Download Abbreviations

Abbreviations
Abbreviation
Definition
a
annum (year)
AAS
Areas of Archaeological Sensitivity
ACH
Archaeological Cultural Heritage
ADB
African Development Bank
AFD
Agence Française de Développement / French Development Agency
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AGRAAD
Association Guinéenne de Recherche, Action et d’Alphabétisation pour le Développement
AHAP
Areas of High Archaeological Potential
ANFO
Ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (blasting agent)
AP
Acid Generation Potential
AQS
Air Quality Standard
ARD
Acid Rock Drainage
ARI
Average Recurrence Interval
ART
Antiretroviral therapies
ASS
Acid Sulphate Soil
BCD
Below Chart Datum
BFI
Base Flow Index
BGEEE
Bureau Guinéen d’Evaluation des Etudes Environnementales / Guinean Office for Evaluation of Environmental
Studies
BHS
Baseline Health Survey
BICIGUI
Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l'Industrie de la Guinée / International Bank for Trade and Industry of
Guinea
BMP
Best Management Practices
BOD
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
BRGM
Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières / Bureau of Geological and Mining Research
˚C
Degrees Centigrade
CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity
CBTC
Communications Based Train Control
CCTV
Closed Circuit Television
CD
Chart Datum
CEDAW
UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
CER
Certified Emission Reduction
CF
Classified Forest
CFD
Ordonnance 0/92/019, Code Foncier et Domanial / The Land and Domanial Code
CFC
Chlorofluorocarbon
CFZ
Centre Forestière de N’Zérékoré / N’Zérékoré Forestry Centre
CHMP
Cultural Heritage Management Plan
cm
Centimetres
CPH
Conservation Priority Habitat
CNSES
Comité National de Suivi Environnemental et Social / National Committee for Environmental and Social Monitoring
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Abbreviation
Definition
CNT
Comité National de Transition / National Transition Council
CNTG
Confédération Nationale des Travailleurs de Guinée / National Confederation of Guinean Workers
CO2
Carbon Dioxide
COD
Chemical Oxygen Demand
COGEF
Comité de Gestion Forestière / Forect management Committee
CPS
Conservation Priority Species
CPSES
Comité Preféctoral National de Suivi Environnemental et Social / National Committee for Environmental and Social
Monitoring
CR
Critically endangered species
CRD
Comune Rurale de Développement / Rural Development Commune
CRG
Crédit Rural de Guinée / Guinea Rural Credit
CSD
Cutter Suction Dredger
CSO
Civil Society Organisations
CU
Cummuune urbaine / Urban Commune
d
day
dB
Decibel
DEM
Dust Extinction Moisture
DNH
Direction Nationale de l’Hydraulique / National Hydraulic Directorate
DNM
Direction Nationale de la Météorologie / National Meteorology Directorate
DNGRE
Direction Nationale de la Gestion de Resources en Eau / National Water Resources Management Directorate
DNPN
Direction National de la Protection de la Nature / National Directorate for the Protection of Nature
DNS
Direction Nationale de la Statistique / National Directorate for Statistics
DOC
Dissolved Organic Carbon
DREF
Disaster Relief Emergency Fund
DWT
Dead / Dry Weight Tonnage
ECOWAS
The Economic Community Of West African States
eg
for example
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
EIS
Environmental Impact Study
EITI
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
EHS
Environment, Health and Safety
EMP
Environmental Management Plan
EN
Endangered species
ENSO
El Niño Southern Oscillation
EP
Equator Principles
EPCM
Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management
ERM
Environmental Resources Management
ERTMS
European Rail Traffic Management System
ESA
Early Stone Age
ETCS
European Train Control System
EU
European Union
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
GBLP
Guinea Buy Local Programme
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Abbreviation
Definition
GCM
Global Circulation Model
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
GHG
Greenhouse Gas
GIS
Geographical Information Systems
GP
Grievance Procedure
GPS
Global Positioning System
HAT
Human African Trypanosomiasis
HCT
Humidity Cell Test
HDI
Human Development Index
HGV
Heavy Goods Vehicle
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
HME
Heavy Mobile Equipment
hr
Hour
HRW
Human Rights Watch
HSEC
Health, Safety, Environment and Community
HSEC-MS
Health, Safety, Environment and Community Management System
HSEQ
Health, Safety, Environment and Quality
H&S
Health and Safety
Hz
Hertz
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
IA
Iron Age
IAHP
International Association of Ports and Harbours
IAIA
International Association for Impact Assessment
IBA
Important Bird Areas
ICEM
International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions
ICESCR
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ICH
Intangible Cultural Heritage
IEMA
United Kingdom Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment
IFC
International Finance Corporation
ILO
International Labour Organisation
IMF
International Monetary Fund
IMRA
In-Migration Risk Assessment
IMO
International Maritime Organisation
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
ISO
International Standardisation Organisation
ITCZ
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone
ITUC
International Trade Union Confederation
IUCN
International Union for Conservation of Nature
KBA
Key Biodiversity Area
kg
