[PASSED] Uranium Mining Standards Act

[Abacathea]

First Draft:

As per usual, all feedback welcome.

Mining Standards Act
Category: Environmental | Area: Uranium Mining

The World Assembly, noting its constant strives towards the betterment of the universe as a whole, through the tireless work it does as a legislative body and overall commendable institution;

Observing that the uranium mining industry plays a pivotal role in the economies of many member nations;

Concerned that whilst this industry is indeed of great importance to many member nations, it remains, in part, highly unregulated in terms of environmental protection despite the sheer impact it makes on the environment itself.

Absolute in ensuring the least possible impact on the services this industry provides and the revenue it generates;

However refusing to allow this to take precedent over the often severe impact made on the landscape and environment;

Hereby;

i: Mandates that all nations allowing uranium mining within its borders conduct an audit of each operational mine to ensure that basic radiation precautions are in place and being utilized.

ii: Charges all national governments with assessing operational mines for any issues relating to waste product disposal, radiation containment and structural integrity.

iii: Further requires all nations to conduct a survey on surrounding flora and fauna at potential mine sites and to ensure that the construction and resultant operation of the mine will not endanger or extinguish any species in the general vicinity.

iv: Instructs nations who discover flora or fauna indigenous solely to the potential mine site to make documented efforts to relocate either the mine, or the relevant species to ensure that the species suffer as little impact as possible.

v: Charges all national governments with assessing the areas directly around mining operations currently in progress and annually thereafter on all active mines, to ensure that no significant contamination of water supplies or soil has occurred and take all possible measures to treat and prevent the further spread of contamination if such is discovered.

vi: Makes provision for nations to apply to the Nuclear Testing Oversight Agency (NTOA) for an assessment of their facilities if they do not feel they have the essential skills to conduct the required audits.

vii: Directs the Nuclear Testing Oversight Agency (NTOA) to conduct these tests on behalf of nations and to make governmental recommendations based off their findings.

viii: Makes provision for nations to apply to the WA general fund on the provision that they can show verified needs for assistance in order to conform to recommendations made by the Nuclear Testing Oversight Agency (NTOA) or their own self audits.

ix: Empowers the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct any and all essential financial checks on a nation before deciding on the approval of funds and to confer with the Nuclear Testing Oversight Agency (NTOA) to determine exactly what actions will be required on a case by case basis by nations applying under this act.

DRAFT 2:

Mining Standards Act
Category: Environmental | Area: Uranium Mining

The World Assembly, noting its consistent efforts at bettering the environment for future and current generations;

Observing that the uranium mining industry plays a pivotal role in the economies of many member nations;

Concerned that whilst this industry is indeed of great importance to many member nations, this is often to ecological detriment;

Determined to ensure the least possible impact on the services this industry provides and the revenue it generates;

However refusing to allow this to take precedent over the often severe impact made on the landscape and environment;

Hereby;

i: Mandates that nations allowing uranium mining within their territory conduct an annual audit of each operational mine to ensure that basic radiation precautions are in place and being utilized.

ii: Charges all national governance with the responsibility of assessing operational mines for any issues relating to waste product disposal, radiation containment and structural integrity.

iii: Further requires all nations to conduct a survey on surrounding flora and fauna at potential mine sites and currently operational mine sites to ensure that the construction and resultant operation of the mine will not endanger nor has endangered any species in the general vicinity.

iv: Instructs nations who discover flora or fauna indigenous solely to the potential mine site to make documented efforts to relocate either the mine, or the relevant species to ensure that the species suffer as little impact as possible.

iv(a): In relation to mandate iv; should a nation be required to relocate a species they are required to coordinate these efforts with the Protection of Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) to ensure maximum efforts made at preservation.

v: Charges all national governments with assessing the areas directly around mining operations currently in progress and annually thereafter on all active mines, to ensure that no significant contamination of water supplies or soil has occurred and take all possible measures to treat and prevent the further spread of contamination if such is discovered.

vi: Re-establishes the Nuclear Energy Safety Commission (NESC) with the provision to assist nations with the testing requirements under this act should they require it.

vii: Directs the Nuclear Energy Safety Commission (NESC) to conduct these tests on behalf of nations and to give government mandates based off of these findings.

viii: Makes provision for nations to apply to the WA General Fund on the provision that they can show verified needs for assistance in order to conform to directives given by the Nuclear Energy Safety Commission (NESC) or by their own self audits.

ix: Empowers the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct any and all essential financial checks required to verify a nations economic requirements to conform to this act and to approve or deny funds appropriately.

