Social
Environmental
Economic
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Rio Tinto Energy America
Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainable Development Policy
Coal mining
contributes to development by providing an economic fuel source necessary for
modern society. Rio Tinto Energy America (RTEA) recognizes that extracting and
processing coal resources must be conducted in ways that minimize impacts to the
environment, local communities, and employees. RTEA implements programs and
business strategies to minimize our operational footprint to allow us to meet
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
It is the
policy of RTEA to conduct operations in ways that protect the environment and
safeguard employees and the public from unacceptable risk. Through integrated
business plans and decisions, RTEA establishes a base for sustainable
development by conserving the resources used to conduct the mining operations,
maximizing the resources we mine and optimizing opportunities to enhance
environmental, social and economic benefits.
To facilitate implementation of the above policy,
Rio Tinto Energy America:
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Establishes
processes to ensure that laws and regulations applicable to
operations are known and implemented.
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Adopts health,
safety, and environmental standards that build from a foundation of
compliance with applicable legal and other requirements.
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Identifies and
minimizes health, safety and environmental risks related to
operations, and support pertinent sustainable development programs.
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Integrates
health, safety, environment and sustainable development principles
and considerations into business planning and decision-making
criteria.
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Designs
facilities and processes that protect health and safety, practice
product stewardship through coal quality planning and monitoring to
minimize combustion emissions, conserve resources and energy,
minimize the use of hazardous materials, reduce waste, and, where
practicable and applicable, exemplify leading practices.
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Protects
people, property and the environment by conducting programs for
occupational health, safety, and environmental excellence.
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Continues to
improve the effectiveness of health, safety, environment and
sustainable development processes.
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Establishes
related objectives and targets approved through the senior
management team.
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Communicates
health, safety, environment and sustainable development information
about operations to employees, government agencies, and the public.
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Contributes to
local community life and the development of sound legislation and
regulation.
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Reports to its
Board of Directors on health, safety, environmental and sustainable
development performance and significant issues.
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All RTEA
employees and contractors are expected to follow this policy, and all managers
and supervisors are expected to facilitate policy implementation. RTEA assists
its affiliates to develop and implement health, safety, environment and
sustainable development programs appropriate for their activities.
Effective: August 23, 2006
Colin Marshall
President and CEO |
