Emphasizing Environmental Management and Monitoring - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 467

It is also valuable to include one
or more reference communities,
unaffected by the project,
into the social monitoring
programme.

While not common it is also valuable to include one or more reference communities,
unaffected by the project, into the social monitoring programme. This allows more objec-
tive evaluation and demonstration of socioeconomic benei ts that the mining project and
its community development programmes have brought to host communities throughout
the mine life. Practice shows that advocacy groups tend to take mine closure as the last
opportunity to challenge the benei ts of mining. A comparative study of communities
within and outside the inl uence of the mine may help to diffuse some of the criticism.
Figure 10.5 illustrates the surface water monitoring programme for an underground
the mine in Java, Indonesia. Monitoring locations include output indicators (e.g. outfall at
de-toxicii cation plant), reference locations (upstream monitoring locations), and compli-
ance points (outfall of polishing pond and discharge point into the river).
Ultimately the collection of high-quality data depends on having adequately trained peo-
ple. This applies both in the i eld and in the laboratory. One way to document satisfactory

The collection of high-quality
data depends on having
adequately trained people.

FIGURE 10.5
Example of a Surface Water
Monitoring Programme

River

Mill Site

Sedimentatio n
Pond

Polishing
Pond

Talings Storage
Facility