FEASIBILITY AUDITS
An auditor must determine that the appropriate evaluation criteria should be established in advance of the feasibility decision and the feasibility process that has proceeded in an unbiased manner in order to ensure that the IT (Information technology) requirements of the organization are met in the most efficient and effective way. The feasibility study must cover points such as a clear statement of the business and information processing requirements that the new or amended system is intended to cover. This chapter looks at the auditor’s role in feasibility studies and conversions.
REQUIREMENTS ASSESMENTS & QUARRY EVALUATION
Environmental impact assessment is a decision making tool to predictthe effect of a proposed activity/ project on the environment, tocompare various alternatives for a project and to identify bestcombination of economic, environmental and social costs and benefits.
Coal mining is the process of extracting the coal from the deepunderground mines in the earth crust. Coal mining is one of the mostillegal activities going on in the country. At the same time it totallyneglects the role of EIA in its pre-operational, during mining and post.
Operational plans. Here various case studies of coal mining are doneand the impact of coal mining to the environment is looked into withsome measures to mitigate this problem with proper use of technologyand generation of awareness. The impact of coal mining on land,water, health of workers, air and social impact on surrounding villagesand cities is evaluated and environment management plan of coalmining is developed. Therefore, the coal has to be used sustainably ascoal reserves are depleting rapidly.
Introduction
Coal is a non-renewable fossil fuel Formed from the remains of plants that lived anddied about 100 to 400 million years ago. Depth, thickness, and configuration ofminerals resource decide the selection of mining technology (open cast orunderground).Minerals exploitation progresses through four stages: Prospecting meanssearch for deposits. Exploration: Once the deposit is assured, this is done to assess thesize, shape, location and economic value of the deposit. Development – Work ofpreparing access to the deposit so that the coal can be extracted. Depending on the content of volatiles, coal is classified into Lignite,Sub-bituminous coal, Bituminous coal and Anthracite. Open cast mining andunderground mining (room pillar, long wall, drift, shaft, slope mining) are some typesof coal mining. Proper Environment impact assessment of coal mining is veryimportant.
Environment and Social issues related to coal mining
Coal mining has significant impact on land and land use, some of the land relatedimpact are: Loss of biodiversity, Economic loss or loss of livelihood due todisplacement and encroachment of agricultural land and Impact on water resource (interm of water availability and quality). Open cast mine has significant impact on landas compared to underground mine.</p> <p><strong>1) Land –</strong> Around 4 ha of land is damaged for every million tons of coal mined bythe surface mining. For instance, a capacity of 10 million-tons opencast coalmine in 20 years has a potential to destroy around 800 ha of land.</p> <p><strong>2) Air –</strong> Mainly in the form of Fugitive Dust. Most mining operations generatedust such as Drilling, blasting, Vehicles movement on haul roads, Collection,transportation and handling of coal, Screening, sizing and segregation andstorage.For example, a coal stack of 50,000 tonnes can generate 250 tonneoffugitive dust even if assuming loss of only 0.5 per cent as fugitive dust.</p> <p><strong>3) Water</strong> – Breaching of groundwater affects the local water availability. Highrisk to alter the water quality of areas e.g. low pH, increase in total solids, TDSand heavy metal concentration. Acid mine drainageproduced by the leaching ofsulphide minerals present in the coal leaves a Direct impact on drinking waterquality,aquatic life and corrosion of equipment and structures.</p> <p><strong>4) Solid Waste</strong> – Overburden of organic material and soil that overlie a mineraldeposit. Overburden generation is denoted by stripping ratio which is the ratioof overburden that needs to be removed to the amount of ore removed. Lowstripping ratio translates into low quantities of waste. Mining operation resultsin excavation of large quantities of top soil. It is precious as it holds nutrientsand is essential for successful rehabilitation and aforestation.Top soilmanagement and its reuse are important. Poor storage can lead to run-off.</p> <p><strong>5) Noise and vibration</strong> – Cumulative effect of mining activities producesconsiderable noise like blasting, drilling, crushing and movement of vehicles.Blasting results in ground vibrations and if there are human habitationsnearby,it can destroy property and houses.</p> <p><strong>6) Occupational health –</strong> The workers in mine have high risk of the occupationaldiseases:Pneumoconiosis: Due to inhalation of coal dust. Can cause severe lungEnvironment Impact Assessment of Coal Mining problems and lung cancer, Dust allergy and asthma, Noise hazard such astemporary or permanent hearing loss, headache and high blood pressure.</p> <p><strong>7) Mine </strong>fires -an issue for not only the workers but also the people living inadjoining area is a major problem.</p> <p><strong>8) Socio – economic factor –</strong> Coal mining affects communities at multiple levels.1)During mine’s opening – Displacement, Loss of livelihood.2) During mine’s operation – Pollution impact (air, water, noise, vibration), Healthimpact.</p>
Mitigation and Environment management plan
