On January 28, 2022, Resolution Exenta No. 31 was published in the official gazette. Exempt Resolution No. 31 issued by the Superintendence of the Environment (SMA), which requires the implementation of an Online monitoring and electronic reporting system for a group of tailings deposits that have been prioritized at national level, in a joint technical work of Sernageomin and the Dirección General de Aguas (DGA).
This document refers to the reports submitted to the RCA Environmental Monitoring System, related to the monitoring of tailings deposits involved in the same, The water component, where it is indicated that these reports generally arrive with a time lag in terms of the date of data collection and the date reported, for which reason the activation of online monitoring has been arranged in order to control the associated environmental impacts.
The use of new technological tools new technological tools The use of new technological tools is promoted, defining monitoring standards that allow the SMA a timely and accurate analysis of the information available on tailings.
It mandates electronic reporting of on-line information for a series of discrete parameters, which represent the critical indicators to be monitored in the waters surrounding a tailings impoundment. This includes the source, seepage control works, groundwater and surface water, in tailings deposits that have been broken down into two categories, according to the tonnage of the tailings.
● The largest capacity with an authorized tonnage = > 100 million Tons.
● Those authorized with an authorized tonnage < 100 million Tons.
This provides a useful monitoring system for the early detection of deviations, irregularities, contingencies or environmental impacts that have not been taken into account, thus enabling timely corrective actions to be taken.
Ultimately, tailings deposit operators must begin to comply with these instructions within 3 months for tailings deposits over 100 million tons, while for deposits of lower tonnages, they must comply with the instructions within 6 months.
SIGEA HidroMetrix provides the support of the platform that will store all the information committed in the report to the Authority, in all the monitoring data, either continuously with installed sensors and manually, measured in the field, in its components of chemical analysis, water table records, flow, etc.
