environment officers and are contracted to maintain the company's monitoring stations. Environment officers are in regular contact with local people to discuss local environmental issues.

OTML's environmental research goes beyond ensuring environmental compliance. Many research projects have been undertaken to increase scientific knowledge of the river system and OTML collaborates on projects with scientists and research organisations worldwide.