Does the Code address the risk to nearby communities from the release of hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN) from cyanide facilities at gold mines such as heap leach pads?
There are several provisions in the Code that address the release of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) from the process solutions. One requirement is for maintaining of a sufficiently high pH of the solution to control the release of HCN‚ thereby protecting workers at the operation who are near the solutions and any nearby communities or people off the mine site. Provisions for emergency response planning also consider the risk of hydrogen cyanide evolution and release. The concentration of hydrogen cyanide in the air around a heap leach operation typically is such that personnel who routinely work around and on these facilities do not require protective equipment for hydrogen cyanide gas.
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