Polska Akademia Nauk

Instytut Gospodarki Surowcami Mineralnymi i Energią

Pracownia Badań Strategicznych

Polish Academy of Sciences

Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute

Division of Strategic Research

Due to its long industrial history, new Europe faces a major challenge in rehabilitation former industrial sites, mines and associated processing sites and their waste disposal facilities, in order to make these sites reusable for other activities. The complexity of re-development is generated by interrelations between relevant topics such as remediation, land use planning, urban design, environmental and social matters, and financial aspects. Particularly, in light of the enlargement of the European Union, it is expected that numerous, already existing old industrial sites will have to be rehabilitated, and many more will emerge where industries will have to shut down due to economic problems. Many of such sites can originate from the extractive industry, as waste from the extractive industry represents in some countries a major waste stream.

The Proposal for a EU Directive on the Management of the Waste from Extractive Industries merely creates 'a level playing field' in the areas of extractive waste, by specifying requirements on design operation, closure and most importantly: post closure inspection. On the one hand mining companies across the whole of the new Europe will have to develop or revise their strategies to prevent and reduce effects from management of waste facilities through their life cycle. On the other hand Europe has and will even more now develop high-level expertise in rehabilitation and land restoration.

The purpose of the conference is to present and discuss legal, environmental, technological and socio-economic aspects of sustainable post-mining land management strategy. This event aims to encourage a platform for exchange information and experience from all EU countries in comparison to others -- Candidate and Associated, as well as non-European countries.

  Mine closure strategy

  BAT

  Mining waste legislation

  Sustainable development

  Mining industry

  Ecology

  Environmental liabilities

  Abandoned sites

  Comparisons of countries' legislation and policies for sustainable development, safe closure (i.e. prevention of any accidents of broken tailing dams) and transformation of post-mining areas with the standards presented in the Proposal for a EU Directive on the Management of the Waste from Extractive Industries

  Presentation of case studies related to implementation of Best Available Techniques in waste management from extractive industries

  Analysis of alternative novel revitalisation strategies in the creation of strategy for post-mining land management, especially due to finding best solutions with the consideration of ecological, socio-economic and technical aspects

  Solutions for industrial, cost effective utilisation of flotation tailings (including valuable products recycling and production of ecological mixtures for backfilling)

  Evaluation of long-term environmental liabilities associated with the storage and management of mining waste

  Application of Life Cycle Assessment -- a new technique in environmental management, and its economical aspect -- Life Cycle Cost (LCC)

  Application of 'best-practice' concept with the use of Environmental Management Systems (EMS), including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA)

  Costs of waste management -- scenario analysis (feasibility studies, simulations of application)

  Analysis of companies' accounting policy with respect to the environmental rehabilitation, reclamation and closure cost

  Accepted paper submission deadline 13.09.2004

  PowerPoint presentation submission deadline 15.10.2004

The Conference Proceedings will be published as a book of abstracts (one page for each paper) and CD-ROM with abstracts and full paper text. Authors are requested to submit the paper and abstract in electronic form to the e-mail address lca@min-pan.krakow.pl, not later than 13.09.2004. Authors are also requested to send their presentations in PowerPoint format not later that 15.10.2004, preferably together with the paper. The presentations will be ready for you on the laptop in the conference room. All the papers presented will be considered for the publication in international journals, e.g. special issue of Progress in Industrial Ecology - An International Journal, Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, Minerals and Energy and possibly the post-conference book. While preparing the abstract and full text please follow the instructions. If you are not able to prepare your presentation in PowerPoint format please contact organisers to arrange alternative presentation format.

Joanna Kulczycka (Ph.D.)
IGSMiE PAN
ul. Wybickiego 7
31-261 Kraków, Poland
kulczycka@min-pan.krakow.pl
tel/fax +4812 632 2245

Aleksandra Mońka (M.Sc.)
Copper Research and Design Centre CUPRUM - RDC
pl. 1 Maja 1/2
50-136 Wrocław, Poland
amonka@cuprum.wroc.pl
tel/fax +4871 7812 357

Account number: BPH PBK SA Krakow No PL93 1060 0076 0000 3800 0003 8507
SWIFT: BPH KPL PK, Annotation: SPILM 2004

The registration deadline is 31.10.2004

The registration form can be filled ON-LINE or downloaded and send by fax to +4812 632 22 45.

Organisers have made the arrangement with Capanile Hotel and Classic Hotel. Please quote "Polish Academy of Sciences, Post Industrial Land Management" when making the reservation. The conference fee does not include accommodation.

The conference includes also the filed trip to Trzebionka lead-zinc mine located in the Krakow proximity. The trip will take place on Saturday -- 06.11.2004.

The Trzebionka mine will soon be closed, so this is a unique opportunity to visit it before closure. Mining in the Trzebionka area started in the 14th Century with the current operation dating back to 1885. However, this activity is terminated in current decade. The Trzebionka Mining Plant consist of the underground mine (capacity of 2.3 Mt of ore -- 3.4% Zn and 1.5% Pb), beneficiation plants located close to the Trzebionka mine and the concentrator (processing capacity of 1.9 Mt/y). The plant supplies selective sphalerite concentrates with 58-60% Zn and reduced contents of MgO and CaO from its unique installation stared in 1995 (the maximum content of MgO is 0.2% and CaO -- 0.8%), as well as flotation concentrates of galena with 68-70% Pb. The Trzebionka mine and processing plant is the part of the structure of ZG Trzebionka S.A., a joint stock company since 1992. The company had been granted concessions for the Balin-Trzebionka deposit, which is valid till 2010, but the reserves are almost exhausted -- the mine can operate untill 2006-2008.