Large volumes of wastes are produced by the mining activities and mine waste management is one of the most important environmental issues which directly affect the feasibility of the mine related to permitting. The slurries or waste materials left over after mineral is extracted from ore via physico-chemical processing are called tailings which must be safely disposed to prevent the release of contaminates into the environment. Tailings are generally stored onland surface impoundments; can be used in backfilling the voids in exhausted underground mines and/or transferred through pipes and disposed to a watercourse under the water level subaqueously. In deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) method, the tailings are disposed to deep sea zones far from the shore. The environmental legislations are improving, forcing the mining industry to take strict measures regarding tailings management. The Turkish Regulation on Mining Wastes have been published in 2015 and is going to be in force by July 15, 2017 where DSTP is adressed as a possibility for non-hazardous wastes disposed to anoxic layer of Black Sea. This manuscript aims to provide guidance on the environmental permitting of DSTP practices as an option in Turkey’s Legislation.
About the Author:
Ms. Esen has 27 years of experience as an environmental engineer. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in environmental engineering and carried out post-graduate studies on coastal zone management and coastal engineering. She carried out academic studies in university as a lecturer and worked as a senior researcher at Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, TUBITAK, where she involved in the coordination and cooperation of national and regional oceanographic research programs and act as a national representative in international research consultation and coordination meetings. She has been working as a senior environmental consultant at SRK Consulting Turkey since 2011.
