In 2015, MAC undertook a review of the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide, as well as the Towards Sustainable Mining® Tailings Management Protocol. The revised Protocol and the third edition of the Tailings Guide were released in 2017, and this second edition of the OMS Guide builds on the best practices described in the third edition of the Tailings Guide. The second edition provides strengthened guidance on the development of site-specific OMS manuals that, when implemented throughout the life cycle of a tailings facility:
- provide a mechanism for the effective implementation of a tailings management system;
- provide a mechanism to meet tailings management performance objectives and manage risk;
- support effective decision-making for responsible tailings management; and
- support the management of changes associated with tailings management.
Revisions to the Tailings Guide and the OMS Guide were undertaken by MAC’s Tailings Working Group (TWG), which consists of more than 50 representatives of MAC members and associate members. Collectively, TWG members have a tremendous depth and breadth of experience and expertise in tailings management in Canada and around the world. We are extremely grateful to the members of the TWG for their dedication and commitment to responsible tailings management, and for the contributions of their knowledge, wisdom and time, without which the updated Tailings Guide and OMS Guide would not be possible.
