Environmental Assessment
Volume E-7
Tailings Facility
Environmental and Social
Management Plans
Ambatovy Project
231
January 2006
7
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT
PLANS
This section provides highlights of selected mitigation and monitoring that will
form part of the management plans specific for the Ambatovy Project’s (the
project) tailings facility. More detailed information is provided in the mitigation
and monitoring sections of each Environmental Assessment (EA) discipline
section. A full framework for the Environmental and Social Management Plan is
provided in Appendix H, Section 6. Mitigation and monitoring plans are divided
into two sections below: Section 7.1 presents activities to be carried out for key
management plans during operations and Section 7.2 presents activities to be
carried out for key management plans during reclamation and closure.
7.1
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS PHASE
ACTIVITIES
7.1.1
Water Management Plan
Runoff from the tailings facility will be diverted to the ocean to prevent
substance loading from entering downstream watercourses and water bodies
during operations via runoff. A liner will be installed in the water management
pond to limit seepage from the pond. Boreholes and pumps will be installed to
intercept and remove tailings seepage downstream of the tailings facility from the
beginning of operations to fifteen years after closure. Water quality in
management ponds and in streams and water bodies downstream from the
tailings facility will be monitored during operations, with emphasis on the metals
of greatest concern for effects on human and ecological health. Volumes of
downstream flows and suspended solids levels in these streams will also be
monitored.
7.1.2
Flora and Fauna Management Plans
Tailings facility areas will be cleared progressively during operations to
minimize the amount of area cleared at any one time. Flora and fauna
management will focus on progressive reclamation (see below).
7.1.3
Fish and Aquatics Management Plan
When construction begins, fish will be salvaged from watercourses and water
bodies being affected, for local use or sale if such use is desired. Project
