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General Statements
- These Principles and Guidance
address issues that are specific to mineral exploration and
represent the first part of the PDAC�s
e3 Plus: A Framework for
Responsible Exploration. They are intended to complement
established norms for corporate behavior as exemplified by the
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises,
the United Nations Global Compact,
the Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability
and the Environmental Health and Safety Guidelines of the
International Finance Corporation,
the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative,
the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
and the Equator Principles,
among others.
- Explorers should understand that
the minimal requirement is to conduct their activities in conformity
with:
- Applicable laws and regulations, including international
treaties ratified or supported by the host country and those of the
explorers home country; and
- International standards and good practice associated with human
rights and the social and environmental aspects of mineral
exploration activities.
- Explorers are responsible for
carrying out the due diligence necessary to be informed as to the
laws, regulations, treaties and standards that are relevant at any
time or place with respect to their activities and also the
international standards of practice associated with human rights,
social and environmental management.
- The Principles and Guidance
strive to answer the why?
and what? of applying
good practice in mineral exploration.
The how to of
applying good practice will be supported by the practical tools
described in three PDAC on-line manuals for explorers: Excellence in
Social Responsibility, Excellence in Environmental Stewardship, and
Excellence in Health and Safety. These three manuals, along with the
Principles and Guidance, form essential elements of
e3 Plus: A Framework for
Responsible Exploration.
- The Principles have equal weight
and value and have been given numbers in this document solely to
facilitate easy reference.
Explorers should have the Principles in mind at all times.
- The Guidance describes in general
terms what is recommended for explorers to convert the Principles
into practice in their normal course of business.
Some elements of the Guidance are common and constant aspects
of exploration planning and implementation and as such they may be
considered essential components of corporate culture.
However, explorers are encouraged to manage each project in
response to the specific characteristics encountered on the ground
(legal regime, social and cultural characteristics, physical and
biological environment, stage of exploration, and area of
influence). Such
project-specific characteristics permit recognition of the relative
intensity with which the actions recommended in the Guidance should
be applied. Details of how
the application of the Guidance may be optimized to meet
project-specific circumstances are largely contained in other, more
extensive sources of information such as the three PDAC on-line
manuals.
- For the Principles and Guidance
to be fully effective, explorers are encouraged to require that
contractors and sub-contractors working on their behalf accept and
adhere to them, where relevant and practical.
- The Principles and Guidance are
intended for the use of exploration companies, contractors and
subcontractors, communities affected by exploration activities,
indigenous
groups affected by exploration projects, civil society groups
interested in exploration projects, governments at all levels and
any other stakeholders.
- In the second phase of developing
e3 Plus: A Framework for
Responsible Exploration, the PDAC will recommend guidelines for
reporting on the social and environmental performance of mineral
exploration projects.
Consideration will also be given to developing a process whereby
assurance can be given to all stakeholders that the Principles are
being adhered to.
- Adoption of the Principles and
Guidance is voluntary and is not a condition of PDAC membership;
however explorers are strongly encouraged to commit to their
adherence.
- Explorers should not represent,
directly or indirectly, that they subscribe to
e3 Plus: A Framework for
Responsible Exploration unless they adhere to the Principles and
are able to demonstrate that they are implementing the Guidance.
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