kilogram
kHz
kilohertz
km
kilometre
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Abbreviation
Definition
kV
kilovolt
l/s
litres per second
LCH
Living Cultural Heritage
LCU
Landscape Character Units
LO-LO
Load On-Load Off
LSC
Logistical Supply Centre
m
metre
mbsl
metres below sea level
MDG
Millennium Development Goals
mg / l
milligrams per litre
MOF
Marine Offloading Facility for import of material during construction of the Simandou Project
ml
millilitres
mm
Millimetres
MPN
Most Probable Number
MSA
Middle Stone Age
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheet
MSL
Mean Sea Level
mtpa
Million tonnes per annum
MWth / e
Megawatts – thermal or electrical
NECC
North Equatorial Counter Current
NGO
Non-Government Organisation
NMWMP
Non-Mineral Waste Management Plan
MWMP
Mineral Waste Management Plan
NNP
Net Neutralisation Potential
No.
Number
NO2
Nitrogen dioxide
NOx
Oxides of Nitrogen
NPI
National Pollution Inventory
NPI
Net Positive Impact
NT
Near threatened species
NTFP
Non-Timber Forest Product
NTU
Nephelometric turbidity units
NWP
Numerical Weather Prediction
O3
Ozone
OECD
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
OHS
Occupational Health and Safety
ONSLG
Organisation Nationale des Syndicats Libres de Guinée / National Organisation of Free Unions of Guinea
Op cit
Already cited
OUL
Ouéléba
PAC
Project Affected Community
PACI
Partnering Against Corruption Initiative
PACV
Programme d’Appui aux Communautés Villageoises / Programme for Support of Village Communities
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Abbreviation
Definition
PAH
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PAP
Project Affected Person
PARC
Plan d’Action de Réinstallation et de Compensation / Action Plan for Resettlement and Compensation
PAYE
Pay As You Earn
PdF
Pic de Fon
PEA
Preliminary Engineering Assessment
PHC
Compact phyllite
PHV
Very weak phyllite
PHS
Soil strength phyllite
PHW
Weak Phyllite
PIANC
World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure
PIN
Projet d’intérêt national / Project of National Importance
PM
Particulate Matter
PM2.5
Particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less
PM10
Particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
PRSP
Guinea Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
PS
IFC Performance Standard
RC
Remote Camp
RDS
Regional Development Strategy
RO-RO
Roll-on roll-off
RTIOAL
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Atlantic Limited
RTIOEP
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Expansion Projects
S
Sulphur
SEIA
Social and Environmental Impact Assessment
SEIS
Social and Environmental Impact Study
SEMP
Social and Environmental Management Plan
SEP
Stakeholder Engagement Plan
SME
Small and Medium Enterprise
SMF
Social Management Framework
SNAPE
National Water Supply Service
SPV
Special Purpose Vehicle
SRES
Special Report Emission Scenarios
STI
Sexually Transmitted Infections
SO2
Sulphur dioxide
SVR
Sensitive Visual Receptors
TB
Tuberculosis
TBM
Tunnel Boring Machine
TDS
Total Dissolved Solids
TLM
Track Laying Machine
TOC
Total Organic Carbon
ToR
Terms of Reference
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Abbreviation
Definition
tph
tonnes per hour
TSHD
Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger
TSS
Total Suspended Solids
UK
United Kingdom
UKMO
United Kingdom Meteorological Office
UNAIDS
Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS
UNDAC
United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team
UNDP
United Nations Development Plan
UNESCO
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
UNFCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNICEF
United National Children Emergency Fund
UNHCR
United Nations Refugee Agency
US
United States of America
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
USEPA
US Environmental Protection Agency
US SCS
United States Soil Conservation Service
USTG
Union Syndicale des Travailleurs de Guinée / Union of Guinean Workers
VES
Value Enhancement Study
VU
Vulnerable species
WBCSD
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
WHO
World Health Organisation
WRI
World Resources Institute
ZVI
Zone of Visual Influence
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Glossary
Term
Definition
Acid-sulphate soils
Acid sulphate soil (ASS) are soils and sediments containing iron sulphides. When exposed to air
due to drainage, these soils produce sulphuric acid and often also release iron, aluminium and
heavy metals.
Affected Community
Local communities that are affected by a project either positively or negatively.
Alluvial
Sediment deposited by flowing water, as in a river bed, flood plain or delta.
Alternatives Analysis
Analysis to examine feasible alternatives such as alternative project locations, designs or
operational processes, or alternative ways of dealing with social and environmental impacts.
Anthropogenic
Relating to humans.
Anthropogenically modified
landscape
A landscape, biological and physical (bio-physical) system or environment modified by the
influence or activities of humans
Aquifer
An aquifer is defined as formation or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated
permeable material to yield economic quantities of water to boreholes and springs
Aquiclude
A geologic formation, group of formations, or part of formation through which virtually no water
moves
Area of Conservation Interest
Areas of conservation interest include areas designated for biodiversity importance at an
