Generally, three specific Norms and Standards are referred to when mining, manufacturing and processing operations occur of which two are related to mainly waste and another to water as referred to below.
- a) any mining related process on the mine including the operation of washing plants, mineral processing facilities, mineral refineries and extraction plants, and
- b) the operation and the use of mineral loading and off-loading zones, transport facilities and mineral storage yards, whether situated at the mine or not,
(i) in which any substance is stockpiled, stored, accumulated or transported for use in such process; or
(ii) out of which process any residue is derived, stored, stockpiled, accumulated, dumped, disposed of or transported;
From the definition above operations falling within the criteria must adhere to the requirements stipulated in GN 704.
Norms and standards set out clear requirements for operations undertaking activities triggered, listed, or identified within these norms and standards. From the onset, organisations have a clear framework in which to operate and ensure compliance with the requirements for the specific activity without waiting for specific approval or conditions based on an Environmental Authorisation.
Conducting compliance audits using the norms and standards as audit criteria, can assist organisations in ensuring they comply with the specific requirements set out and / or to find fatal flaws or areas of concern where a future focus can be placed on to sufficiently ensure that avoidance, management and mitigation of environmental impacts associated with the activity is managed.
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