By Neil Carey [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

TORonTO — The United Steelworkers (USW) announced its support for todays release of a proposed international Standard for Responsible Mining.

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is releasing the draft standard for public comment. IRMA includes stakeholders from the mining industry, organized labour, nongovernmental organizations, affected communities and businesses.

This new proposal sets principles to improve social and environmental performance. The Standard for Responsible Mining is the result of eight years of collaboration between groups that have historically been at odds. It seeks to develop principles and practices for industrial-scale mine sites what has been done with certification schemes in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Gold, iron ore, copper and other minerals and metals are used in pretty much everything. They are found is things like jewelry and cell phones to building materials and auto parts. The range of uses for minerals and metals in both commercial and industrial uses is significant. The process for mining these materials can impact social and environmental conditions and result in conflicts and challenges on not only the local level, but also federal and corporate. Developing and providing socially and environmentally responsible practices is a growing concern for consumers, who are seeking assurances that their minerals and metals are mined responsibly.

Each of us wants a future wher mining companies make a positive contribution to local communities and minimize any impact on land and water, while serving the needs of modern society, said Jon Samuel, Group Head of Government and Social Affairs at international mining company Anglo American.

As Canadas mining unio, we are proud of our contributions and that of IndustriALL Global unio, a global unio federation to which we are affiliated, said Ken Neumann, USW National Director.

After the Oct. 22 comment deadline, revisions will be made to the draft Standard for Responsible Mining and a second draft will be released for an additional comment period before the final standard is prepared.

With this set of new guiding principles for mine sites, we are raising the bar on environmental and human rights standards for mining, said Jennifer Krill, executive director at Earthworks, an international mining reform group. The credibility of this proposed new system lies in the unprecedented participation of leaders from every sector involved in mining.

The Standard for Responsible Mining will cover mine sites, not mining companies, and will not certify extraction of energy fuels (e.g. uranium, coal, oil or gas). The best practices for mining will include elements such as consideration of ecologically and culturally significant areas with regard to the location of the mine; reducing environmental impacts such as habitat loss and pollution; health and safety provisions for workers; free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples; and transparency in revenue payments from companies to governments.

With this draft Standard for Responsible Mining we have an unprecedented opportunity to better the lives of communities sitting on natural resources, said Larson Bill of the Western Shoshone Defense Project. By giving feedback on this draft, native peoples around the globe can help ensure greater respect of our rights and better control over our future when evaluating mine proposals on our lands.

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)