international and national level. These include legally protected areas and other areas
designated as of importance for biodiversity by globally recognised international organisations.
Area of Influence
The area within which it is considered that significant impacts could occur. This varies
depending on the type of impact being considered.
Baseline Data
Data gathered during the Social and Environmental Assessment to describe existing conditions
in the area of the project, such as physical, biological, socio-economic, and labour conditions,
including any changes before the project commences.
Bas Fonds
Wetlands of high productivity in lower valleys, mainly used for vegetables, cassava, sweet
potatoes.
Benthic
The ecological zone at the lowest level of the water column including the surface layer of
sediment.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life in all its forms, including genetic, species and ecosystem
diversity and includes the variability among all living organisms including terrestrial, marine and
other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes
diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
Bogoni
Rice fields in direct contact with the sea and sea channels that are only used for rice cultivation.
Bowal
Areas of wooded grassland on hills and between valleys.
Bunding
Containment around a storage area to contain the contents in case of rupture or spillage.
Cavitation
A source of underwater noise caused by a vessel’s propeller.
Cetaceans
Mammals in the Phylum Chordata that include whales and dolphins.
Chainage
A system of defining the location along a linear feature according to the distance in kilometres
from one end (eg Km 32.500 is the point 32.5 km from the start of the alignment). The chainage
of the Simandou railway is measured from the west end.
Chalco
Aluminium Corporation of China Limited
Chance Finds Procedure
A project-specific procedure for managing previously unknown cultural heritage resources,
particularly, archaeological resources, are encountered during project construction or operation.
The procedure includes record keeping and expert verification procedures, chain of custody
instructions for movable finds.
Child Labour
Work by a child that is likely to interfere with a child’s basic right to education, or to be harmful to
a child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.
Classified Forest
A forest area identified by decree issued under the Forestry Code for the protection and
enhancement of the forestry resource by the balanced and sustainable use and development of
that classified area; and for the protection of the environment.
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Term
Definition
Concession (Simandou Mining
Concession)
The area of land within which Simfer has been granted the right to explore for and extract
minerals under a Basic Convention and Settlement Agreement made with the Republic of
Guinea.
Consultation
Two-way communication between a project and its stakeholders that that provides an
opportunity for stakeholders to obtain information about the project and to express their views so
that the project can consider and respond to those views. Consultation should be free, prior,
informed, inclusive and culturally appropriate.
Côteaux
Hill slopes where rice, cassava, sweet potatoes and peanuts are cultivated.
Critical habitat
Critical habitats are areas with high biodiversity value, including (i) habitat of significant
importance to Critically Endangered and/or Endangered species; (ii) habitat of significant
importance to endemic and / or restricted-range species; (iii) habitat supporting globally
significant concentrations of migratory species and/or congregatory species; (iv) highly
threatened and / or unique ecosystems; and/or (v) areas associated with key evolutionary
processes (see IFC PS6, Paragraph 16).
Culvert
A man made structure used to channel water.
Cumulative impact
Impacts that arise from multiple Projects within a region. (See also project-wide impact).
Demersal
The part of the water column that is near to the seabed and the benthos. Demersal fish are
those that spend the majority of their lifecycle on or near to the seabed.
Direct Impacts
Impacts can be characterised according to whether they are direct (primary) impacts arising from
activities associated with the Project, or indirect (secondary and higher order) impacts that follow
on as a consequence of direct impacts. An example of a direct impact would be the adverse
impact on human health or crops resulting from changes in air quality caused by emissions from
the ore processing plant. This could have secondary (indirect) impacts by affecting the
livelihoods of people who are dependent on crops for subsistence.
Duricrusts
A bed of sand or clay in arid regions cemented by calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, and other
soluble minerals.
Echinoderms
(Phylum Echinodermata) are invertebrate marine organisms usually characterised by a five-fold
symmetry. Examples include: sea urchins and starfish.
Ecosystem
The interrelationships between all living organisms in a given area, and their relationships to
non-living materials such as air, soil, water and sunlight.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem Services (ES) are defined as the benefits that people obtain from nature. Scientists
generally divide ecosystem services into four categories.