Edits: 2/8/13
- Fixed grammatical and syntax errors throughout the document, also tidied up lines I wasn't happy with.
- Changed clause viii to reflect individual nation audits which had not required the NTOA to remove potential optionality of change implementation or blocker to access of funds required without NTOA audits.

Edits: 13/8/13
-Removed the NTAO and replaced with Nuclear Energy Safety Commission (NESC)
-Re-established PAWS with for conservation efforts.
-Multiple grammatical fixes.
-Multiple changes and loophole closes.

[Lillitania]

It is not often that I agree with your proposals, but this one is an exception. It provides courteous laws that all nations need abide by while performing in dangerous activities while extracting dangerous minerals. Indeed a nation should access the environment before potentially releasing harmful elements in to the surrounding area.

Also, I'd like to commend you for producing a bureaucracy/committee that is optional, and is only created to assist nations who believe they don't have the essentials to cooperate with the proposal.

A+ for you, sir. I am interested to see how this act develops.

Jerry Greyer
General Assembly Office

[Abacathea]

It is not often that I agree with your proposals, but this one is an exception. It provides courteous laws that all nations need abide by while performing in dangerous activities while extracting dangerous minerals. Indeed a nation should access the environment before potentially releasing harmful elements in to the surrounding area.

Also, I'd like to commend you for producing a bureaucracy/committee that is optional, and is only created to assist nations who believe they don't have the essentials to cooperate with the proposal.

A+ for you, sir. I am interested to see how this act develops.

Jerry Greyer
General Assembly Office

Mr Greyer,

We think you for your kind words. Although we must clarify we have not actually created any additional bureaucracy here merely extended the powers of those already in existence for the benefit of whose who would need it.

Once again, thanks for your support,

Yours,

[The Akashic Records]

I was going to say that this is already covered implicitly by a number of resolutions, but given that Uranium Mining poses more threat than any other businesses, a good guideline does seem to be in order. We can't really see anything wrong with it, so if the more experienced ambassadors don't have any objections, we think that you're good to go (in a few weeks).

[Amarthia]

Mining Standards Act
Category: Environmental | Area: Uranium Mining

i: Mandates that all nations which allow uranium mining within it's borders conduct an audit of each plant within their borders to ensure that basic radiation precautions are in place and being utilized.

ii: Charges all national governments with assessing operational mines for any issues relating to waste product disposal, radiation containment and structural integrity.

I think that you are referring to the same thing. The usage of different nouns, however, may suggest otherwise, and create confusion.

iii: Further requires all nations to conduct a survey of flora and fauna in potential mine sites from the passage of this act and to ensure that the construction and resultant operation of the mine will not endanger or extinguish any species through same.

Elaborated further in the response.

iv: Charges all national governments with assessing the areas directly around mining operations currently in progress and annually thereafter on all active mines, to ensure that no contamination of water supplies or soil is occurring and to take all possible measures to treat and prevent the further spread of contamination if such is discovered.

Elaborated further in the response.

The Confederate States of Amarthia will begin by applauding the noble intent behind this endeavor.

Attached to this response is an excerpt of the Act's current draft. All phrases in red are so coloured in hopes of obtaining clarification, with the confusion noted in orange below the highlighted phrases.

On behalf of Amarthia's affected industry, the Confederate States seek further elaboration on a few points.

