Dust
Dust emissions associated with Rio Tinto's activities vary from well defined point source emissions (eg stack emissions) to fugitive emissions, such as particulate matter from blasting, product handling (eg stockpiling) and transportation.
In 2005, 20 operations received a total of 72 verbal or written dust related complaints, compared to 18 operations in 2004 receiving 91 complaints. Four operations, Sorel-Tracy, Cape Lambert Operations, Bengalla and Sept Iles, received five or more complaints, accounting for over half of the Group total number of dust complaints received. Complaints were predominantly due to dust generated from moving or stockpiling mine waste and product, heavy equipment movements on unsealed surfaces, stack emissions and wind blown dust from stockpiles and tailings dams. Activities carried out during the year to minimise the number of dust complaints and respond to complainants included:
- Watering and use of dust suppressant on haul roads.
- Water sprays and canons used on stockpiles, drilling equipment, around preparation plants and loading facilities. In addition, dust curtains were used on drilling equipment and membranes were installed on stockpiles.
- Improved supervision of loading and unloading activities.
- Initiatives to reduce product and materials spillage, including financial incentives to operators.
- Replacement of chimney demister.
- Modification of operations such as moving heavy earthmoving equipment to alternative locations to take wind direction into account, reduced loading of trucks, and changes to minimise fugitive emissions from ship unloading.
- Formation of a dust management strategy team.
- Dust monitoring programme in place as well as covers, irrigation systems and vegetation barriers.
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