El medio ambiente en la minería

EL MEDIO AMBIENTE EN LA MINERIA 110 autborities concerning tbe measures to be taken. In an overwhelming number of cases, the conflicts tbat arose were in regard to the timing of the necessary investments. Occasionally, the question arises as to how much industry would bave accomplisbed in reducing emissions in tbe absence oípressure by society in tbe form of newly established compliance agencies and environmental protection legislation. The question m.ay seem plausible but is, nonetheless, irrelevant. Tbe insigbt concerning tbe need for corrective measures occurred simultaneously witbin industry and society at large. Therefore, a situation in whicb industrywould be hostile to even tbe most obvious correctives would be conceivable only in a society witbout environmental laws and compliance agencies, at least from tbe Swedish standpoint. In my initial remarles, 1would also like to provide sorne information about tbe legislative framework within wbich tbe environmental protection efforts are conducted in Sweden. Tbe central legal act in tbis area is tbe Environmental Protection Act, enacted in 1969. Through tbe years, the act has been modified in certain respects but, in its basic structure, is essentially the same nowaswhen it was implemented. This act stipu)ates that decisions regarding permits and the conditions under whicb heavy industrial operations are to be conducted, sucb as mining and smelting operations, be formulated. by a particular institu– tion designated tbe Licensing Board for Environmental Protection. Eacb case is decided on its individual merits. No specific standards bave been adopted, sucb as emission guidelines. In each particular case, the determination is fi1'St made wbether a pIanned operation is environmentally permissible. In certain cases, tbe Board refers the matter to the national govemment. If its permissibility is ascertained, condi– tions are then formulated for the operation based 00 the Environmeotal Protection Act's three cornerstones: i) ecological justification, ii) technical practicability, and iii) economic feasibility. These conditions, as formulated, can be appealed to tbe national government. Despite the unreasonably protacted time that is sometimes required to process . a permit, industry is nonetheless relatively satisfied with the application of the law as it has developed. As 1proceed with comments on the theme of this session, " the environmental challenge and the technological change", these will be based largely on ex– perience from Boliden Mineral's Ronnskar base- and precious-metal smelter in Northern Sweden. 1would aIso like to state that another important poiot is • that provided by the conditions offree enterprise. Here, as with all other forms of economic endeavor, there is an obvious and fundamental requirement for profitability. For aD operation that is heavily'dependent on business condi– tions, such as a metal-smelting plant, success hinges on achieving satisfactory profitability over a protracted period, such as a complete business cyc1e, and