Pointing to part [iii] of the Act, the Confederate States pose two points of information,

Firstly, as most nations do not have a monopoly over their planet's ecology and it is rare that all or even most creatures of one species would live exclusively within a nation's boundaries, it is not possible for a single nation to be able to determine if its influence on a particular species within its borders is enough to completely extinguish or endanger its existence. As an example, following the commonly cited planet Earth which has a ubiquitous domesticated animal known as a cat, it is unlikely that the extermination of all cats in a country, let's say, Columbia, would endanger or extinguish this species. As such, save in extraordinary circumstances, part [iii] might be completely unenforceable or leave a gaping loophole that makes it superfluous.

Secondly, the Act does not contain an alternative. Should it be discovered that the construction or resultant operation of a uranium mine could indeed lead to a species being made extinct or endangered, the Act does not specify a cause of action that should be taken. If the Act is to mandate that the nation render said uranium mine inoperational, the Confederate States would point out that it might be an unacceptable intrusion upon a state's economic sovereignty, especially considering that other alternatives could be explored. For example, a number of these animals in question could be relocated to a natural reserve. This Act, if it is to be enforceable, should also establish procedures for nations to continue the pursuit of their economic wellbeing while simultaneously alleviating the concerns inherent in the passing of this Act - i.e. environmental damage. The Confederate States also point out that the Act could be more easily passed if these recommendations do not overtly inconvenience or economically burden nations in question.


Pointing to part [iv] of the Act, the Confederate States pose a point of information,

In all mining operations, contamination of nearby water or soil is not avoidable. The three main issues that are considered instead is the degree of contamination, the presence and size of nearby communities and the effect that this contamination will have on them. Since environmental damage stemming from mining operations is inevitable by definition, the Confederate States instead recommend that this point instead emphasize the need to minimize the damage dealt to the environment. However, this absolutely must keep in mind the fact that the measures suggested should not serve as an unacceptable economic burden.


Beyond these concerns, the Confederate States of Amarthia too predicates the hope that economic pursuits could be balanced with concern and care for the environment. If this Act is to be able to be delicate in assisting nations party to it in achieving this balance, then the Confederate States of Amarthia is proud to support it.

May we continue to strive for utopia,
His Excellency Marsyas Reynold
Tenured Ambassador of the Confederate States of Amarthia
Corporate Executive Officer of Amarthia Uranium Mining

[Alqania]

"Where is my coffee?" Princess Christine asked her Private Secretary accusingly. While a caffeine addiction would have been infra dignitatem for an Alqanian Princess, it was widely known that this particular Princess was in a much better mood when her obscenely large intake of the black nectar remained uninterrupted. Or when it was replaced by something alcoholic.

"The Queendom is thrilled to see the beginnings of a quality environmental proposal", the Deputy Ambassador said as she took the floor. "I do beg Your Excellency's pardon however", she added with a nod to the author, "but as I have yet to take my mid-afternoon coffee we shall have to look this through with keener eyes before really getting into a more detailed critique. In the meantime, there was something that stood out a bit though..."

i: Mandates that all nations which allow uranium mining within it's borders conduct an audit of each plant within their borders to ensure that basic radiation precautions are in place and being utilized.

"It's its actually, but even if correctly spelled, it would be grammatically incorrect in this context, as the thing it refers to, its antecedent, is 'nations', which is a noun used in the plural and so the possessive pronoun, the anaphor, needs to be in the plural as well, it needs to be their, like how it's already been used later in the very same clause."

"Come to think of it, I am not sure I like the sound of 'which' being used with a plural antecedent, 'nations'. Now this could be me being hypersensitive before my coffee, but I think it would sound much better using that instead."

"And in any case, I would suggest reconsidering using 'within [their] borders' twice in the same clause, as it sounds rather repetitive."

[Lillitania]

iii: Further requires all nations to conduct a survey on surrounding flora and fauna at potential mine sites from the passage of this act and to ensure that the construction and resultant operation of the mine will not endanger or extinguish any species in the general vicinity.

iv: Charges all national governments with assessing the areas directly around mining operations currently in progress and annually thereafter on all active mines, to ensure that no contamination of water supplies or soil has occurred and to take all possible measures to treat and prevent the further spread of contamination if such is discovered.

