Overview - ISO 24419-1:2023 (Mine closure and reclamation - Managing mining legacies)
ISO 24419-1:2023 provides requirements and recommendations for managing mining legacies. The standard defines a multidisciplinary framework for planning, implementing and stewarding legacy sites - from large complex sites to small and medium mines - across diverse climates, land uses and social contexts. It is intended for public, private and community organizations but is particularly relevant to government bodies and the mining industry that have legal rights or obligations to manage mining legacies. The document emphasizes stakeholder participation, transparent governance, and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard structures requirements across governance, planning, implementation and stewardship. Key topics include:
- Governance and leadership
- Applying the SDGs and establishing shared governance frameworks and partnerships
- Defining objectives, criteria and legal requirements
- Inventorying mining legacies, cost estimation and liability accounting
- Funding mechanisms, competence and resourcing, and documented information
- Stakeholder participation
- Stakeholder identification and engagement
- Socio-economic planning and inclusive participation
- Management planning
- Risk management, opportunity creation and development of management plans
- Implementation
- Site investigations, hazard reduction programs and reclamation planning
- Execution of documented management plans
- Stewardship, performance and reporting
- Ongoing maintenance, monitoring, aftercare, performance review and reporting
These elements combine requirements and recommendations to manage negative legacies while seeking positive social, environmental and economic outcomes.
Practical applications - who uses ISO 24419-1:2023
This standard is used by:
- National and local government agencies responsible for legacy sites, regulation and public safety
- Mining companies acquiring, divesting or operating post‑closure assets
- Environmental and reclamation consultancies preparing management plans, cost estimates and monitoring programs
- Community organizations and landowners engaged in legacy remediation, reuse or redevelopment
- Financial institutions and insurers assessing liabilities, funding mechanisms and stewardship obligations
Typical applications include inventorying legacy liabilities, preparing legally compliant reclamation plans, designing hazard reduction programs, securing funding and establishing long‑term monitoring and reporting systems.
Related standards
- ISO 21795 series - addresses the process of mine closure and reclamation for active mines
- ISO/TR 24419-2 - provides case studies and implementation resources supporting ISO 24419-1
ISO 24419-1:2023 is essential for practitioners focused on sustainable mine closure, reclamation planning, liability accounting and stakeholder-driven legacy management.
