Mining facilities must demonstrate commitment and support to the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Mining facilities will develop and maintain emergency response plans, in collaboration with potentially affected communities, workers and their representatives, and relevant agencies, pursuant to guidance provided by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at the Local Level (APELL) for Mining.

Design, construct, maintain and monitor tailing facilities and waste rock facilities to ensure structural stability, control discharge, and protect the surrounding environment and local communities.

A thorough environmental and social analysis of alternatives, using scientifically valid data, was conducted that showed that marine or lake tailings disposal creates fewer environmental and social impacts and risks than a land-based tailing facility.

Carry out physical and geochemical characterisations of mining wastes so as to identify and manage potential impacts arising from acid rock drainage and metal leaching.

Protect the surrounding environment and local communities from potential impacts of acidification, metal leaching, loss of containment or contamination during the mine’s operation and post-closure.

Entities will have a process to identify legally designated protected areas, comply with all requirements relating to these and ensure that all decisions concerning exploration, development, operation and closure take account of the impact on these areas.

Entities will not undertake any activity that will, or is likely to, lead to the extinction of a species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as threatened with extinction, or create adverse impacts on habitat critical to supporting their survival.

Entities with mining facilities will assess potential environmental impacts on land, water, air and biodiversity when planning any developments or expansions, exploration programmes and mining projects and implement action plans to deliver measurable diversity benefits proportionately to the level of any impacts.

Entities with mining facilities will prepare and regularly review a mine closure plan in relation to each mining facility and ensure that adequate capacity and resources, including financial provisions, are available to meet closure and rehabilitation requirements.

There must be regular engagement with local stakeholders in relation to each mining facility including Indigenous peoples, communities, ASM, employees and regulators, regarding mine closure and rehabilitation plans.

Land disturbed or occupied by mining facilities shall be rehabilitated with the objective of establishing a sustainable native ecosystem or other post-mining land use developed through engagement with key stakeholders in the mine closure planning process.

Entities with mining facilities will report annually on their sustainability performance using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines and GRI Mining and Metals Sector Supplement.

The reports must have external assurance as defined by the GRI.

Mining Facilities will respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples as articulated and defined in applicable provincial, national and international laws and their social, cultural, environmental and economic interests, including their connection with lands and waters.

Mining Facilities will seek to obtain broad-based support of affected Indigenous Peoples and to have this support formally documented, including partnerships and/or programs to provide benefits and mitigate impacts.

New Mining Facilities, or significant changes to existing Mining Facilities, shall, as described in International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standard 7, work to obtain the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of affected Indigenous Peoples during the planning and approval stages, through a process that strives to be consistent their traditional decision-making processes, while respecting internationally recognised human rights and based on good faith negotiations.

The Mining Facility shall implement policies or procedures to ensure respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, conduct an impact assessment on the potential impact of the business on Indigenous Peoples and establish programs to mitigate negative impacts and provide benefits to Indigenous Peoples.

The facility shall document the mutually accepted process between the Facility and the affected Indigenous Peoples, and any relevant government authorities, and shall evidence the agreement between the parties as the outcome of the negotiations.

Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) producers should be explicitly addressed in training of private security personnel. In some countries, the term Indigenous may be controversial, and local terms may be used which are broadly equivalent, such as tribal peoples, aboriginal people, first peoples, native people. In other situations, Indigenous Peoples may not be recognised by the State.

Impact Benefit Agreements are considered a suitable FPIC process where they are carried out in good- faith and with the informed consultation and participation of Indigenous People.

Mining Facilities will, as appropriate, participate in initiatives, including multi-stakeholder initiatives, which enable the professionalisation and formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), where it occurs within their areas of operation.

Where artisanal and small-scale mining operates on or around a Mining Facility, the entity will engage directly with them as part of their Social and Environmental Impact Assessment and community engagement processes.

Identification of affected communities and other related stakeholders in relation to project risks, impacts and phase of development, including significant changes to existing facilities.

Ensure the interests and development aspirations of affected communities are considered in major mining decisions in the project’s lifecycle through informed consultation, considering the interests and development aspirations of affected communities, seek broad community support for proposals in major mining decisions in the project’s life cycle.

Developed in consideration of short and long-term socio-economic development objectives and aspirations of stakeholders, including community members and local, regional and national governments.

Ensures communication of planned projects, proposals, changes, and other information is disseminated in a timely and clear manner to ensure all interested stakeholders understand the potential and actual impacts of these planned projects.

The entity shall undertake socio-economic impact assessments at timely intervals to gauge stakeholder sentiments and aspirations, identify risks and impacts and opportunities for socio-economic development.

Shall ensure that the requirements of the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard 5 on Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement and supporting Guidance Note requirements are met.

The entity shall implement measures and processes to identify, document, monitor and report on the implementation of any social commitments, both formal (such as impact benefit agreements) and informal (ad hoc commitments made by entity personnel to external stakeholders).

An environmental and social impact assessment must be undertaken with the full engagement of affected communities and stakeholders for exploration and new mining facilities or significant changes to operations at existing facilities which take account of human rights, gender and conflict and include environmental and social management plans.

Entities will prepare and update plans for managing environment risk and potential emergencies and ensure that the burden of negative environmental consequences will not fall on vulnerable racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups.

Impact assessments should be disseminated in an easily accessible format and made publicly available. This should give consideration to local languages, cultures and practices.

Entities with Mining Facilities will ensure that security risk assessments are conducted and that security personnel receive training and operate in accordance with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (2000).

The human rights of any Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) producers should be explicitly addressed in the training of private security personnel.

Where Mercury is contained in saleable products, by-products or emissions, the company/entity/ facility shall adopt management practices that are at minimum in accordance with legal requirements to control and, where feasible, reduce mercury emissions using best available techniques or best environmental practices that take into account technical and economic considerations.

For entities that use mercury in their mining and processing activities, the entity shall eliminate whole ore-amalgamation, open burning of amalgam or processed amalgam, and burning of amalgam in residential areas, and cyanide leaching in sediment, ore or tailings to which mercury has been added without first removing the mercury.

Where mercury is being used in ASM activities, controls should be in place to prevent exposure to anyone under the age of 18 year and pregnant women, and the Entity sourcing from ASM producers shall take steps to control, reduce, and where feasible eliminate, the use of mercury and mercury compounds from such mining and processing activities.