I've made some minor adjustments. [iii] Was much too general, and [iv]'s changes are simply changes in wording.

Although we must clarify we have not actually created any additional bureaucracy here merely extended the powers of those already in existence for the benefit of whose who would need it.

That presents a problem. This could be a rule-breaker because I believe you're not allowed to reference another proposal. I could assist you with creating a new bureaucracy if the powers specified in your proposal remain the same.

Jerry Greyer
General Assembly Office

[Abacathea]

iii: Further requires all nations to conduct a survey on surrounding flora and fauna at potential mine sites from the passage of this act and to ensure that the construction and resultant operation of the mine will not endanger or extinguish any species in the general vicinity.

iv: Charges all national governments with assessing the areas directly around mining operations currently in progress and annually thereafter on all active mines, to ensure that no contamination of water supplies or soil has occurred and to take all possible measures to treat and prevent the further spread of contamination if such is discovered.

I've made some minor adjustments. [iii] Was much too general, and [iv]'s changes are simply changes in wording.[/quote]

Changes noted and adopted.

That presents a problem. This could be a rule-breaker because I believe you're not allowed to reference another proposal. I could assist you with creating a new bureaucracy if the powers specified in your proposal remain the same.

Not at all dear sir, if my understanding is correct you can empower other existing committee's because the argument is the committee exists if it serves other purposes even if the creating act is repealed, it's the act itself you cannot be contingent on, lest it be a house of cards violation.

IE: Resolution X creates committee Y, Resolution Z utilises committee Y and extends it's powers. = Fine

Resolution X is created, resolution Y is subsequently created but is only valid so long as resolution X is in effect = not fine, because if resoltion x is repealed, resolution Y has no foundations on which it was built.

[Abacathea]

"Where is my coffee?" Princess Christine asked her Private Secretary accusingly. While a caffeine addiction would have been infra dignitatem for an Alqanian Princess, it was widely known that this particular Princess was in a much better mood when her obscenely large intake of the black nectar remained uninterrupted. Or when it was replaced by something alcoholic.

"The Queendom is thrilled to see the beginnings of a quality environmental proposal", the Deputy Ambassador said as she took the floor. "I do beg Your Excellency's pardon however", she added with a nod to the author, "but as I have yet to take my mid-afternoon coffee we shall have to look this through with keener eyes before really getting into a more detailed critique. In the meantime, there was something that stood out a bit though..."

i: Mandates that all nations which allow uranium mining within it's borders conduct an audit of each plant within their borders to ensure that basic radiation precautions are in place and being utilized.

"It's its actually, but even if correctly spelled, it would be grammatically incorrect in this context, as the thing it refers to, its antecedent, is 'nations', which is a noun used in the plural and so the possessive pronoun, the anaphor, needs to be in the plural as well, it needs to be their, like how it's already been used later in the very same clause."

"Come to think of it, I am not sure I like the sound of 'which' being used with a plural antecedent, 'nations'. Now this could be me being hypersensitive before my coffee, but I think it would sound much better using that instead."

"And in any case, I would suggest reconsidering using 'within [their] borders' twice in the same clause, as it sounds rather repetitive."

"Princess Christine" said Mr Chombers bowing humbly
"My nephew is a big fan of your excellency. He swears if he was ever to marry into royalty.... "ahem, in any event, the current changes have been made, and a little grammatical cleaning made of that particular sentence. We look forward to any further feedback."

[Abacathea]

[box]

Mining Standards Act
Category: Environmental | Area: Uranium Mining

i: Mandates that all nations which allow uranium mining within it's borders conduct an audit of each plant within their borders to ensure that basic radiation precautions are in place and being utilized.

ii: Charges all national governments with assessing operational mines for any issues relating to waste product disposal, radiation containment and structural integrity.

I think that you are referring to the same thing. The usage of different nouns, however, may suggest otherwise, and create confusion.

