anglogold | report to society 2003


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Annual Financial Statements 2003

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Case studies
Australia

7.7 Environmental and community incident reporting in Australia

AngloGold Australia has a comprehensive incident reporting system in place in terms of which all environmental and community incidents must be recorded, investigated, corrected and reported to the appropriate management level of the organisation. This information is then used to assist in the development of preventative strategies and effective environmental training programmes.

In line with the Environmental Management System that was established in the Australian Region during 2002, environmental and community incidents are categorised at five levels:

Level 1:	Insignificant ? no or very little environmental impact (impact confined to a small area)
Level 2:	Minor ? low-environmental impact. Rapid clean up by site staff or contractors (impact contained to area currently affected by operations)
Level 3:	Moderate ? clean up by site staff or contractors (impact confined to lease area)
Level 4:	Major ? major environmental impact. Considerable clean-up effort required using site and external resources (impact may extend beyond the lease boundary)
Level 5:	Catastrophic ? severe environmental or community impact. Destruction of local species and likely lengthy recovery period. Extensive clean-up involving external resources. (Impact on a regional scale)

AngloGold Australia had had no community-related incidents.

Reported environmental incidents during 2002/2003

	2003	2002
Level 1:	65	48
Level 2:	27	15
Level 3:	9	2
Level 4:	0	0
Level 5:	0	0

Some of the level 2 and 3 incidents during the year included the following:

Level 2 Type

•	Approximately 100l of diesel were released on to the ground at the workshop fast fuel bowser during refuel activities. The tank did not have a pressure relief shutdown point incorporated in the design.
•	During normal operation the hydraulic oil line to the mill gearbox split, releasing 100l of oil inside and outside the containment bund. The line was affected by vibration and relocated during shutdown.
•	Approximately 100l of hydraulic oil were released from an RC drill rig hydraulic oil pump on to the ground while drilling.

Level 3 Type

•	1,500l of diesel were released to the environment when the pipe connecting the bulk diesel tank and generators was damaged by the slip in the pit wall. The area was cleaned up and a report submitted to the relevant statutory body.
•	During routine maintenance on a rig, the main hydraulic line broke releasing 350l of oil on to the pit floor. The line was replaced, the area cleaned up and the incident was reported.
•	Hypersaline water was released on to disturbed ground and into an area of degraded remnant vegetation following the failure of an exploration drilling water line. The pipeline was located within a containment trench. Water filled the trench, causing it to flow along the containment structure towards the pit, into the vegetated area.

In accordance with Statutory Acts and Regulations in Australia, some incidents will be notifiable to regulatory agencies. These types of incidents are generally written in as licence requirements.

Business principle:

AngloGold and the environment

	Governance and management
	Environmental incident reporting systems
	Environmental management system
	Mine closure planning
	Cyanide management
	Resource use and waste generation
	Surface disturbance
	Biodiversity issues

Reporting in line
with GRI

Objectives for 2004

Case Studies

	Environment
	South Africa
	East and West Africa
	Australia
	7.7 Environmental and community incident reporting in Australia
	South America
	North America

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