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New standards for certifying individual mine sites could be in place by June next year if targets for a new cross-sector initiative are met.
Working groups are being set up under the aegis of the multi-sector Responsible Mining Assurance Initiative (RMAI) to produce the standards. One group will examine indicators for the social and environmental standards of a mine site, while two other groups will assess possible methods for the verification of individual sites and the resources needed to implement them.
The RMAI's move follows months of informal dialogue between mining companies, trade associations, retailers and non-profit organizations. It met for the first time in Vancouver, Canada in June to decide the relevant issues and to discuss the timetable.
'Mining companies have an interest in trying to develop a mechanism for identifying and verifying where they are doing it right and getting credit for that,' said Steve D'Esposito, president of the environmental campaign group Earthworks. 'The only way you get that [verification] in a way that satisfies all parties is through a third-party independent assurance system.'
The standard will cover all types of mines, from those containing precious metals such as gold and silver to those with base metals such as copper and nickel.
RMAI intends to examine existing verification models, such as the Forest Stewardship Council certification system, the diamond industry's Kimberley Process and the FairTrade Mark. These could form the basis for certifying companies against the new standards.
The initiative builds on a three-year research programme led by the Australian branch of the international environment network WWF. The Mines Certification Evaluation Project, which was concluded in February, considered third-party certification of mine sites. Unlike RMAI, it did not try to create a working certification scheme.
RMAI will also want to draw on the experience of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). The ICMM's company members are experimenting with a pilot assurance procedure for measuring their performance against its ten-point Sustainable Development Framework.
Ben Peachey, spokesman for ICMM, said the pilot provides assurance at company rather than site level. 'There are different issues at site level, such as joint ownership,' he said.
RMAI, whose aims are supported by the World Gold Council, is managed by a co-ordinating committee of eight members. These include WWF and Earthworks; mining companies BHP Billiton and Newmont; retailers Tiffany and Wal-Mart; and two trade associations - the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices and the ICMM. Two more committee members are to be appointed.
RMAI, which has 54 members from various sectors, says that eventually it intends to report its progress through a dedicated website.
Working groups are being set up under the aegis of the multi-sector Responsible Mining Assurance Initiative (RMAI) to produce the standards. One group will examine indicators for the social and environmental standards of a mine site, while two other groups will assess possible methods for the verification of individual sites and the resources needed to implement them.
The RMAI's move follows months of informal dialogue between mining companies, trade associations, retailers and non-profit organizations. It met for the first time in Vancouver, Canada in June to decide the relevant issues and to discuss the timetable.
'Mining companies have an interest in trying to develop a mechanism for identifying and verifying where they are doing it right and getting credit for that,' said Steve D'Esposito, president of the environmental campaign group Earthworks. 'The only way you get that [verification] in a way that satisfies all parties is through a third-party independent assurance system.'
The standard will cover all types of mines, from those containing precious metals such as gold and silver to those with base metals such as copper and nickel.
RMAI intends to examine existing verification models, such as the Forest Stewardship Council certification system, the diamond industry's Kimberley Process and the FairTrade Mark. These could form the basis for certifying companies against the new standards.
The initiative builds on a three-year research programme led by the Australian branch of the international environment network WWF. The Mines Certification Evaluation Project, which was concluded in February, considered third-party certification of mine sites. Unlike RMAI, it did not try to create a working certification scheme.
RMAI will also want to draw on the experience of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). The ICMM's company members are experimenting with a pilot assurance procedure for measuring their performance against its ten-point Sustainable Development Framework.
Ben Peachey, spokesman for ICMM, said the pilot provides assurance at company rather than site level. 'There are different issues at site level, such as joint ownership,' he said.
RMAI, whose aims are supported by the World Gold Council, is managed by a co-ordinating committee of eight members. These include WWF and Earthworks; mining companies BHP Billiton and Newmont; retailers Tiffany and Wal-Mart; and two trade associations - the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices and the ICMM. Two more committee members are to be appointed.
RMAI, which has 54 members from various sectors, says that eventually it intends to report its progress through a dedicated website.
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