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EIA/EMP for Manavalakurichi Beach Sand Mineral Mine (141.2269Ha) IREL (Indian Rare Earths Limited)

Bhagavathi Ana Labs Ltd., Hyderabad 64

CHAPTER 6

ADDITIONAL STUDIES

6.1 Introduction

The company has OSHAS 18001 certification and has identified the risks and the hazards

involved with various jobs. There exist standard operational procedures to meet the

hazards. Some of the measures are as given below:

The company has provided a well-equipped medical facility in 141.2269 Ha mine

lease area at village Manavalakurichi, which works round the clock.

All installations are provided with suitable class of fire extinguishers.

The loading / transport equipment operators are provided with wireless for

communication.

The mine is seismic zone - III.

Since the mine lease area was hit by Tsunami in December 2004, due

precautionary measures viz; emergency preparedness plan and disaster

management plan have been chalked out for preparedness during the recurrence

of any such natural disasters.

Mock drills are periodically conducted in the mine and plant areas.

Risks assessed in mining and MSP are reviewed as per the standards maintained

under OHSAS 18001 regularly.

6.2 Risk Assessment and Disaster Management Plan

Definition of Disaster / Emergency

The word ‘Disaster’ is synonymous with ‘Emergency’ as defined by the Ministry of

Environment and Forests (MoEF). An emergency occurring in the proposed mine is one

that may affect several sections within it and/or may cause serious injuries, loss of lives,

extensive damage to environment or property or serious disruption outside the mine. It

will also require the best use of internal resources and the use of outside resources to

handle it effectively. It may happen usually as the result of a malfunction of the normal

operating procedures. It may also be precipitated by the intervention of an outside force

such as a cyclone, flood or deliberate acts of arson or sabotage. The proposed project is

an opencast mining project. The anticipated risks are mentioned below:



6.2.1 Risks / Hazards Involved in Existing mine and Mineral Separation Plant

Inundation

There is no perennial surface water body within the mine lease area. Valliyar river flows

along the eastern boundary of the mine lease area and confluence to Arabian sea near

the south eastern corner of the mine lease area. Arabian sea forms the south western

boundary of the mine lease area.

The mining activities involve manual collection of beach mineral sand on the coastal

areas in which, no pits are formed and the risk is only due to high tides/tsunami.

The inland deposits are mined by excavators above the ground water table and by

dredging below the ground water table. The dredged out pits are simultaneously

backfilled. Also the inland deposits are located away from the HTL. So, no danger of

inundation is envisaged due to high tides.

The collection of beach mineral sand is carried out for 9 months and the same work is

suspended during rough sea, high tides, heavy rain days etc. The local villagers

engaged in the collection of beach mineral sand are well versed with the behavior of sea

and take necessary precautions during collection of the sand.

Drowning

The persons employed in the dredging operations will be provided with life jackets and

sufficient no of lifebuoys will be provided in the floating pontoons. Prior to employment in

the dredging area, Vocational Training to the persons will be imparted.

Radioactivity Hazards

IREL produces minerals like Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Monazite, Garnet and Sllimanite. In

this, monazite is a phosphate of thorium (8 to 10%) and other rare earths. Uranium is also

present in monazite in small percentage. Since this phosphate of thorium is a radioactive

material, the following protection measures will be carried out:

Within the Mineral Separation Plant premises there is fully equipped Health Physics Unit

(HPU) lab under the control of full time Health Physicist, who is directly appointed by

BARC, DAE. The HPU lab is equipped with monitoring equipments.



Also radiation monitoring will be carried out in two types:

Area monitoring is monitoring radiation level at different places in and around the

work places

Personnel monitoring is evaluating the radiation dose received by a person at the

work place

Thermo-Luminescent Dosimeter (TLD)

The radiation dose received by radiation worker can also be determined by the use of

TLD (Personnel monitoring). The dosimeter consists of three pellets made of CaSO4. The

pellets are placed in a metallic frame work and enclosed by a plastic cassette containing

three different pellets. These pellets are known as thermo luminescent phosphor discs.

When heated after exposures to radiation, they emit light. The intensity of the emitted

light can be measures. It is directly proportional to the amount of radiation absorbed by

the pellets. It is a property that is made use of in measuring the accumulated dose.

Mainly all persons working in monazite section are monitored closely and if their annual

dose limit is exceeded, they will be transferred to other section on job rotation basis. But

till now no persons have exceeded the annual permissible limit of 20 mSv.

Apart from the above, the following protective measures such as keeping distance from

radioactive source, spending minimum time by providing shield for the source and use of

protective equipments etc.

Safe Transport of radioactive material:

Transport of radioactive material (monazite) is carried out by packing in silos.

