Criterion: Pollution
Identification, baseline assessment, and mitigation of pollution from Facility operations, with prohibitions on discharge of pollutants and compliance with Minamata and Stockholm Conventions.
Full Description
ENV01 Pollution
Standard Section: 7.1 Category: Environmental Scheme: Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Standard Version: 2.0 for Piloting (effective April 30, 2025)
Overview
Identification, baseline assessment, and mitigation of pollution from Facility operations, with prohibitions on discharge of pollutants and compliance with Minamata and Stockholm Conventions.
Requirements
The Facility shall:
- 7.1.1 As part of the risk management process, identify aspects and operational activities that the Facility is responsible for managing, including on-site and off-site activities and infrastructure, that may generate pollution. Sources of pollution shall be reviewed any time there are changes to the Facility, its equipment, activities, or processes.
- 7.1.2 Establish and document baseline conditions of pollutants resulting from the Facility's operational activities, including but not limited to, pollutants to air, pollutants to water, pollutants to soil and land, light pollution, and noise pollution.
- 7.1.3 Implement the mitigation hierarchy throughout the Facility's lifecycle, to prevent and mitigate potential impacts of pollution on human health and the environment. This includes implementing actions and continuously monitoring emissions and discharges to ensure levels of pollutants comply with thresholds established by applicable laws.
- 7.1.4 Prohibit the discharge of pollutants to sea, freshwater bodies, soil, and groundwater unless in accordance with established regulatory limits and approvals.
- 7.1.5 Where significant adverse impacts from pollutants exist, evaluate, and implement remediation actions in consultation with affected stakeholders.
- 7.1.6 Prohibit the manufacture of mercury-containing products, the use of mercury and mercury compounds in manufacturing processes, and the unlawful treatment of mercury waste in alignment with the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
- 7.1.7 Prohibit the production and use of chemicals identified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in alignment with the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Source: RMI Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks, Version 2.0 for Piloting (April 2025), Section 7.1
Profiles using this criterion
Responsible Minerals Assurance Process
Conformity Alignment
Meets
Pass: Yes
Definition: "Facility has identified all pollution sources, established documented baseline conditions for all pollutant types, implemented the mitigation hierarchy with continuous monitoring to ensure compliance with regulatory thresholds, prohibited unlawful discharges to water and soil, evaluated and implemented remediation where significant adverse impacts exist, and complied with Minamata Convention and Stockholm Convention obligations."
Partially Meets
Pass: No
Definition: "Pollution management system exists but is incomplete: e.g., pollution sources are identified but baseline conditions are not fully documented, monitoring is conducted but does not cover all pollutant types, discharge controls are in place but not consistently applied, or remediation actions have not been initiated for known significant impacts."
Remediation: 180 days
Does Not Meet
Pass: No
Definition: "No documented inventory of pollution sources, no baseline conditions established, no monitoring of pollutant levels against regulatory thresholds, or evidence of unlawful discharges to water, soil, or air without controls."
Remediation: 90 days
Priority
Pass: No
Definition: "A Priority finding is raised for severe environmental damage including: practices resulting in toxic air or water emissions exceeding safe limits; untreated wastewater release; unsafe disposal or storage of chemicals; or chemicals spill or release of hazardous substances outside the facility that pose immediate risk to worker or community health."
Remediation: 30 days
Not Applicable
Pass: Yes
Definition: "This criterion is not applicable only if the facility generates no pollution of any kind (air, water, soil, noise, light) - this is extremely rare. The assessor must document the rationale with evidence."
Not Able To Assess
Pass: No
Definition: "The assessor was unable to access pollution monitoring records, emission test results, regulatory permits, or conduct site inspections to verify pollution controls."
Change Log
1.0.0 (2026-06-24)
Initial release.