New insights into submarine tailing disposal for a reduced environmental footprint: Lessons learnt from Norwegian fjords

Eva Ramirez-Llodra; Hilde Cecilie Trannum; Guri S Andersen; Nicole J Baeten; Steven J Brooks; Carlos Escudero-Oñate; Hege Gundersen; Rolf Arne Kleiv; Olga Ibragimova; Aivo Lepland; Raymond Nepstad; Roar Sandøy; Morten Thorne Schaanning; Tracy Shimmield; Evgeniy Yakushev; Laura Ferrando-Climent; Per Helge Høgaas

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113150

New insights into submarine tailing disposal for a reduced environmental footprint: Lessons learnt from Norwegian fjords

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Jan:174:113150. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113150. Epub 2021 Nov 27.

Authors

Eva Ramirez-Llodra¹, Hilde Cecilie Trannum², Guri S Andersen³, Nicole J Baeten⁴, Steven J Brooks³, Carlos Escudero-Oñate⁵, Hege Gundersen³, Rolf Arne Kleiv⁶, Olga Ibragimova⁶, Aivo Lepland⁴, Raymond Nepstad⁷, Roar Sandøy⁸, Morten Thorne Schaanning³, Tracy Shimmield⁹, Evgeniy Yakushev³, Laura Ferrando-Climent¹⁰, Per Helge Høgaas⁷

Affiliations

¹ Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; University of Agder, Center for Coastal Research, NO-4604 Kristiansand, Norway. Electronic address: eva.ramirez@niva.no.
² Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; REV Ocean, Oksenøyveien 10, NO-1366 Lysaker, Norway.
³ Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Geological Survey of Norway (NGU), Postal Box 6315, Torgarden, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
⁵ Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway; Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Instituttveien 18, NO-2007 Kjeller, Norway.
⁶ NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Dept. of Geoscience and Petroleum, S.P. Andersens veg 15a, NO-7031 Trondheim, Norway.
⁷ SINTEF Ocean, Postboks 4762 Torgard, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway.
⁸ Sibelco Nordic AS, Løkketangen 20A, NO-1337 Sandvika, Norway.
⁹ British geological Survey, Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, United Kingdom.
¹⁰ Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Instituttveien 18, NO-2007 Kjeller, Norway.

PMID: 34847414
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113150

Abstract

Submarine tailing disposal (STD) in fjords from land-based mines is common practice in Norway and takes place in other regions worldwide. We synthesize the results of a multidisciplinary programme on environmental impacts of STDs in Norwegian fjords, providing new knowledge that can be applied to assess and mitigate impact of tailing disposal globally, both for submarine and deep-sea activities. Detailed geological seafloor mapping provided data on natural sedimentation to monitor depositional processes on the seafloor. Modelling and analytical techniques were used to assess the behaviour of tailing particles and process-chemicals in the environment, providing novel tools for monitoring. Toxicity tests showed biological impacts on test species due to particulate and chemical exposure. Hypersedimentation mesocosm and field experiments showed a varying response on the benthos, allowing to determine the transition zone in the STD impact area. Recolonisation studies indicate that full community recovery and normalisation of metal leakage rates may take several decades due to bioturbation and slow burial of sulfidic tailings. The results are synthesised to provide guidelines for the development of best available techniques for STDs.

Keywords: Best available techniques; Environment; Fjord; Submarine tailing disposal.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Environment
Environmental Monitoring
Estuaries*
Metals*
Norway

Substances

Metals