ICMM Guidance > Good Practice Guide For Mining and Biodiversity > Tool 2 – Pre-feasibility and Feasibility Stages

Tool 2 – Pre-feasibility and Feasibility Stages

This tool helps companies develop a better understanding of the biodiversity importance of an area to satisfy regulatory requirements and to ensure impacts are minimised.

A pre-feasibility study determines whether a probable mineral reserve is economically viable and a feasibility study determines whether the reserve can be economically mined.

Step Guide

STEP
1

Download and print Checklist 2.2 (p119)

STEP
2

Go through each step on the checklist

STEP
3

Download and print Checklist 2.4 (p122) to help with biodiversity protection during construction

STEP
4

Refer to pages 28-33 for a greater understanding of the different issues

STEP
5

Read the case studies to understand practical application of the steps

At the pre-feasibility stage it is important to:

Identify areas and status of importance for biodiversity, whether protected or not
Review the technical, economic, environmental and social merits of mining options eg underground versus open pit, processing options and likely waste products, water demands, options for waste rock or tailings storage
Conduct a preliminary assessment of potential impacts and development timeframes

Top Tips:

Tool 4 discusses closure plans

Tool 5 discusses baseline studies and implications for mining in the presence of important areas or species

Tool 6 considers environmental management systems (EMS)

Checklist 2.3 (p120) advises on mapping interfaces between mining and biodiversity

Figure 7.1 (p92) illustrates hierarchy of biodiversity mitigation measures

Community, Economics, Environment, Ethical Business, Management, Rehabilitation

Development of an Environmental Protocol – Placer Exploration Limited

Guidance to implementing an Environmental Protocol