Ensuring the safety of hydraulic structures
NLMK Group focuses on environmental protection and corporate social responsibility issues. The organizational structure of NLMK Group includes dedicated services and units responsible for the safety of hydraulic structures.
The Stoilenskoye iron ore deposit is mined by the open-pit method, and the tailings dams at Stoilensky are built up on the upstream slope. The only tailings facility of the Company was built in 1984. Throughout its operation, no environmental incidents related to the tailing dump systems and structures have been recorded.
Safe operation of the tailings facility is ensured by means of a number of internal and independent inspections. The inspections check, among other things:
-
water level in the tailings facility at least twice a day;
-
visual inspection of engineering structures at least once a day;
-
quality control of tailings at least once every quarter;
-
check of water filtration at the dams at least once a month;
-
weekly inspection of the facility safety by inspectors of the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Management (Rostekhnadzor);
-
environmental compliance assessment twice a month;
-
annual geological survey;
-
annual scheduled checks of the technical condition and safety of the dam.
In September 2018, an integrated survey of Stoilensky tailings facility’s hydraulic engineering structures was conducted together with representatives of Rostehnadzor, EMERCOM, and other specialized government agencies and entities. Ultimate safety level, determined for Stoilensky tailings hydraulic engineering structures as a result of the above survey is evaluated as “normal” (the best possible).
A local alarm system is in place at Stoilensky and its operability is checked monthly by Stoilensky own staff and Rostekhnadzor specialists. An Emergency Contingency Plan for Hydraulic Structures at the Tailing Dam has been designed and gets updated every year. Staff training is administered at least once a month. In April 2019, training sessions were held with participation of invited experts of EMERCOM. There is no need for monitoring of seismic activity in the area as corroborated by an appropriate report of the specialized state committee.
The Company duly informs the local communities about the existence of the tailings facility and holds regular public hearings regarding development of the complex.