Criterion: Wastewater Discharges
Documented inventory of wastewater sources, discharge reduction plans, compliance with permits, and regular monitoring of wastewater discharges and downstream receiving waters.
Full Description
ENV03 Wastewater Discharges
Standard Section: 7.3 Category: Environmental Scheme: Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Standard Version: 2.0 for Piloting (effective April 30, 2025)
Overview
Documented inventory of wastewater sources, discharge reduction plans, compliance with permits, and regular monitoring of wastewater discharges and downstream receiving waters.
Requirements
The Facility shall:
- 7.3.1 Develop and periodically update a documented inventory of wastewater sources and types, and quantities of discharge.
- 7.3.2 Develop a documented wastewater discharge reduction plan in relation to baseline conditions.
- 7.3.3 Determine wastewater discharge control and treatment requirements in compliance with applicable laws, including monitoring and treatment requirements post-closure.
- 7.3.4 Obtain and operate in compliance with necessary permits, authorizations, and approvals.
- 7.3.5 Install, operate, and maintain Facility wastewater discharge control and treatment equipment in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- 7.3.6 Put into place clear controls/procedures that prohibit bypassing control/treatment equipment, unless under emergency situations and in accordance with established procedures.
- 7.3.7 Conduct regular documented inspections and maintenance of wastewater control and treatment equipment, including monitoring and laboratory measurement equipment calibration in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- 7.3.8 Conduct regular monitoring of Facility wastewater discharges and downstream receiving waters. Establish and document clear triggers for halting discharge to prevent or mitigate possible wastewater discharge exceedances.
Source: RMI Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks, Version 2.0 for Piloting (April 2025), Section 7.3
Profiles using this criterion
Responsible Minerals Assurance Process
Conformity Alignment
Meets
Pass: Yes
Definition: "Facility maintains a documented inventory of wastewater sources and quantities, has a documented discharge reduction plan, holds all required permits and authorizations, installs and maintains discharge control and treatment equipment per manufacturer specifications, has clear controls prohibiting bypass of treatment equipment, conducts regular documented inspections and equipment calibration, and monitors wastewater discharges and downstream receiving waters with documented triggers for halting discharge."
Partially Meets
Pass: No
Definition: "Wastewater management system exists but is incomplete: e.g., inventory of wastewater sources is not fully documented, reduction plan is absent, permits are in place but treatment equipment is not maintained per specifications, bypass controls are informal, or monitoring does not cover downstream receiving waters."
Remediation: 180 days
Does Not Meet
Pass: No
Definition: "No documented wastewater inventory, no discharge reduction plan, no required permits or authorizations, no treatment and control equipment, or no monitoring of wastewater discharges."
Remediation: 90 days
Priority
Pass: No
Definition: "A Priority finding is raised for untreated wastewater release that poses immediate risk to human health or the environment, in alignment with the severe environmental damage conditions in Annex I of the Operations Manual."
Remediation: 30 days
Not Applicable
Pass: Yes
Definition: "This criterion may be not applicable to facilities that generate no process wastewater. The facility must document the rationale with evidence showing no wastewater is generated from operations."
Not Able To Assess
Pass: No
Definition: "The assessor was unable to access wastewater records, discharge monitoring data, permit documentation, or inspect treatment equipment and discharge points."
Change Log
1.0.0 (2026-06-24)
Initial release.