Environment and Security Initiative: Transforming risks into cooperation in South Eastern Europe

Priority: Management and reduction of trans boundary risks from hazardous activities

Outcomes:

• Reduced local environmental and human health risks and minimized tensions among SEE countries through reduction of risk of accidental transboundary pollution arising from hazardous mining sites
• Improved transboundary and regional cooperation on identification, management and reduction of trans-boundary risks from hazardous activities

Outputs

• Risk reduction measures implemented at up to three mining sites in the South East European region, to be chosen among those already prioritized. Remediation will follow the ‘Mining for Closure’ methodology developed by UNEP and best available engineering/ technical solutions
• Regional replication and dissemination through SEE networks e.g.: cleaner production centers, mining expertise, capacity building and training of experts in cooperation with Western Balkans environmental programme, monitoring, public-private partnerships for technology transfer, interregional exchange
• Improved safety culture at hazardous activities, improved knowledge of authorities and operators personnel on risk and hazard assessment and safety reporting; capacity building ‘Mining for closure’

Activities

• Building and improvement of constructions at tailings dams in order to prevent dam failure and/or control overflow (in case tailings dam is still operational), erosion control, pollution control/mitigation acid mine waters
• Technical guidance and coaching on remediation / risk reduction, “mining for closure” at three mining hotspots / tailing dams
• Improving institutional arrangements and setting up of monitoring mechanisms
• Regional dissemination and contribution of mining expertise to national cleaner production program(s) – based on technical projects resulting from ENVSEC phase I
• Catalyzed action at further identified mining hotspots throughout the region (continuation of phase I) and partnerships for action (enhancing public private partnerships)
• Trainings and capacity development with Industrial Accidents Convention’s Assistance Programme (enhancement of risk assessment and safety reporting, development and testing of checklists for evaluation of safety reporting)
• Trainings and capacity development for reaching EU standards and implementing multilateral Conventions (monitoring, pollution prevention and control, EIA and permitting etc.)