<p>EMP is a framework for the implementation and execution of mitigation measures andalternatives. Ideally EMP should covers all phases of project development i.e. Preconstruction,Operation of mine and Decommissioning of the mine. It is a Documentedplan Containing details of impacts, recommended mitigation and monitoring measuresetc and Legal document based on which the performance is monitored.</p> <p> </p> <p>1) <strong>Top soil management</strong> – The best practices for topsoil management is toScrapthe topsoil prior to drilling and blasting, Scraped topsoil should be usedimmediately for plantation/agriculture, If it is not possible to use the topsoilimmediately, then it should be stacked at a designated area, Storage must bedone in a pyramidal form, with garland drains all around.</p> <p> </p> <p>2) <strong>Overburden management</strong> – If an external overburden dump is unavoidable,then it should be stabilized with biological reclamation .Excavation from a newpit should begin after an existing pit has been exhausted. This would ensurethat the overburden and interburden generated is used for backfilling theexhausted pit, instead of being dumped elsewhere.Till a pit is exhausted.overburden should be compacted and stacked in specified locations in lowlying,non-mineralized zones within the lease area.Vegetation should beplanted over the dump slopes as early as possible.The height and slope of theoverburden dumps should be maintained to prevent slope failure.Sedimentationtanks should be constructed to treat run-off from external overburden dumps.For external overburden dumps, the bench height should not exceed 10 metersand the final dump height should not be more than 60 meters. For Gondwanaperiod rock strata, the slope should not exceed 28 degrees.</p> <p> </p> <p>3) <strong>Subsidence management</strong> -Planned subsidence by considering surfacestructures and human lives, as in the case of long-wall mining. Preparation of asubsidence management plan and its approval by the regulatory agency. Theplan should ensure the following:Simultaneous stowing of the de-coaled area.Compensation to and rehabilitation of the affected people. Fencing of thesubsidence zone during active mining operation to prevent unintended entryinto the affected area. Reclaiming the subsided area by afforestation. Regularmonitoring and inspection of subsidence area to detect any subsidence andtaking the necessary steps.Preparing a subsidence monitoring programme thatcovers the impact of subsidence on surface and groundwater (quality andquantity) and its management.</p> <p> </p> <p>4) <strong>Management of water pollution</strong> – Use of mine seepage water (after treatment)for different purposes, Construction of gabbion wall, garland drain, siltationpond, wherever appropriate and Coal stockpiles, overburden and topsoil shouldbe selectively placed in a stable area which is less prone to erosion.</p> <p> </p> <p>5) <strong>Mitigation measures for air pollution</strong> – fixed and mobile water spraying onthe haulage roads. Asphalting of the road junction meeting public roads.Covering of the trucks carrying ore with tarpaulin. Wheel wash system. 9 inchfree board for all the trucks. Green belt around mining area as physical barrier.</p> <p> </p> <p>6) <strong>Mitigation of noise and vibration</strong> –</p> <p>Use of closed and advanced blasting technology like shock tube technologyConducting blast only during day time, use of hydraulic drills and provision ofsound insulated chambers for workers deployed on machines producing higherlevels of noise like bulldozers, drills etc.Enclosing crusher units in covered buildings to minimize sound propagation.Providing silencers or enclosures for noise generating machines such DG sets,compressors etc.Creating a green belt around potential noise prone area and provision ofprotective devices like earmuffs/earplugs to workers, who are exposed to highlevel of noise and reducing the exposure time of workers by practicing workerrotation.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>7) Mine closure plan</strong> – A good mine closure plan should include the following:Adetailedfinal closure plan to create productive and sustainable land use,Theplan must be accepted by mine owners, regulating agencies, and local Environment Impact Assessment of Coal Mining communities, A plan to protect the health and safety of the surrounding habitatand A plan to eliminate/contain all possible sources of pollution post-mining.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <table width="659"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="149">8) <strong>Mitigation of occupational health and safety issues </strong>–Activity</td> <td width="510">Mitigation measures</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149">Drilling and<p></p> <p>Blasting</p></td> <td width="510">Driller shall be equipped with a closed cabin to reduce exposure tonoise and dust. In addition, the operators and other workers should beprovided with masks, helmets, gloves and earplugs.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149">Safety zone</td> <td width="510">Provisions should be made for a buffer zone between the localhabitation and the mine lease in the form of a green belt of suitabledepth. Restricted entry, use of sirens and cordoning of the blastingarea are some of the good practices to avoid accidents.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149">Workers<p></p> <p>health</p> <p>surveillance</p></td> <td width="510">Health survey programmers’ for workers and local community.Regular training and awareness of employees to be conducted to meethealth and safety objectives.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149">Mine<p></p> <p>Inundation</p></td> <td width="510">Mine inundation may lead to a serious disaster if a river is flowingclose to the mine pit. Hence a buffer space of a suitable width shouldbe maintained, which should be followed by construction ofembankments after considering high flood level.In underground mines, if the shaft is located in a low lying area or isvulnerable to flood risk, garland drains should be provided around theshaft.</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149">Mine fires</td> <td width="510">Try to extinguish the new fires and try to isolate existing fires.Try to take a scientific approach to mining practices and give dueconsideration to proposed fire prevention plans.Carry out monitoring using new scientific techniques.<p></p> <p>Risk of explosions in underground mines can be managed by goodmine planning, methane gas monitoring, good ventilation andcontrolling dust levels.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>