ISO/FDIS 21795-1

FINAL
INTERNATIONAL ISO/FDIS
DRAFT
STANDARD 21795-1
ISO/TC 82/SC 7
Mine closure and reclamation
Secretariat: KATS
planning —
Voting begins on:
2021-07-13
Part 1:
Voting terminates on:
Requirements
2021-09-07
Planification de la fermeture et de la restauration des mines —
Partie 1: Exigences
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO
SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION
OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH
THEY ARE AWARE AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING
DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
Reference number
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
ISO/FDIS 21795-1:2021(E)
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES,
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON
OCCASION HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE
LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL TO BECOME STAN-
DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS. ISO 2021
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ISO/FDIS 21795-1:2021(E)
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© ISO 2021

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Foreword ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................vi

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

2 Normative references ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

3 Terms and definitions ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

4 Mine closure and reclamation planning framework ...................................................................................................... 2

5 Framework elements for mine closure and reclamation planning .................................................................3

5.1 Responsibility .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

5.1.1 Mine operator responsibility ................................................................................................................................ 3

5.1.2 Stakeholder engagement .......................................................................................................................................... 3

5.1.3 Regulations ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3

5.1.4 Financial plan ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3

5.2 Integration .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

5.2.1 Physical and chemical control for sustainable land and water use ..................................... 4

5.2.2 Mine closure and reclamation treatment resilience ......................................................................... 4

5.2.3 Long-term post-closure and reclamation ................................................................................................... 4

5.2.4 Social transition to closure ...................................................................................................................................... 4

5.3 Design ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

5.3.1 Mine closure and reclamation objectives and commitments .................................................... 4

5.3.2 Timely mine closure and reclamation planning ................................................................................... 5

5.3.3 Mine design and operation for mine closure and reclamation ................................................ 5

5.4 Risk and opportunity assessment and management ............................................................................................. 5

5.5 Evaluation and improvement ..................................................................................................................................................... 5

5.5.1 Quality assurance ............................................................................................................................................................ 5

5.5.2 Adaptive management ................................................................................................................................................ 6

5.6 Knowledge and data management ........................................................................................................................................ 6

6 Mine closure and reclamation planning activities ............................................................................................................ 6

6.1 General ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

6.2 Mine closure and reclamation plan objectives and commitments ............................................................. 7

6.3 Technical procedures and techniques ................................................................................................................................. 8

6.3.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

6.3.2 Mine site characterization ....................................................................................................................................... 8

6.3.3 Physical and chemical stability............................................................................................................................ 8

6.3.4 Contaminated media .................................................................................................................................................... 9

6.3.5 Infrastructure decommissioning and disposal ...................................................................................10

6.3.6 Post-closure land-use plan ...................................................................................................................................10

6.3.7 Closure and reclamation plan alternatives and opportunities analyses.......................10

6.3.8 Reclamation.......................................................................................................................................................................11

6.3.9 Progressive mine closure and reclamation ............................................................................................11

6.3.10 Mine closure and reclamation schedule ...................................................................................................11

6.3.11 Mine closure and reclamation cost estimate ........................................................................................12

6.3.12 Management of risks and opportunities ..................................................................................................12

6.4 Mitigating socio-economic impacts....................................................................................................................................12

6.5 Financial planning and assurance .......................................................................................................................................13

6.6 Mine closure and reclamation planning for unplanned closure................................................................13

6.7 Post-closure management plan .............................................................................................................................................14

6.7.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................14

6.7.2 Closure criteria ...............................................................................................................................................................14

6.7.3 Post-closure maintenance.....................................................................................................................................14

6.8 Documentation ....................................................................................................................................................................................14

6.8.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................14

6.8.2 Mine closure and reclamation plan ..............................................................................................................15

6.8.3 Mine closure and reclamation plan updates .........................................................................................15

6.8.4 Knowledge and data management ................................................................................................................15

Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................16

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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 82, Mining, Subcommittee SC 7, Mine

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A

This document provides requirements and recommendations for mine closure and reclamation planning

applicable to both new and operating mines. The overarching objective is to promote consistency and

quality in planning for mine closure and reclamation internationally. ISO 21795-2 provides guidance for

The intended audience are those with responsibility for, or an interest in, planning for mine closure and

reclamation. This includes mine planners and designers, mine operators, regulators, environmental

assessors, communities, indigenous peoples, and financial stakeholders, amongst others.

