| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The multi-media permit comprehensively addresses multiple emissions, effluents and solid waste, sets limits and establishes monitoring and reporting requirements and is a key regulatory compliance benchmark for smelter operations. The permit provides guidelines for a resultsoriented environmental management approach. BC Works combines the permit guidelines with other proactive strategies to facilitate vigilant compliance monitoring and regular communications with public and private stakeholders. The multi-media permit mandates annual reporting to measure performance against established permit standards. In addition to the permit reporting for BC Works, a summary report for compliance of the Kemano Operations environmental permits is provided. A year of transition: 2015 was a historic year for the Kitimat Smelter that saw the shut-down of the old Vertical Söderberg Stud (VSS) smelting operations and the start-up of the Modernised AP4X pre-bake smelter. The ramp of aluminium production is expected to be completed in the first half of 2016. 2015 also saw the successful completion of the 2013 SO2 permit amendment appeal. The BC Environmental Appeal Board (BCEAB) dismissed the Appeal, upholding the SO2 Permit Amendment in full. The BCEAB provided nine nonbinding recommendations to the BC Ministry of Environment for consideration and Rio Tinto will be reviewing the recommendations in 2016. In 2015, BC Works reported 4 non-compliances. A discussion of the non-compliances, their impacts and Rio Tinto responses are highlighted in Chapter 11 of this report. The 2015 Annual Environmental Report is available online at www.riotintobcoperations.com. The website also provides information on key environmental performance indicators. Questions or comments are welcome and may be made through the contact page on the website. operational overview; environmental management and certification; effluents; emissions; air quality monitoring; vegetation monitoring; waste management; groundwater monitoring; Kemano; permits; non-compliance; spills; environmental permits; Kitimat; Nechako Reservoir |