Thus this transport of monazite is carried out by following the safety code AERB/SC/TR-

1, issued by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Mumbai. The scope of the

regulations includes method of packing, labeling and marking on the packages. This

would help in the identification of the packages containing radioactive material. But

presently, IREL, MK is not producing monazite for the last 6 years due to lack of demand.

However, monazite rich mineral fraction are stockpiled separately in earthern pits as per

AERB guidelines for future use and recovery.

Since the mining operations include mainly scrapping of top layer (0.2 to 0.3m) of beach

washings deposited along the beaches as a result of wave and tidal currents, the high

risk accidents like subsidence, landslides, fire, earthquake, tailing dam failures etc will not



arise. However, considering high tide hazard, beach washing collection works are

stopped during high tide period i.e. june, july and august months of every year. Also, any

warning from Meterological Dept are systematically communicated to the workers. The

voids (0.2 to 0.3m) formed due to scrapping mining activity are simultaneously filled with

fresh beach washings by sea tide, hence any unplanned discontinuance of mining will not

result in any problem.

Health Physics Unit of BARC is continuously monitors the radiation levels of persons

employed in the mines and other workzone areas. A report of generated by HPU

regarding the radiation levels in mining lease areas is enclosed. The periodic dose

exposure evaluation for the persons employed in different mining activities is carried out

by HPU. A report on the same is also enclosed. HPU takes necessary corrective actions

to maintain the dose limits within the prescribed norms.

Landslide

The method of mining adopted in inland areas is such that no landslide occurs. The

dredged out areas are simultaneously backfilled. There is no pit formation in the beach

areas.

Tailings generated in the BWP are stocked temporarily at natural angle of repose and

then transported regularly to mined out areas for backfilling. No landslide is envisaged for

the tailing heap in the tailings yard.

In the backfilled areas, near original topography is maintained. However, the inland areas

near to the coastal zone are backfilled with an elevated height with thick plantation as a

welfare measure to protect the local inhabitation from high tides and cyclones.

Surface fire

The mineral sand itself is non-flammable but there may be fire hazards in the MSP,

machinery or electrical substations and workshop etc. Sufficient stationary and portable

fire extinguishers have been installed at selected locations.

Dust from the loading and transportation

The hazard is the inhalation of dust which is created during the loading and transportation

which may result in the various respiratory diseases to the workers. There is no dust

generation at beach washing collection area where as in the inland excavations there is

generation of dust. While it is not presently possible to totally remove the hazard,



properly applied control measures viz. dust masks, nose filters etc. can substantially

reduce the risk.

Control measures like water spraying on haulage roads at regular interval prevents the

dust generation. Plantation carried out in the backfilled areas in the ML area further

reduces the spread of airborne dust to the surrounding atmosphere. The workers

engaged in dusty operations are provided with dusk masks.

Noise

Operation of HEMM gives rise to harmful levels of noise. But this noise is limited upto

certain distance and it dampens with distance. The workers working near high noise

generating machineries are provided with ear muffs. Sound proof cabins have been

provided for operators of high noise generating equipments.

Other control measures include provision of protective equipments, although this should

only be seen as an interim precaution until a permanent solution can be found. The risk is

very high when no control measures are provided. Ambient and work zone noise level

monitoring are carried out by HPU and the precautionary measures suggested are

immediately adopted.

Loading

Risks involved in loading are break failures, reverse alarm failures, parking brakes

failures. etc. prevailing in both tippers and loaders. However, the roadworthiness of the

tippers and condition of the loaders utilized in the mines are monitored prior to

deployment to avoid risks. In addition to this, regular monitoring of the vehicles deployed

in the mines is carried out.

Heavy vehicles

The main hazards arise from the use of large earth moving vehicles are due to

incompetent drivers, brake failure, lack of all visibility from the drivers position, access to

the cabins, vehicle movements particularly reversing, roll over, vibration, noise, dust and

maintenance. Those most at risk are the driver and pedestrians likely to be struck by the

vehicle, and drivers of smaller vehicles, which cannot be seen from the cabins of large

vehicles.



Mitigation measure:

Traffic rules are strictly complied in the mining areas

Vocational Training to the Drivers, HEMM operators is provided prior to

employment

Over-speeding and over-loading are strictly avoided.

Footpaths have been provided for pedestrians

Regular maintenance of the loading and transport vehicles to minimize

exhausts, noise and vibration.

Compliance to DGMS norms viz., AVA, fire extinguishers in the operators cabin,

periodical checking of the vehicle, etc.

Regular checking is done for drivers and operators to check consumption of

alcohols.

House keeping

The provision and maintenance of a safe, clean and hygienic workplace is the most basic

principle of health and safety. Dirty and untidy workplaces or walkways contribute to a

very large proportion of accidents.

