Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr
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104 E&MJ; • JUNE 2014 www.e-mj.com M I T I G AT I O N B A N K S opportunity to pay a one-time, pre- dictable fee and receive assurance that their environmental compliance obligations will be met. It's much like forward buying or selling of a commodity, or a long-term contract for the price for fuel. Increased knowledge of capital project costs will help mining executives make informed decisions regarding the siting of new mines or the expansion of existing mines. So it's not surprising that business solutions have developed to help meet this need—entities buy or secure rights to property, improve that property's capacity and function as natural habitat, and then sell credits to offset environ- mental impacts elsewhere. These "mitigation banks" are an increasingly popular way for resource companies, highway builders, property developers, and other industries to meet their environmental obligations in a more predictable and timely fashion. From their start about 10 years ago, mitigation banks have spread throughout much of the U.S., although they are more common in the West and South than in the rest of the country. The concept has been tried and tested, and regulatory agencies are familiar with this way of meeting environmental obligations. In fact, under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2008 compensatory mitigation rules, mitigation banks are the preferred way to meet environmental obligations. Regulators like the fact that the envi- ronmental benefits have already been created—that the new habitat actually exists in reality, not just on paper. In addition, the permitting process is sim- plified since regulators do not need to review and approve site specific mitiga- tion plans. Mining companies like the certainty in knowing that what they are buying is real, not just a promise, and that they can plan their budgets and timelines accordingly. Developing a 'Product' to Meet Mining Companies' Needs Like any business, mitigation banks have evolved in the way they operate in order to meet their client's needs. Mitigation bankers do a lot of home- work prior to establishing a bank. That is, they attempt to determine what needs industries have in a region and then tai- lor the proposed mitigation bank to meet those needs. This may involve buying heavily impacted property—perhaps a worked-out quarry or a farm in which nat- ural drainage patterns have been altered. They will then take steps such as return- ing streams to their natural flow, stabiliz- ing stream banks to prevent erosion, and planting riparian vegetation along the sides to promote wildlife use. In the case of endangered species banks, it might involve buying caves where bats hiber- nate and partially sealing entrances to prevent human intrusion. The bank then works with environ- mental regulators through an Interagency Review Team (IRT) to determine the amount of "credits" that are available for sale. The banker proposes a service area COMPANY PROFILE-PAID ADVERTISEMENT At Trio, we are continuously investing in new product development and exception- al support personnel to meet our cus- tomers evolving needs. The latest TRIO product releases providing performance and value for the mining industry include the TC5 Cone Crusher, and the TBS3673 Banana Screen. With the introduction of the high per- formance 500 HP, 93,500 lb TC5 Cone Crusher, Trio has evolved the TC Series Cone design platform to be more produc- tive. This mine duty series features TCCA; a fully automated system controlling the crusher feed rate; crusher discharge set- ting and cavity fill level. The TCCA system can control single or multiple machines with real-time monitoring, control and trending of the main crusher functions. 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CNC drilled side plates with all bolted construction eliminate fatigue stress. The cross-members and drive beam are machined for precision fit and aligned with the stroke motion of the screen. Optional sub-frame isolators reduce vibration loading minimizing structural support requirements. TRIO offers multiple deck configurations that accommodate all screen media types. Innovative, high performance, reliable products are just a part of what makes TRIO a valued partner in the global min- ing industry. Our highly qualified appli- cation and support teams strive to find the most optimized solutions for our cus- tomers. We are focused on "Building Solutions Together" with our customers, by having the products and the people to serve your needs. Investing and Expanding to Meet 'The TRIO Commitment' EMJ_pg102-114_EMJ_pg102-114 6/3/14 4:06 PM Page 104