Topics Commonly Included in a Scoping Report - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 391

Appendix 8.2
Topics Commonly Included
in a Scoping Report

Describe the Institutional Setting of the Project

Public authorities Briefl y outline the legislative authorities of the host country, together with its administra-

tive structure (central government, provincial government, district head, village head, or
equivalent authorities). Describe administrative boundaries within the project area. Identify
environmental authorities likely to be involved in the project. Provide contact details.

Main environmental
legislative and regula-
tory requirements

Identify the main environmental legislations and regulations that apply to the project.
Detail the environmental approval process, including time line, approval process, EIA
review and approval authorities, and involved parties. Give recognition to informal tradi-
tional laws in the project area.

Applicable ambient
environmental and
emission standards

As part of environmental scoping, EIA practitioners compile a listing of ambient and emis-
sion standards applicable to mining project at national and local level. Where neither ambient
nor discharge standards exist, initial minimum standards should be provided based on past
relevant practice in the host country for similar projects, or in reference to international
accepted standards such as laid out in the World Bank's Pollution Prevention and Abatement
Handbook or the IFC EHS Guidelines. Discharge standards represent the design criteria for
abatement technologies at pollution sources, and hence directly infl uence project costs.

Relevant international
law

Environmental international agreements and treaties to which the host country has sub-
scribed potentially represent an additional layer of requirements that affect mine planning
and development. While a long list of treaties applies to most projects, the most relevant
treaties are probably the Basler Convention, Ramsar, Biodiversity Treaty, CITES, and the
listing of World Cultural Heritage sites.

Company environmen-
tal and social policy

Identify particular requirements in regard of environmental and social performance of
the project due to the project proponent internal environmental and social policies (e.g.
zero- discharge, commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adoption of The
Equator Principles or the Australian Best Practices in Mining)

Describe the Environmental Setting of the Project
Land resources Describe topography, geology, and soil types. Provide information on seimicivity in the

project area. Identify unique, special, and sensitive landforms and geologic formations.
Note existing illegal mining activities. Make reference to magnitudes and probabilities for
geo-hazards in the project area such as landslides or earthquakes.

Water resources Describe hydrology, hydro-geology, and oceanography at the project area (if relevant). In

regard to surface water identify existing surface water bodies and their drainage basins,
water quality, fl ows, and patterns of erosion and sedimentation. In regard to ground
water, identify aquifer systems, groundwater recharge and discharge areas, groundwater
levels and groundwater quality. List known groundwater wells and springs. Identify exist-
ing water usage, effl uent discharge points, and unique, special, and sensitive water bodies
and/or wetlands. In particular, identify sources of drinking water. Note magnitudes and
probabilities for natural geo-hazards such as fl oods, droughts, or tsunamis. Identify and list
existing sources of hydrological, hydro-geological, and oceanographic data for the project
site, including location, parameters, and period of record for each station.