Presentation by Ms. Marit Hjort, Policy Analyst, Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, OECD

1. BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES (BAT)
FOR THE MINING SECTOR
Marit Hjort, Policy Analyst (marit.hjort@oecd.org)
19 April 2019
Workshop on Mining and Green growth in the EECCA region

2. Steps in determining BAT and emission limit values

3. Policies on BAT
or Similar
Concepts
Across the
World (2017)
Approaches to
Establishing
BAT Around
the World
(2018)
Methodologies
and Data for
Effectiveness
Evaluation of
BAT Policies
(2019,
forthcoming)
Guidance
document on
how to
determine BAT
and associated
emission levels
(forthcoming)
Study on the
value chain
aspects of BAT
determination
(forthcoming)
Cross-country
comparisons of
BAT for
selected sectors
(forthcoming)
Deliverables of the OECD’s BAT project, 2016-2022
All reports available free of charge: oe.cd/bat

4. • EU
– BREF on the Management of Waste from Extractive Industries (2009; 2018)
• Russian Federation
– BREF on mining and processing of ferrous metals ores (2017)
– BREF on mining and processing of nonferrous metals ores (2017)
– BREF on mining industry, general processes and methods (2016)
– BREF on precious metals mining (2017)
• People’s Republic of China
– Guidelines on Available Pollution Prevention and Control Techniques for
the mining and mineral processing of the iron and steel industry (2010)
• India
– Comprehensive Industry Document on iron ore mining (2007)
BAT for the mining sector

5. • Adopted under the Directive on the Management
of Waste from Extractive Industries (2006)
• Draws on the Integrated Pollution Prevention
and Control Directive and the Seveso II Directive (1996)
• 1st BREF (2009); 2nd BREF and BAT Conclusions (2018)
• Applies to facilities that generate extractive waste and
have a permit or a waste management plan
• Differentiated obligations: most stringent for
Category A facilities
EU BREF for the Management of Waste from
Extractive Industries (‘the mining BREF’)

6. • Management of extractive waste from onshore
extractive activities
• Handling/transport of extractive
waste (e.g. loading, unloading and
on-site transport)
• Treatment of extractive waste
• Deposition of extractive waste
• Activities directly associated with the management of
extractive waste
Activities and processes covered by the
EU BAT Conclusions on mining

7. • Generic BAT
– corporate management
– information and data management
– waste hierarchy
• Risk-specific BAT
– safety and stability
– prevention/minimisation of water status
deterioration and air and soil pollution
– other environmental or human health risks
• No BAT on sea tailings disposal
• Emerging techniques
Categorisation of BAT on mining (EU)

8. • Based on the IED “Seville Process”
• BAT Conclusions not published as
a Commission Implementing
Decision, but as a JRC report
• Resemble the BREFs developed
under the IPPC Directive and not
the IED, i.e. not legally binding
• Performance objectives
rather than BAT-AELs
Comparison with BREFs developed under
the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)

9. • Requires preparation for closure from the onset
• Broad range of facilities; differentiated obligations
• Identifies performance objectives that allow flexibility
for permitting authorities
• Measures to implement the Directive adopted in most
Member States
 improvement from first to second reporting period
Strengths of the EU Directive and BREF on extractive
waste management

10. • Lack of BAT on risk assessment/identification
(most BAT concern risk treatment)
• No legally binding BAT-associated emission levels; wide
ranges for performance objectives  hard to enforce
• Lack of clear definitions of extractive waste
• Category A facilities not identified by all MS (and
permits and emergency plans missing)
• Large variation regarding inspections across MS
Limitations of the EU Directive and BREF on
extractive waste management

11. For further information
• Marit Hjort
marit.hjort@oecd.org
+33(0)1 45 24 74 01
• oe.cd/BAT