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The KMC employee communication
"Hotline" received only a few safety-related reports early in
the year that were thoroughly investigated and resulted in no further
follow-up action required or changes in procedures or standards. KMC is
making changes to this employee outreach program by conforming to the
newly implemented "Speak Out" program administered by its parent
company,
Rio Tinto.
During 2000, KMC operations
received a number of external awards for safety excellence, yet it was
decided not to present the internal KMC President's Health, Safety and
Environment award due to the need for each operation to demonstrate greater
improvements in the safety and environmental areas.
Environment
KMC fell short on obtaining
its 2000 environmental goals and targets, specifically those related to
preventing all spills to the environment. Despite the spill prevention measures
employed at the KMC sites, there were three petroleum spills (hydraulic
fluids) between 50 and 80 gallons each associated with mobile equipment.
All other spills were of minor quantities, immediately cleaned up and properly
disposed.
Implementation of a
combined Health, Safety and Environmental Management System, consistent
with the ISO 14001 EMS standard, progressed sufficiently to be over 50%
complete during 2000. KMC completed the goal to update and finalize Closure
Plans for all operations.
A Risk Review was conducted
at the KMC operations that use cyanide in their process systems and identified
no significant issues with cyanide transportation, storage and use. KMC
is supporting the development of a voluntary industry code for gold mines
using cyanide. This cyanide management code is being developed by the
mining division of the United Nations Environmental Program along with
the International Council on Metals and the Environment.
KMC supported research
and development of the design, construction and monitoring of covers for
isolating potential acid-generating materials (tailings and waste rock),
along with a collaborative project with the International Network for
Acid Prevention on mitigation of a waste rock storage area.
KMC's corporate Manager
of Health, Safety and Environment received the Adrian Smith International
Environmental Mining Award for "providing many important contributions
to the fields of environmental engineering, management systems, auditing,
regulations and education."
Communities
During 2000, KMC recognized
that it must take a more proactive approach in initiating communications
with the communities, especially concerning mine closure activities. KMC
updated the Five-Year Communities Plans for each operation to reflect appropriate
interactions with its neighbors.
In ongoing support of
the public's right to know about the management and use of chemical sub-
stances, KMC updated the Company's web site (www.kennecottminerals.com)
on reported releases to the air, water and land under the Toxic Release
Inventory reporting requirements for metal mines. There was an approximate
2.5% increase in the amount of KMC company-wide reported releases under
TRI in 2000, as compared to those reported in 1999, principally due to
increased production at the Greens Creek Mine.
Accountability
In an effort to continuously
improve health, safety and environmental performance, each year KMC establishes
goals and targets. In the health, safety and environment areas, KMC has
directed its efforts toward achieving zero injuries and incidents. To
achieve these goals, KMC establishes annual targets that are realistic
and achievable, reflecting on the previous year's performance.
The following summarizes
KMC's progress towards meeting its health, safety and environmental goals
and targets set for the year 2000:
Health
and Safety
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