ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ONGOING MONITORING
In accordance with our environmental commitment and regulatory obligations, we have an air quality monitoring station in the town of Sierra Gorda. The community is fully aware of this instrument and can access online monitoring through our corporate website www.sgscm.cl/
In addition, our Company informs the neighbors of Sierra Gorda via email through the Communities Team, the blast schedules planned for the weekends, as a part of the blast protocol of the Company.
In Sierra Gorda SCM we have the utmost consideration of the well-being of our neighbors in our operational process. In the face of mass activity in the town, especially during traditional religious festivities, the blasting is suspended as a precautionary measure. Similarly, blasts and material discharges are suspended at the southern landfill in case of adverse weather conditions that could send the dust toward the town, for example, in the event of a wind storm as part of the blast protocol of the Company.
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY
The community relationship at Sierra Gorda SCM is based on the permanent dialog with the communities, which allows us to assertively identify their main desires and challenges. We always seek a frank, transparent dialog focused on the joint construction of solutions. We respect the local culture and customs, participating in all the relevant events of the commune.
GROUP OF THE GOOD NEIGHBORS
An important forum for the participation of the inhabitants of the town of Sierra Gorda is the Group of the Good Neighbors. It is a monthly meeting, where a large number of local residents, leaders and representatives of mining companies participate, becoming the traditional and relevant meeting of the sector. During this meeting, we report in person on the main advances of the community projects executed by our Company, facilitating a space for inquiries and interaction with the attendees.
Our Communities team actively participates in the meetings of the Group of Good Neighbors, in addition to being its administrative and operational coordinator.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS BASED ON NEEDS
Responding to the real needs of neighbors and the long-term view is the main focus of our social investment, that is why we work together with social organizations and stakeholders to develop projects that provide community value. As Sierra Gorda SCM, we stand out for collaboratively implementing all community initiatives with important community actors, from their identification, development, and closure.
At the same time, our social investment seeks to mitigate or compensate for potential negative impacts and maximize positive impacts of the presence of the Company. Social investment in the frontline is focused on the four axes declared in this strategy, namely, health, education, employability and the environment. However, projects outside these areas can be accepted, especially those that seek to equalize opportunities, include vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, or that have a bearing on local culture and identity.
Contribution in the area of social investment generally does not contemplate the transfer of financial funds, but the purchase of the good or service requested for an Organization that has a valid legal entity, formalized by a collaboration agreement.
As part of the relationship and direct work on the ground, the Communities team identified community initiatives with a positive impact for the neighbors, and aligned with the strategy of the Company. These, according to social investment procedures, were analyzed by the Communities team for subsequent presentation and evaluation at the management level.
PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE SOCIAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Community projects can be requested by community members. In this case, the neighbors themselves, through local organizations with legal entity status, detect needs in their community and present alternatives that allow them to be addressed. The initiatives are evaluated on their merit, according to the benefits and impacts they generate in the community.
At least once a year, we announce to the community the application process for the project financing and implementation program through the Social Investment Committee [Comité de Inversión Social (CIS)]. The main function of this body is to evaluate projects based on the criteria established in the Community Relationship Strategy. The Committee meets at least once a year. It is composed of executives from various departments of Sierra Gorda SCM, who alternate every two years and who are responsible for evaluating the projects received.
IDENTIFICATION OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Our mining site is located in the region of Antofagasta, about 60 km from the city of Calama and 4.5 km from the town of Sierra Gorda. Thus, potential negative impacts of our mining operation could affect the inhabitants of that locality.
The main harmful effects are related to the transport of people and machinery to the mining operation, blasts and earthmoving, and air pollution. However, our company is constantly addressing these issues through continuous monitoring of air quality and the implementation of mitigation measures in accordance with the commitments set out in the Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA). These measures include, among other aspects, the wetting of roads within the operation, suppressors and collectors in the concentrator plant, and paving certain roads in the town of Sierra Gorda to reduce and control the emission of particulate matter. In addition, we perform the controlled blasting process under wind circulation monitoring standards.