Addressed.

On behalf of Amarthia's affected industry, the Confederate States seek further elaboration on a few points.

Pointing to part [iii] of the Act, the Confederate States pose two points of information,

Firstly, as most nations do not have a monopoly over their planet's ecology and it is rare that all or even most creatures of one species would live exclusively within a nation's boundaries, it is not possible for a single nation to be able to determine if its influence on a particular species within its borders is enough to completely extinguish or endanger its existence. As an example, following the commonly cited planet Earth which has a ubiquitous domesticated animal known as a cat, it is unlikely that the extermination of all cats in a country, let's say, Columbia, would endanger or extinguish this species. As such, save in extraordinary circumstances, part [iii] might be completely unenforceable or leave a gaping loophole that makes it superfluous.

We have hopefully addressed this by limiting it to the immediate vicinity of the mine, if this still remains an issue, we of course will happily review accordingly.

Secondly, the Act does not contain an alternative. Should it be discovered that the construction or resultant operation of a uranium mine could indeed lead to a species being made extinct or endangered, the Act does not specify a cause of action that should be taken. If the Act is to mandate that the nation render said uranium mine inoperational, the Confederate States would point out that it might be an unacceptable intrusion upon a state's economic sovereignty, especially considering that other alternatives could be explored. For example, a number of these animals in question could be relocated to a natural reserve. This Act, if it is to be enforceable, should also establish procedures for nations to continue the pursuit of their economic wellbeing while simultaneously alleviating the concerns inherent in the passing of this Act - i.e. environmental damage. The Confederate States also point out that the Act could be more easily passed if these recommendations do not overtly inconvenience or economically burden nations in question.

Have added in another clause, it may well be removed at a later date, but for the time being it should sufficiently cover this particular concern.

iv: Instructs nations who discover at a potential mine site flora or fauna indigenous solely to that area to make documented efforts to relocate either the mine, or the relevant species to ensure that the mine and the species suffer as little impact as possible.

Feedback on this clause is of course welcome.

Pointing to part [iv] of the Act, the Confederate States pose a point of information,

In all mining operations, contamination of nearby water or soil is not avoidable. The three main issues that are considered instead is the degree of contamination, the presence and size of nearby communities and the effect that this contamination will have on them. Since environmental damage stemming from mining operations is inevitable by definition, the Confederate States instead recommend that this point instead emphasize the need to minimize the damage dealt to the environment. However, this absolutely must keep in mind the fact that the measures suggested should not serve as an unacceptable economic burden.

This is indeed factual, we have since changed the wording of the clause to limiting the spread of contamination as opposed to preventing it in it's totality.

Again, feedback welcomed.

[Lillitania]

iv: Instructs nations who discover at a potential mine site flora or fauna solely indigenous to the potential mine site to make documented efforts to relocate either the mine, or the relevant species to ensure that the mine and the species suffer as little impact as possible.

Fixed some wording. Also, there is no reason to ensure a mine suffer any impact; Quite frankly it makes no sense.

ix: Empowers the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct any and all essential financial checks on a nation before deciding on the approval of funds and to confer with the Nuclear Testing Oversight Agency (NTOA) to determine exactly what actions will be required on a case by case basis by nations applying under this act.

I'm unsure what this aims to do...

Jerry Greyer
General Assembly Office

[Abacathea]

iv: Instructs nations who discover at a potential mine site flora or fauna solely indigenous to the potential mine site to make documented efforts to relocate either the mine, or the relevant species to ensure that the mine and the species suffer as little impact as possible.

Fixed some wording. Also, there is no reason to ensure a mine suffer any impact; Quite frankly it makes no sense.

ix: Empowers the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct any and all essential financial checks on a nation before deciding on the approval of funds and to confer with the Nuclear Testing Oversight Agency (NTOA) to determine exactly what actions will be required on a case by case basis by nations applying under this act.

I'm unsure what this aims to do...

Jerry Greyer
General Assembly Office

Will fix the sentence when I can get to a computer.

