Resolution No. 181/2021 of the Ministry of Productive Development, Federal Mining Secretariat: “General Guidelines for the Rational Management of Mining Wastes”
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Mining Department report | Resolution No. 181/2021 of the Ministry of Productive Development, Federal Mining Secretariat: “General Guidelines for the Rational Management of Mining Wastes”
Dear Sir or Madam,
Resolution No. 181/2021 of the Ministry of Productive Development, Federal Mining Secretariat (FMS) (the “Resolution”), published in the Official Gazette on June 24th, 2021, establishes the “General Guidelines for the Rational Management of Mining Wastes” (the “Guidelines”). The purpose of the Guidelines is to establish a general standard for the proper management of mining waste throughout the life cycle of a mine.
In 2020, prior to the Guidelines issuance, through Resolution No. 47/2020 the FMS approved the “Strategic Plan for Argentine Mining Development”, through which it developed Program 15: “National Mining Sustainability Program” (the “Program 15”). Program 15 is set within the Sixth Strategic Objective of the Strategic Plan. It seeks to contribute to environmental preservation, exercising the supervision established by Law No. 24,585 and guaranteeing the sustainable use of natural resources.
The Guidelines seek to provide the framework and uniformity and consistency to mining waste policies and regulations in Argentina. The Guidelines define mining waste as waste derived from the exploration and exploitation stages of mineral and rock extraction, beneficiation, and/or processing operations. Hence, the management of waste generated by mining activities that are not directly related to mining (such as residential waste or non-mining hazardous waste) must be governed by their own legislation for their treatment or final disposal.
The FMS, under the Resolution, Section 2, invites the Provinces, the City of Buenos Aires, and the provincial Municipalities to incorporate the Guidelines within the scope of their own jurisdictions.
Additionally, the Resolution establishes in section 3 that the Directorate of Federal Mining Affairs under the Undersecretariat of Mining Policy of the FMS, within the scope of the Federal Mining Council (COFEMIN), shall aid the Provinces for the enforcement of the Guidelines.
Please, do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further information on this matter.
Sincerely,
Marcos Moreno Hueyo
Dolores Reyes