In the context of mining and mineral separation plant, the provision of well defined

roadways and walkways clear of obstruction, and regular cleaning up of spillage greatly

reduces the potential for this type of accident. Lack of maintenance may lead to roadways

and walkways being unsuitable for use. Good housekeeping is being practiced in the

mine and mineral separation plant for efficient and safe operation

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The PPE provided to employees are ISI marked, suitable for the hazard e.g. a dust

respirator fitted with the correct filter to capture the particular dust, and maintained to

recommended standards. As personal protective equipment only affords limited

protection it is only used as a last resort as an interim arrangement, until other steps are

taken to restore the normalcy to eliminate the risk of personal injury to an acceptable

level.

6.2.2 Disaster Management Plan

The disaster management / Emergency Plan is formulated based on the assessment of

the risks,the existing mine and MSP are subjected to and the actions to be taken in case

of any emergency / disaster, by the mine management and the employees of the mine.



The responsible persons are identified and their corresponding duties and responsibilities

are fixed.

Organization Plan

Organization plan includes clearly stating the line of command and the responsibilities of

each person involved in case of emergency situation.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness Plan includes the standing orders in case of emergency.

Cyclone & flood protection relief manual, Fire protection & emergency preparedness,

Radiation Protection procedures, Risk assessment and Management in Mining are

prepared and followed to combat with the emergency situations ( copies of the same

annexed).

Functions of the emergency preparedness team

The team shall meet once in six months to discuss the possible or probable

causes/instances leading to any disaster that may occur in the mines.

The team shall assess the required resources to deal with the situation that may

be identified as above.

The team leader shall lay down a detailed procedure or oral information to each

member to follow in case of any impending or possible or actual disaster.

The team shall conduct mock drill once in a year to understand the practical

problems that may arise while implementing the Emergency Preparedness Action

Plan including the response time and take necessary steps to make the system

effective.

The team shall make necessary recommendations/suggestions to the

Management for identifying/monitoring/dealing with any probable disaster.

The minutes of the meeting of the Team shall be prepared including the

probable cause of incident, response time and corrective & preventive actions

required to be taken to avoid the reoccurrences of the same and kept as record.

The team may draw an Action Plan and modify the same from time to time.

The Emergency Preparedness Team shall come into force in case of any

disaster by establishing the control room at an appropriate place nearer to the

affected area.



The team shall record the actual performance/procedure followed/short comings

while dealing with any actual disaster which will be discussed at various levels to

strengthen the plan and approach.

The Agent, In-charge (Safety) along with Mines Manager shall inspect all the

places where disaster occurred, along with Emergency Preparedness Team.

The Agent, In-charge (Safety) along with Mines Manager shall ensure that all

affected places are safe to resume the normal works, and then only they shall give

permission to start the mining/plant operations.

Care and Maintenance During Temporary Discontinuance

If the mine will be discontinued temporarily for more than 120 days, notice will be given

30 days before the date of such discontinuance to the authorities as per the Mines Act,

1952 and MMDR Act, 1957. During discontinuance period safety and security

arrangement will be provided to avoid the entry of unauthorized persons. The accessibility

to the mine from the surface will be prevented by providing sufficient number of guards.

EMERGENCY PLAN

IREL, Manavalakurichi has formulated emergency preparedness plan to face the

situations during emergency. On receiving information of emergency, intimation will be

sent to the consultative committee, which is already formed. Shift in-charge will ensure

that all the materials and transport system to deal with emergency situation. First aid

facilities will be ready to receive the cases.

On realizing an emergency anywhere in the mine, immediately inform the nearest

mining official.

On receiving information of emergency, intimation will be sent to the consultative

committee, which is already formed. Shift in-charge will ensure that all the materials

and transport system to deal with emergency situation.

Emergency Plan- showing the phone numbers of all relevant areas, competent

authorities, Head of the Departments, Hospitals etc. are distributed and circulated in

the notice boards for general awareness among the employees.

First aid facilities will be ready to receive the cases.

IREL engaged Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University, Chennai and prepared the

CRZ maps as per CRZ notification-2011. (copies of CRZ Reports and Maps of 7.06 ha

are enclosed).



IREL engaged National Institute of Oceanography (NIO, Kochi) and conducted scientific

study on near shore sediment transport control mechanism in Manavalakurichi and

Midalam beach areas during the year 2011-12. The reports of NIO reveals that there is no

significant shoreline change from Muttam to Midalam area for the last 37 years.

(b) Public Consultation

Public Hearing Meeting (as per Appendix-IV of EIA-2006 notification) held on 22-03-2013

at 10:00 A.M at Revenue Divisional Office, Padmanabhapuram, Kanyakumari District of

Tamil Nadu .

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