Abstract:

The Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management provides an excellent framework for safe tailings facility management. Each operator has had to define a pathway to conformance with the 77 requirements that works in their local operational and community context,

Teck has four steelmaking coal operations and one mine in care and maintenance in the Elk Valley, BC. There were nine tailings storage facilities on the 2023 conformance list that required engagement with project-affected people. In the past, tailings have not been a significant focus of engagement in the Elk Valley compared to other priority topics of high interest to communities. This meant that our starting point was a limited to no understanding of tailings by project-affected people.

The challenge:

How do we interpret the Standard for Tailings Management in the context of our region?

How do we get internal teams to make this a priority?

How do we ensure our actions are auditable?

How do we meaningfully engage project-affected people who have limited to no knowledge of tailings?

How do we keep up the momentum both internally and externally to support public accountability?

After 12 months of planning with the Teck’s Head Office Tailings and Health and Safety groups and local Social Responsibility team, we hosted a workshop with Indigenous and non-Indigenous community leaders and emergency responders to share information and engage in discussion on our tailings storage facilities and emergency response plans. 

This (proposed) CIM technical session will dig into the challenges of unpacking and customizing conformance to the Standard, securing senior leadership support, enabling subject matter expert accountability, and clearly outlining the company’s role in supporting external agencies involved in public safety.

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Kayleigh Montgomery