Environmental Issues in Mining and Petroleum Contracts

Abstract

Summary Mineral exploration and production activity invariably cause substantial disturbance to the environment and brings with it the risk of major pollution hazards. In mineral based projects policy issues fall into three distinct categories, related to: (1) the operational management of mines, oil‐fields and processing plants where concern is to prevent or limit environmental damage arising from normal operations; (ii) the possibility that there will be an environmental trauma, catastrophe or accident; (iii) to the reclamation of land and the abandonment and removal of plant and structures. How should mining and petroleum contracts (concessions) deal with the possibility of a major dispute between the government and an investor about environmental damage limitation? To what extent is international arbitration appropriate? Environmental accident possibilities raise difficult questions for contract negotiations. Who is to assume the risk? How should it be limited? To what extent can it be insured? In the context mining and petroleum contracts, land reclamation and abandonment involves considering how to meet the cost of necessary measures. This may require consideration of the tax treatment of these expenditures and the possibility of establishing special funds. Resumen Cuestiones ambientales en minería y contratos petroleros La exploración minera y la actividad de producción invariablemente causan trastornos sustanciales en el ambiente y traen consigo el riesgo de peligros capitales de contaminación. Estos problemas ambientales no tienen mucho impacto en las “comunes globales”: la capa de ozono, los océanos y los bosques tropicales. Más bien afectan el habitat local de la flora, ia fauna y los seres humanos. En tos proyectos de minería las cuestiones de normas de conducta pueden dividirse en tres categorías diversas; (i) cuestiones relacionadas con el manejo operational de las minas, campos de petróleo y plantas procesadoras donde la mayor preocupación es por evitar o limitar los daños ambientales originados por las operaciones corrientes; (ii) cuestiones relacionadas con la posibilidad de una, catástrofe, accidente o trauma ambiental; (iii) cuestiones relacionadas con la reclamación de tierra y el abandono y traslado de estructuras. En el contexto del manejo operacional, ¿cómo deben la minería y los contratos petroleros (concesiones) encarar la posibilidad de que hubiera una controversia de fondo entre el gobierno y un inversor sobre las medidas necesarias para limitar el daño ambiental? ¿Hasta qué punto es apropiado el arbitraje internacional en ese contexto? Las cuestiones relacionadas con la posibilidad de un accidente ambiental presentan interrogantes difíciles para negociaciones contractuales. ¿Quién debe asumir el riesgo? Si éste debe ser limitado, cómo puede esto Ilevarse a cabo? ¿En qué medida puede ser asegurado sin un aumento prohibitivo en los costos del proyecto? En el contexto de la minería y los contratos petroleros, el reclamo y abandono de la tierra implican considerar la forma de costear las m...

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