Mine planning, design and operations must be fully integrated with the closure and reclamation

process. Early, continual and comprehensive mine closure and reclamation planning is essential for all

— leads to the highest degree of environmental and social success, usually at a lower cost than if mine

closure and reclamation planning is not done from the beginning of the mining project;

— reduces risks and liabilities throughout the mine’s operational life and on closure;

— allows for stakeholder involvement throughout, so that relevant knowledge and understanding are

— allows for devoting more attention to sustainable development activities identifying socio-economic

— helps build trust with governments, stakeholders and international communities;

— provides additional planning time to understand the complexity of the biophysical characteristics

— provides for continual improvement and updating of closure and reclamation plans;

— allows companies to better integrate closure and reclamation activities with operations;

— provides time to identify, research and develop new technologies for mine closure strategies and

mine closure treatments that increase robustness and resilience of mine closure and reclamation;

— allows companies to better provision for and schedule closure and reclamation funding.

There are many leading practices and guidance documents related to mine closure and reclamation

planning available in various jurisdictions and used by many mining companies and stakeholders. This

document captures the intent of such guidance documents so that it can be applied globally.

This document specifies a framework and the processes involved in mine closure and reclamation

planning for new and operating mines. Requirements and recommendations are provided on:

The following aspects of mine closure and reclamation are not addressed in this document:

— infrastructure such as rail lines, ports, off-site ore loaders, power stations, etc. that are associated

— detailed survey, testing or monitoring methods, detailed engineering procedures, detailed product

requirements, or detailed construction and operational procedures; occupational health and safety

management related to closure and reclamation, construction and exploration activities;

— relinquishment of a closed and reclaimed mine site, or portions thereof, to a party (governmental or

— specific requirements for dealing with the radiological aspects of mine closure and reclamation,

such as those that occur at uranium mining and processing facilities and other mines at which

naturally occurring radioactive materials are present; however, the other aspects associated with

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content

constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For

undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 20305 apply.

ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:

Mine closure and reclamation planning is required for all areas affected or potentially affected by the

mining infrastructure and operations. The potentially affected areas include those on which the mine

facilities are located, and adjacent areas that can potentially be impacted by surface water, groundwater

and air quality from the mining facilities. In some cases, the potentially affected areas can be located

across an international border in another country. The affected and potentially affected areas should

Six framework elements, shown in Figure 1 and detailed in Clause 5, form the foundation for establishing

and maintaining effective mine closure and reclamation planning. This framework applies through

the mine closure and reclamation planning and implementation process, from initial mine planning

through to long-term post-closure. Details are provided on the processes, activities and steps necessary

Responsibility — company responsibility (see 5.1.1), including stakeholder engagement (see 5.1.2), is

inherent to the entire mine closure and reclamation planning process. Local jurisdictional requirements

can exist (see 5.1.3). Financial management and provisioning for closure (see 5.1.4) is critical to

Integration — mine closure and reclamation planning is an integral part of the mining life cycle,

including with respect to physical and chemical controls for sustainable land and water use (see 5.2.1).

Mine closure and reclamation treatments are required to be resilient (see 5.2.2 and 5.2.3), considering

socio-economic considerations in the transition to closure (see 5.2.4). Engagement with stakeholders

Design — it is developed in the context of meeting closure and rehabilitation objectives, which in

turn are developed in consultation with stakeholders (see 5.3.1 and 5.1.2). Robust lifecycle design and

management should reflect this, so as to facilitate successful mine closure and reclamation (see 5.3.3).

Risk and opportunity assessment and management — it is the process to assess and manage mine

closure and reclamation risks, and to identify and act on opportunities throughout the life of the mine

Evaluation and improvement — quality assurance provides the maintenance of the mine closure and

reclamation planning standard at the corporate and operational level (see 5.5.1), while the process of

adaptive management facilitates continuous improvement through the life of the mine (see 5.5.2).

