Decision making process / basic options assessment Mercury Storage and Disposal LAC Two Countries...

Decision making process / basic options assessment

Mercury Storage and Disposal LAC Two Countries Project

Gustavo Solórzano Ochoa, Consultant

Montevideo, Uruguay 28-29 June 2011

Outline of Suggested framework

Important initial actions

Make an inventory

Review regulatory framework

Establish safetyobjectives

Establish decision making process

Initiate dialogue

Agree on national surplus mercury

managementobjectives

Assess basic management options

Review national / regional context

Review technology status

Define criteria for selection of site and

technology for storage/disposal

Choose between technical concepts

Make a list of potential technical

concepts

Identify temporarystorage options

Assess risks to workers & the public

Assess scientific and technical capacity

Assess how practical the options are

Calculate costs (capital & operating)

Decide on conceptand technology

Agree on a siteselection process

Enable implementation

Create timeline & work plan

Secure finances

Organizational arrangements

Ensure regulation is effective

Develop scientific & technical know-how

Specify technical standards

Initiate monitoring & reporting

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4Regularly re-assess the process

Actions

•Make an inventoryMake an inventory

•Review regulatory frameworkReview regulatory framework

•Establish safety objectives

•Establish decision making process

•Initiate dialogue

•Agree on national surplus mercury management objectives

Stage 1. Important initial actions


3. Establish safety objectives

• Protection of human health

• Protection of the environment

• Protection beyond national borders

• Protection of future generations

• Burdens on future generations.

• Identify any existing mechanisms for co-ordinating decisions about hazardous materials, public health and environmental protection

Commissions Networks Institutes, etc.

• If they do not exist, create national interagency coordinating bodies (government, NGOs, industry, academy, etc.

• Define stakeholders involved in the process


4. Establish a decision making process

• Define the roles of central and regional government departments as well as other official agencies, and other stakeholders (e.g. civil society and research institutions responsible for public health and environmental protection)• Establish any need for new organisations (expert panels, inspection teams, etc.• Decide on the nature and extent of stakeholder engagement etc. • At the end of the dialogue process, the objectives of the national surplus mercury management will be agreed upon


4. Establish a decision making process

Once an inventory is available, it will be possible to assess the basic management concepts. Not the detailed technical concepts, but just the general types of action that might be possible.

Actions:•Review the national and regional context•Review technology status•Define criteria for selection of site and technology for storage/disposal

Stage 2. Assess basic management options

Box 2: Basic management concepts Temporary storage

On sites where the surplus mercury has been produced (as long as they will be safe and secure )

In a national storage facility – restricted to national mercury or providing a regional/international facility

Above ground Underground

Export to an international/regional storage facility Above ground Underground

Return to point of origin (e.g. the owner or producer if identifiable)

Disposal in a specially engineered landfill

National facility – restricted to national mercury or accepting mercury from other countries

Stabilized mercury

Export to an international/regional storage facility Stabilized mercury

Deep well injection

Use of existing deep wells, e.g. oil wells that provide a sufficient level of safety

Slurry of stabilized mercury

Disposal in an underground repository (permanent storage)

National facility – restricted to national mercury or accepting mercury from other countries Rock types: igneous rock, salt dome, disused mine

Stabilized mercury/ mercury compounds Elemental mercury

Export to international/regional disposal facility Return to the point of origin

1. Review the national /regional context

2. Review technology status

Some of the basic management options may not be available due to: •political constraints•lack of resources•lack of suitable local geologies •the technology involved has not yet been demonstrated

It is then important to consider:


3. Define criteria for site selection & technology for storage/disposal

For above ground facilities: Floodplains

Unstable terrain Wetlands Unfavourable weather Groundwater conditions Earthquake zones Incompatible land use Karst soils


Actions

•Make a list of potential technical options

• Identify temporary storage options

•Assess risks to workers and the public

•Assess scientific and technical capacity

Stage 3. Choosing between technical concepts

.

Actions

•Estimate costs (capital and operating)

•Assess how practical the options are

•Decide on concept and technology

• Agree on a site selection process


1. Make a list of potential technical concepts

2. Identify temporary storage options

It is possible that temporary storage will be the only safe option at present. It could imply a combination of technologies.


Considering:•Action is before central storage/disposal facilities become available•Timescales for temporary storage•Environmental risk associated with no further action

• Includes hazards and associated risks from processing and transporting mercury, as well as the operating period of a store, and the post-closure period for a disposal facility.

• Involves: identifying the hazards (chemical toxicity, structural stability) likelihood of harm

• will require comparison with national and international safety standards

• The significance of the risks may need to be compared to other environmental and human health risks

• Actions should be proportionate and cost-effective with the overall goal of protecting human health and the environment.

3. Assess risks to workers and the public


4. Assess scientific and technical capacity

According to the roles and responsibilities of current owners of mercury, operators of facilities that may accept redundant mercury, regulators, etc.


5. Assess how practical the options are

In terms of:•governance at the national and local level;•whether the regulatory framework can be implemented in practice; and •public acceptance of options.

6. Calculate costs (capital and operating)

•Cost estimates•Decide who bears them •Consequences

A detailed cost analysis that could be the basis for an investment will only be possible after the selection of one or several potential sites


7. Decide on concept and technology

Includes a decision on whether each step of the handling/treatment/storage/disposal–chain for mercury, as well as the total system is acceptable.

A site selection process is a structured and transparent procedure that guides decision makers and stakeholders through all steps between the fundamental decision to store or dispose surplus mercury and the final site selection.

8. Agree on a site selection process


The process could include elements like:

•the desired output (i.e. identification of one/several suitable sites, timelines)•safety objectives•site selection criteria: minimum requirements and exclusion criteria•actors and responsibilities•timelines•steps of site identification, investigation and assessment•involvement of stakeholders•decision process (who will decide and necessary information)

8. Agree on a site selection process


Stage 4. Activities to enable Stage 4. Activities to enable implementationimplementation

1. Create timeline & work plan

2. Secure finances

• Establishment of realistic timescales for implementation is essential

• A work plan should be published and then regularly reviewed.

• Decide who will bear the cost of surplus mercury management

• Find a way to raise the necessary funds for investment

3. Organisational arrangements


• Decide on roles and responsibilities • Identify a lead organisation responsible for the

process and make this known.

4. Ensure regulation is effective

• Check that the regulatory framework is appropriate.

• Ensure that regulatory bodies are in place to make checks


5. Develop scientific & technical know-how

6. Specify technical standards

7. Initiate monitoring and reporting

• May involve regional/international cooperation • Operators of storage or disposal facilities must be

adequately qualified and experienced.

Includes environmental quality standards, as well as construction and health and safety standards

A responsible/qualified organisation undertakes an appropriate level of environmental monitoring

Division of Technology, Industry and Economics Chemicals Branch11–13 chemin des AnémonesCH-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, SwitzerlandTel: +41 22 917 8111Fax: +41 22 797 3460E-mail: [email protected]: www.chem.unep.ch

Thank you very much

Decision making process / basic options assessment Mercury Storage and Disposal LAC Two Countries...

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