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The results of a major multi-agency study into old mine sites
in Ireland was released last week at a workshop hosted by
The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
The study - Historic Mine Sites Inventory and Risk Classification
- Volume 1 Geochemical Characteristics and Environmental Matters
- gathers together all the available information on historic
mine sites in Ireland and significant new information derived
from site investigations. It identifies the issues that need
to be addressed in the future rehabilitation of mines in Ireland.
Over 100 sites in 32 mining districts were assessed in the
course of the investigation - ranging in size from the largest
historic mine sites in Ireland, where mining took place in
recent decades, to smaller sites where there has been little
or no mining activity for many decades. The EPA, the GSI and
the Exploration and Mining Division of the Department of Communications,
Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR), worked together on this
study.
The objectives of this work were -
- to identify any significant risks to the environment and
human and animal health at these historic mine sites so
that these risks can be managed and the sites made safe
- and
- to plan ahead for the forthcoming EU Directive on the
Management of Wastes from the Extractive Industries. This
Directive will, among other things, require EU Member States
to prepare an inventory of closed waste facilities within
their jurisdictions by 1 May 2012.
The project includes -
- An inventory of historic mine sites in Ireland, compiled
in digital and GIS format;
- A compilation of all relevant information on each site
in GIS format;
- Site investigation and characterisation reports for each
of the sites - and
- A methodology for risk-ranking these sites to establish
the level of risk to the environment and to human and animal
health associated with them.
Commenting on the publication of the report and associated
products, Dara Lynott, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental
Enforcement said - “This work will leave Ireland well placed
to comply with the future requirements of the EU Directive. These
assessments will shape our actions for the remediation of
these sites for future generations.”
The study concluded that, of the 32 mining districts assessed,
22 districts will not require any interventions, 7 districts
will require further monitoring and 3 districts (Tynagh, Silvermines
and Avoca) will require additional site-specific risk assessment
by the landowners.
To download the full report - Click
Here
To download an interactive map - Click
Here - photographs taken at each site during the course
of the project will be added to the website in the future.
Mr Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources and Mr Conor Lenihan, Minister for Science, Technology
& Innovation welcomed the report and its findings, as
it provides a scientific basis for classifying the various
mine sites and identifies the main issues and mine sites of
concern.
Notes
Ireland is obliged under Article 20 of Directive
2006/21/EC on the Management of Waste from Extractive
Industries to prepare an inventory of closed/abandoned waste
facilities, which cause serious negative environmental impacts
or have the potential of becoming in the medium or short term
a serious threat to human health or the environment, and to
periodically update it.
The inventory is to be made available to the public and is
to be completed by 1 May 2012. This Historic Mines Sites
Inventory and Risk Classification deals only with those minerals
covered by the Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999. A
similar study on closed stone, sand and gravel quarries will
have to be compiled before 1 May 2012.
Many terms have been used to refer to old mines - including
abandoned, derelict or orphaned. There
is no widely accepted single definition for classifying old
mines that are dormant, may or may not have an identifiable
owner and have not been reclaimed. A working definition is
any inactive mine site not in the process of rehabilitation
or under active management.
Some common characteristics of historic mine sites are -
- ownership of the site is often difficult to establish
- that regular maintenance of the site has not been undertaken
- and
- mining ceased without proper rehabilitation.
In this report, the term 'historic mine site' is used
to refer to old mine sites which are not regulated by a current
permit under minerals development legislation and consists
of the mine workings and infrastructure related to a mine,
including - but not limited to - tailings facilities, waste
rock dumps, buildings and concentrator facilities.
A comprehensive remediation project is currently underway
at the Silvermines site and is being overseen by DCENR, while
a full assessment of the Avoca site, where the State is the
landowner, has recently been completed by DCENR.
This project has resulted in the production of comprehensive
information on the location and relative risk to the environment
and human and animal health posed by these sites.
The project was jointly managed and funded by the EPA and
the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
(DCENR) and was carried out by geologists of the GSI.
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