Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment for Largeand Medium-scale Mining Operations

Changing social demands have prompted significant improvements in regulatory requirements and mining practice in many countries worldwide. Mining should be conducted in such a manner that the environment is not damaged to the extent that large areas of land are permanently removed from future beneficial use. Hence it is important that an assessment be done of the potential impacts of a mining operation and that development proceed in such a manner as to keep environmental degradation as low as reasonably achievable. Environmental impact assessments are a prerequisite for opening or expanding existing mining projects. Their overall objective is to ensure that all matters affecting the environment to a significant extent are fully examined and taken into account before irrevocable development decisions are made. Since an EIS contains extensive information related to the physical, biological, chemical and socio-economic condition of an area proposed for development, it provides invaluable guidelines for minimizing environmental impact during operations as well as for environmental restoration and decommissioning after a mine is closed. Two case studies from the Western Balkan states of Kosovo and Macedonia illustrate the need for good planning and management of mining operations involving potential hazards to the environment. International response procedures against environmental crime including illegal mining are exemplified through a set of recommendations compiled by UNEP.