How to restore the geological environment of mine?

China Mining News: In the "development management" of geological environment ecological restoration of mines, how to deal with residual ore?

Shen Sheng: The former Ministry of Land and Resources and other five ministries and commissions (2016) No. 63 pointed out that it is necessary to adhere to the concept of innovative development and break the institutional barriers of investment, policy, scientific research and other mechanisms for the restoration and comprehensive management of mining geological environment. We will innovate policies for the redevelopment of residual tailings mines, the reclamation and utilization of abandoned mining land, and the transfer and utilization of collective land, guide the investment of social funds, resources, and asset elements, actively explore the use of PPP models and third-party governance methods, fully mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties, and accelerate governance. We will strengthen the comprehensive utilization of resources. Promote the comprehensive utilization of tailings and waste rock, with the focus on extracting valuable components from tailings and waste rock, producing high value-added building materials, filling, and harmless agricultural and ecological applications, accelerate the promotion and application of advanced and applicable technologies and equipment, organize the implementation of comprehensive utilization demonstration projects of tailings and waste rock, constantly increase the proportion of comprehensive utilization of tailings and waste rock, and expand the scale of comprehensive utilization industry. Reduce the impact on the ecological environment. At the same time, we will encourage the participation of social funds. In accordance with the principle of "who governs, who benefits", give full play to the guiding role of financial funds, and vigorously explore the construction of a new model of mining geological environment restoration and comprehensive management of "government-led, policy support, social participation, development-type governance, and market-oriented operation".

In strengthening policy support, it is pointed out that the mineral resources development policy should be improved. Under the premise of meeting the planning and ensuring safety, the stock resources shall be developed according to law to provide financial guarantee for regional comprehensive governance. Accelerate the construction of green mining development demonstration zones and green mines, and promote the coordinated development of mineral resources development and ecological environmental protection.

Before the mine geological environment treatment, the mine situation is mainly divided into three kinds: first, the mine is closed normally, and the ore body has been mined; Second, the mine is closed abnormally, and there are still residual ore bodies, especially those forced to close due to safety factors or environmental protection requirements; Third, there are some residual ore bodies in abandoned mines. If the scope of mine geological environment restoration is within the scope of design control, it is not illegal mining. If the scope of mine geological environment restoration is outside the scope of design control, and ore is extracted, it is illegal mining.

For the exploitation of residual ore in the "development management", from the legal sense, there is no need to apply for mining certificate, but to prevent the development of new mines. The main basis includes:

First, mine ecological restoration is not mineral development, closing the mine is a trade-off made after the balance between environmental protection and development, and for ecological restoration to require mining certificates is contrary to the original intention of closing the mine due to environmental protection.

Second, the treatment of residual ore within the scope of treatment belongs to the comprehensive utilization of resources under the concept of development of the new period in the restoration process, and should not require mining certificates. The Opinions of the Ministry of Land and Resources on Promoting the Comprehensive Conservation and Efficient use of Mineral Resources (Land Resources Development (2016) No. 187) clearly states that the priority is to adhere to protection. In the development of mineral resources and the protection of the ecological environment, we firmly adhere to the concept of "protection is conservation", give priority to protection, adhere to the development in protection and protection in development, and support sustainable economic and social development with the least consumption of mineral resources. Adhere to efficient use. In the exploration and development of mineral resources, firmly adhere to the concept of "efficient use is conservation", carry out comprehensive exploration, comprehensive evaluation, comprehensive exploitation and comprehensive utilization of associated mineral resources, promote high-quality and optimal use, cascade utilization and recycling, and promote the resource utilization of waste rock and other wastes, so as to improve the comprehensive benefits of resources, economy and ecology.