Topic:  Lessons Learned from Independent Review of Tailings Storage Facilities

Mining companies are increasingly using independent review of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) to help manage risk, satisfy governance objectives, meet regulator and insurance requirements, and optimize operations. These reviews can take different forms, depending on the drivers and objectives. The effectiveness of reviews can be highly dependent on the reviewer fit, scope of the review, and interpersonal dynamics. This presentation will share lessons learned – both technical and non-technical – from independent review of TSFs across the world. Recommendations and considerations for effective independent review based on these experiences will also be shared

Speaker: Jed Greenwood (Barr Engineering)

Jed Greenwood is a senior geotechnical engineer and vice president at Barr Engineering based in Minneapolis, MN. He has over 20 years of geotechnical engineering experience and has worked extensively on the investigation and design of tailings dams for U.S. and Canadian mining clients as well as flood-protection dams for government clients. He has been the principal in charge for Barr dam safety reviews performed for Canadian oil sands operators and other mines in recent years. Jed is currently the international dam advisor for a tailings dam in Brazil. His project work has ranged from the design and analysis of dams and levees to forensic analysis of landslides to seepage analysis and stabilization measures for natural and constructed slopes. He has published on a number of geotechnical engineering topics. Jed is also skilled in numerical modeling using finite-difference and finite-element techniques.