ISO 14001 objectives for mining business

Good environmental objectives stem from the environmental policy. A good environmental policy includes the three commitments from ISO 14001:2015 (Continual improvement, Prevention of pollution, Compliance with legal and other requirements) and sets priorities for environmental improvement.

After an initial environmental survey is made, what are the most significant environmental aspects? For a mining operation I can think about neighborhood nuisance, water pollution events, tailings disposal, vegetation removal, landscape destruction, biodiversity effect, airborne emissions. Some of those environmental aspects, or at least their potential magnitude will depend of the kind of operation (open-pit mining, underground mining, or other) 

What are the environmental improvement priorities for a mining operation? Determine the environmental impacts of those environmental aspects. Consider normal and abnormal operation. Consider emergency situations. Consider startup or closing down of operations. Consider regulation or legislation performance requirements. Evaluate those environmental impacts and decide which ones are more relevant and need to be improved, considering the three commitments from the environmental policy.

Some examples of what environmental objectives for a mining operation could be:

• Reduce water consumption and effluent discharge by x% in the next 18 months
• Reduce neighboring communities’ complaints by y% in the next 12 months
• Comply with fugitive’s emissions legislation within the next 9 months

The following material will provide you information about environmental policy and objectives:

• Why mining companies should obtain ISO 14001 certification - https://advisera.com/14001academy/blog/2018/04/17/why-mining-companies-should-obtain-iso-14001-certification/
• How to write an ISO 14001 environmental policy - https://advisera.com/14001academy/blog/2019/08/27/key-iso-14001-benefits-to-customers/nowledgebase/how-to-write-an-iso-14001-environmental-policy/
• How to Use Good Environmental Objectives - https://advisera.com/14001academy/blog/2019/08/27/key-iso-14001-benefits-to-customers/nowledgebase/how-to-use-good-environmental-objectives/
• Examples of ISO 14001 objectives based on the different company sizes - https://advisera.com/14001academy/blog/2019/10/22/iso-14001-objectives-examples-for-different-company-sizes/
• Article - 4 steps in identification and evaluation of environmental aspects - https://advisera.com/14001academy/knowledgebase/4-steps-in-identification-and-evaluation-of-environmental-aspects/
• Article - Environmental aspect identification and classification - https://advisera.com/14001academy/blog/2019/08/27/key-iso-14001-benefits-to-customers/nowledgebase/environmental-aspect-identification-and-classification/ 
• You can watch free webinars on demand – ISO 14001Webinars - https://advisera.com/14001academy/webinars/ 
• Enroll for free in this course – ISO 14001:2015 Foundations Course - https://advisera.com/training/iso-14001-internal-auditor-course/
• Book – The ISO 14001:2015 Companion - https://advisera.com/books/the-iso-14001-2015-companion/