El medio ambiente en la minería

111 PER G. BROMAN the avoidance of unacceptable economic results during downtums in the economy. Operations are capilal-intensive, which places heavy demands lhat investment decisions be based on feasible, stable basie conditions. One impor– tant set of conditions is the one related lo an environmental permito l. THEEMnRONMENTALCH~NGE 1shall descnbe the environmental challenge in a number of different ways hut 1would like to begin with the actual state of the environment. The common factor for most industrial plants constructed until the 19708 is that they were designed on the basis of production and market requirements. Of course, measures were taken to reduce environmental impact during tbis early period but it was only during the most recent decades that there emerged a more natural integrationofenvironmental protection aspects into the design and installation of industrial plants. The designs and operating methods of the early yeaes resulted in heavy emissions and impact on the surroundings, an impact surveyed in successive stages since the 19608. This survey has illustrated the frequently heavy impact of older mines and smelting plants on theír immediate surroundings. This impact has been considerable in the sense lhat many levels of the ecological system have been affected, mainly tbe water– li~g species. However, the impact has often been restrieted to a limited geographie area which, in the case ofwater, appiied to the closest lake. But in the case oflarge, coast-based operations, the impact has been on much larger recipient areas. To use the expression "environmental challenge", it can be said that the state of the environment has been a challenge that stimulated both a reduction of tbe environmental impact as well as a restoration of recipient areas. The technical cbanges made at the Rónnskar smelter to meet tbis environmental chaUenge will be taken up later in this presentation. But tiest, 1would like to comment on how companies are aetuaUy confronted with the environmental ehallenge. Companies can be said to meet the environmental challenge on manydifferent fronts, with one of the fronts within the company itself. This occurs through a natural desire on tbe part of tbe company, and its employees, to conduct operations in a manner adapted to the environment. The ehallenge derives in part from the faet lhat the immediate surroundings constitute lhe employees' livingand leisureenvironment. It is also important from a recruitingstandpoint tbat tbe company not be regarded as environmental1y irresponsible by the membees of the community. This inner environm,ental challenge to the com-