As for the latter, it prevents a loophole were nations can willy nilly apply for funding to comply with this act rather than simply dip into their own surplus coffers

[The Lorians]

We wholeheartedly support this proposal if it is brought to the floor. It is also our belief that this is by no means a replication of any existing resolution and fills a void.

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

Concerned that whilst this industry is indeed of great importance to many member nations, it remains, in part, highly unregulated in terms of environmental protection despite the sheer impact it makes on the environment itself.

Speak for yourself. We'd suggest the addition of 'in some nations'.

There'll always be some measure of contamination, so we'd suggest the following amendment:

v: Charges all national governments with assessing the areas directly around mining operations currently in progress and annually thereafter on all active mines, to ensure that no significant contamination of water supplies or soil has occurred and take all possible measures to treat and prevent the further spread of contamination if such is discovered.

vii: Empowers Directs the Nuclear Testing Oversight Agency (NTOA) to conduct these tests on behalf of nations and to make governmental recommendations based off their findings.

Please try not to let the gnomes have too much independence. Give them strict instructions.

Otherwise, we can tentatively support this proposal - it's not as terrifyingly anti-business as we first feared.

[Abacathea]

All recommended changes incorporated

[Araraukar]

I think the title should be changed to Uranium Mining Standards Act, since you're not trying to address all mining. It's 28 marks long with spaces, so it would still be ok for a proposal name.

[Norway and Iceland]

Her Majesty the Queen is pleased to indicate her support for this proposal, citing in particular the standard of draftmanship displayed.

[Abacathea]

I think the title should be changed to Uranium Mining Standards Act, since you're not trying to address all mining. It's 28 marks long with spaces, so it would still be ok for a proposal name.

I agree. Thank you

[Abacathea]

Her Majesty the Queen is pleased to indicate her support for this proposal, citing in particular the standard of draftmanship displayed.

Many thanks to her Majesty. Please accept this box of kittens.

[Republic of Greater America]

While I thank you for your kindness in making this proposal, I oppose it, because the sheer amount of bureaucracy needed would hurt said many nation's economies, which means that while the surrounding area may look nicer, what good is it when everyone else is poorer?

[Abacathea]

While I thank you for your kindness in making this proposal, I oppose it, because the sheer amount of bureaucracy needed would hurt said many nation's economies, which means that while the surrounding area may look nicer, what good is it when everyone else is poorer?

Dear Delegate,

I fail to understand your argument here. "The sheer amount of bureaucracy" as you pointed out, is indeed already in existence thanks to two seperate acts. All i've done is taken those layers and extends what they are capable of doing.

As for hurting national economies, the very reason which the above extension took place was to ensure that no economy was damaged.

Furthermore, this is not about a surrounding area looking "nicer", this isn't about aesthetic pollution here, this is chemical radiation which almost always occurs to both humans, soil and even water and air if not mined and controlled in the safest possible environments.

Yours,

[Araraukar]

this is chemical radiation which almost always occurs to both humans, soil and even water and air if not mined and controlled in the safest possible environments.

*nudges* No such thing as chemical radiation.

[Abacathea]

this is chemical radiation which almost always occurs to both humans, soil and even water and air if not mined and controlled in the safest possible environments.

*nudges* No such thing as chemical radiation.

*nudges back* thank you dear Ara, although I may have chosen my words poorly, I believe the message was semi clear

[Araraukar]

*nudges* No such thing as chemical radiation.

*nudges back* thank you dear Ara, although I may have chosen my words poorly, I believe the message was semi clear

Well, coffee is a semi-clear liquid, but I still wouldn't want to swim in it if it had sharks. (As in, considering the sharks in these waters, unwise comments remain unwise unless corrected. )

[Abacathea]

*nudges back* thank you dear Ara, although I may have chosen my words poorly, I believe the message was semi clear

Well, coffee is a semi-clear liquid, but I still wouldn't want to swim in it if it had sharks. (As in, considering the sharks in these waters, unwise comments remain unwise unless corrected. )

As always appreciated