Provisioning services are the goods or products obtained from ecosystems, such as food,
timber, medicines, fibre, and freshwater.

Regulating services are the benefits obtained from an ecosystem’s control of natural
processes, such as climate, disease, erosion, water flows, and pollination, as well as
protection from natural hazards.

Cultural services are the nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems, such as
recreation, spiritual values, and aesthetic enjoyment.

Supporting services are the natural processes that maintain the other ecosystem services,
such as nutrient cycling and primary production.
Effect
See Impact (effect and impact are used synonymously).
Elasmobranches
Cartilaginous fishes, including sharks, rays and skates (Phylum Chordata, Class
Chondrichthyes).
Emergency Response Plan
Plan to address contingencies associated with process upset and accidental circumstances
including measures for prevention of, and response to, emergency events.
Endemic species
A species that has ≥ 95%t of its global range inside the country or region of analysis (IFC PS6
GN79).
Equinoctial tides
Twice yearly highest spring tides.
Flora and Fauna
Plants and animals.
Food chain
A feeding hierarchy where a flow of energy is moved from one organism to another. For
example: trees and shrubs (producer) → giraffe (herbivore) → lion (carnivore).
Global warming potential
Relative ‘strength’ of a greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide.
Goethite
A form of iron ore.
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Term
Definition
Greenhouse gas
Gases that cause heat to be trapped in the atmosphere and result in a temperature rise of the
Earth’s surface. GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O),
amongst others.
Grievance
A grievance is a complaint or concern raised by an individual or organisation who judges that
they have been adversely affected by the Project during any stage of its development.
Grievances may take the form of specific complaints for actual damages or injury, general
concerns about Project activities, incidents and impacts, or perceived impacts.
Grievance Procedure
Procedure developed by the Project in accordance with IFC requirements:

to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances about the client’s
environmental and social performance;

procedure for workers (and their organizations, where they exist) to raise reasonable
workplace concerns; and

procedure to receive and address specific concerns about compensation and resettlement
that are raised by displaced persons or members of host communities.
Habitat
The environmental or ecological area in which an animal, plant species or other organism lives.
Haematite
The most common form of iron ore.
Harmattan
A dry and dusty West African wind.
Hazardous Waste
Wastes classified as hazardous possess at least one of four characteristics – ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity – or appear on special lists.
HSEC-MS
See Social and Environmental Management System.
Impact
Any change in the physical, natural, cultural or social environment brought about by a
development. Impact and Effect are used interchangeably. (See also direct, indirect and
induced impacts).
Indirect (secondary and higher
order) impacts
Impacts that follow on as a consequence of direct impacts. (See also direct impacts).
In-migration
Skilled or semi-skilled entrepreneurial in-migrants who seek to take advantage of project
workforces and related economic and social opportunities to provide goods and services through
a SME.
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Cultural knowledge and activities that include traditional beliefs and practices such as religious
rites of passage, ethnic affiliations and other cultural traditions.
International Good Practice
The exercise of professional skill, diligence prudence and foresight that would reasonably be
expected from skilled and experienced professional engaged in the same type of undertaking
under the same or similar circumstances globally.
Invasive Alien Species
Species are identified as invasive aliens when (i) they are non-native to an ecosystem, and (ii)
their introduction is liable to cause environmental harm, or harm to human health and livelihoods,
because they spread rapidly and have negative effects on native species through competition,
predation, or disease. Invasive species can be flora, fauna, or other organisms (eg microbes).
Itabirite
A form of iron ore.
IUCN Red List
This list has been developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and
the details the global conservation status of a wide range of biological species. The Red List
website is http:/www.redlist.org.
Key Biodiversity Area
A Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) is a site of international importance for the conservation of
biodiversity, as recognised by IUCN. The KBA approach was pioneered by Conservation
International. KBAs are identified at the national level using a multi-taxonomic approach that
covers plants, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and crustaceans.
Landscape character unit
Specific patterns within a regional landscape that are distinctive to particular locality or subregion.
Laterite
Red soils which are rich in iron oxide.
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Term
Definition
Magnitude (impact assessment)
Magnitude describes the actual change that is expected to occur in a resource or receptor as a
result of the Project (eg the area and duration over which air or water becomes polluted and the
level of increase in concentration of the pollutant, the area of habitat that is lost, the number of
people who are displaced). The term “magnitude” is used as shorthand to encompass various
possible dimensions of the predicted impact including:

