Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

presentation he would show that knowledge of these macro scale events,
many of which were never known before, is still being developed.
Dr Corbett said that his presentation would provide an overview
of the environmental milestones achieved by De Beers, and what is
required to drive a major environmental programme such as the
programme operated by De Beers. He also said that De Beers Marine was
the first diamond-mining company in the world to be certified with ISO
14001.
Dr. Corbett informed participants that the first environmental
impact statement completed by De Beers was in 1996. He said that De
Beers Marine initiated the assessment as a self-regulatory matter. He said
that at the time, there was no legislative requirement for environmental
impact assessments. He said that the decision to undertake this work was
made in 1990, when the management of De Beers realized that protection
of the environment was going to be fundamental to the long-term
sustainability of mining operations. He said that the work that was
initiated in 1991 involved a very considerable volume of research, and a
very large number of local specialists. He said that the view was taken
that for the studies to be really meaningful, the best way forward was
through the use of the available local experts whom would also benefit
from the inter-action with industry. In 1997, Dr. Corbett said that De Beers
decided to implement ISO 14001. He informed the workshop that the
work required to achieve the ISO 14001 status was concluded during 1998,
with certification granted in that same year. He also said that NAMDEB is
currently in the process of certification and that so far, the audit has gone
particularly well for a large operation onshore.
In relation to how the environmental management team of De
Beers Marine evolved, Dr. Corbett said that De Beers has pro-actively
taken a very open policy with its environmental work and, recognizing
that as an industry, it has a contribution to make to the scientific
community, creates many opportunities by its presence in the offshore
environment. He said that over the years De Beers Marine has been a
large contributor to the creation of national databases for oceanographic
research. He said that this has been achieved through external
partnerships with independent scientists whose work is judged credible
by the scientific community, both nationally and internationally. He said
that the work De Beers asks of the scientists provides them with an
opportunity to be able to enter into contracts with the organization, to
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 654