Knowledge — identifying uncertainty through knowledge gaps, building knowledge, managing,

disseminating and retaining knowledge and data that support mine closure and reclamation planning

Mine closure and reclamation are mine operator responsibilities, and the associated planning shall be

incorporated in mine operator policies and procedures and be endorsed by mine operator executives

with enough authority to allocate the necessary financial and human resources. Mine operators shall

demonstrate that they have internal policies, procedures and standards to conduct mine closure and

The respective roles and responsibilities for mine closure and reclamation for any given mine site

shall be established and clearly documented in relevant corporate and operating policies, plans

and procedures. Individuals responsible for mine closure and reclamation planning shall have the

necessary competencies, including education, training and experience to understand regulatory and

Stakeholders shall be engaged at all stages of the life-of-mine planning process. Outcomes of engagement

shall be addressed in mine closure and reclamation plans and in their implementation. Stakeholders

shall be identified early and updated progressively and include, the mine operator, rights holders,

downstream communities, regulators, non-government organizations, investors, community groups,

Mine closure and reclamation planning and design can be covered in local, national and regional

The mine operator shall develop a financial plan that details what the financial provisions are for each

stage of the life of the mine, including provisions for unplanned closure and post-closure requirements.

These shall include provisions for the necessary cash flow needed to fulfil the commitments of the mine

Mine closure and reclamation planning and design shall meet established objectives and commitments

(as described in 5.3.1), leave the mine site in a stable and safe condition and provide for ongoing post-

mining land use. Mine features shall not release chemicals into the air, water or surrounding soils that

result in unacceptable impacts to human health or the environment as determined by site-specific risk

To meet these requirements, the mine operator shall establish measurable mine closure and reclamation

completion criteria that shall be used to determine when mine closure and reclamation objectives

have been met. The mine operator also shall provide for monitoring of the success of mine closure and

Mine closure and reclamation treatments shall be resilient so that they can respond to changes and

risks in a dynamic environment. The treatments shall provide for meeting the closure and reclamation

objectives prior to, during, or following changes and disturbances, so that these objectives are met and

Mine closure, reclamation planning and design shall provide sufficient resilience to reduce the

risk of catastrophic and/or chronic failure and to enhance the potential for post-closure facilities

and landforms to adapt to changed conditions as necessary to still meet the design intent following

damaging natural events with minimal active management. The mine closure and reclamation plan

shall also demonstrate that post-closure facilities and landforms have been designed for closure in a

The post-closure phase shall provide for adaptive management, and for ongoing environmental

protection until completion criteria and post mining land-use requirements are met, and shall include

site management that provides necessary monitoring, inspections, reporting, maintenance, and repairs,

as well as regular certifications of the integrity of mine waste containment structures. Secure long-

The mine closure and reclamation plan shall consider options for potential access controls to protect

human health and safety and the integrity of the post-closure environment and post mining landforms.

Access controls can include physical controls that are compatible with the land-use objectives and/or

Stakeholder engagement and communication is integral to developing plans for social transition,

through all the process of the project. Planning for social transition shall include provisions both

for social transition costs, such as ongoing consultation and engagement, workforce adaption and

community financial preparedness, and for potential social investment projects that will support

communities when mining ends and there is a transition to a post-closure land use.

Mine closure and reclamation objectives and commitments shall be established as a basis for mine

closure and reclamation planning. With equal priorities, these objectives shall include the management

of human health and environmental risks, providing for the sustainability of the mine closure and

reclamation works and resulting land use, and reducing long-term maintenance requirements and

liabilities. The objectives shall also consider the results of stakeholder engagement, that regulations

Objectives and commitments shall also address socio-economic and cultural aspects of mine closure

and reclamation. This shall include managing the transition of the workforce and communities through

to and beyond closure. It shall also consider future post-closure opportunities provided by the closed

and reclaimed site for the local communities and indigenous peoples where relevant.

Objectives shall establish goals and standards to be achieved, while commitments shall include specific

For new mines, mine closure and reclamation planning, including the associated post mining land-use

planning, shall commence with the initial mine development planning, be included in the environmental

and socio-economic assessment and permitting of the mining project, and be continually refined

and updated thereafter as necessary. For operating mines, mine closure and reclamation planning

and execution shall be undertaken as soon as possible in accordance with the requirements in this

document. Stakeholder engagement shall be undertaken to share knowledge and reach agreement on

mine closure and reclamation objectives, post-mining land use and timing of the works.

Mine planning, design and operations shall be fully integrated with the closure and reclamation process,

and shall consider the closure and reclamation requirements and the post-closure land use. Scheduling

of progressive closure and reclamation shall be included for mine features and domains such as tailings

and waste rock management, mine pits, underground workings, heap leach management facilities,

processing facilities, water management infrastructure, and all forms of supporting and service