the nature of the consequence (how resources and/or receptors are affected);

the size, scale or intensity of the effect;

geographical extent and distribution;

temporal extent (duration, frequency, reversibility); and

where relevant, the probability of the impact occurring as a result of non-routine events.
Mitigation (measure)
Measures taken to ensure adverse negative impacts are as low as reasonably practicable and
positive impacts are maximised. These include; compensate / offset, avoid, reduce and
remedy / restore.
Modified habitats
Areas that may contain a large proportion of plant and/or animal species of non-native origin,
and / or where human activity has substantially modified an area’s primary ecological functions
and species composition.
Marine Offloading Facility (MOF)
The Marine Offloading Facility is a port facility used for import of equipment and materials during
the construction of the Simandou Project.
Natural habitat
An area composed of viable assemblages of plant and/or animal species of largely native origin,
and/or where human activity has not essentially modified an area’s primary functions and
species composition. (PS6, Paragraph 13).
Non-routine Impacts
Impacts arising from:

unplanned or accidental events within the project such as accidents involving spills of
hazardous substances; and

natural hazards and other external events affecting the project such as seismic activity and
flooding.
Occupational health and safety
Refers to the health of safety of workers and others present in a workplace (as distinct from
public or community health and safety).
Passing loop
A short section of double railway track which allows one train to pull off a single track line and
allow another train to pass.
Particulate Matter (eg PM10,
PM2.5)
Fine particles of solid matter in air.
PARC Framework
The Project Framework for Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Compensation.
Pelagic
The part of the water column in the open sea that is not closely associated with seabed. Pelagic
fish live in this part of the sea.
Phyllite
A metamorphic rock intermediate in grade between slate and schist, and derived from
argillaceous sediments; has a silky sheen on the cleavage surface.
Piezometer
An instrument used for measuring the pressure of liquids.
PIN (Projet d’intérêt national)
A project identified as of national importance warranting application of powers for expropriation
of land under a PIN Declaration and a Declaration of Public Utility under the Land and Domain
Code.
PIN Corridor
The area of land within which powers to expropriate land will be available under the PIN
Declaration.
Pollution
Refers to both hazardous and non-hazardous pollutants in the solid, liquid or gaseous forms,
and is intended to include other forms such as nuisance odours, noise, vibration, light radiation,
electromagnetic energy and the creation of potential visual impacts including light.
Precambrian
All geologic time prior to the beginning of the Paleozoic era (before 600 000 000 years ago);
equivalent to about 90% of all geologic time.
Primary forest
Forest which has never been subject to human disturbance, or has been so little affected by
hunting, gathering and tree-cutting that its natural structure, functions and dynamics have not
undergone any changes that exceed the elastic capacity of the ecosystem.
Project footprint
Used to describe the area of land (or water) covered by all components of the project.
Protected Area
A legally protected area meeting the IUCN definition “A clearly defined geographical space,
recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the longterm conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.“
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Term
Definition
Ramsar site
Wetlands designated by the contracting parties for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of
International Importance because they meet the Criteria established under the Ramsar
Convention.
Receptors
People and communities, and plant and animal species who may be affected by the mine.
Residual Impacts
The significant impacts that remain after taking into account the mitigation commitments adopted
within the Project.
Resources
Features of the environment such as soils, water, habitats, etc, which are valued by society for
their intrinsic worth and / or their social or economic contribution.
Restricted Range
Restricted range species include those with ranges in the following criteria: endemic to a site or
found globally at fewer than 10 sites; animal species having a distribution range less than
2
2
50 000 km ; or bird species with a global breeding range less than 50 000 km .
Routine Impacts
Impacts resulting from planned project activities.
Secondary habitats
Habitats that have been disturbed and / or is being restored, for example degraded forest
recovering from selective logging or areas reclaimed after being cleared by slash-and-burn
agriculture.
Sensitivity of receptors
The sensitivity of a receptor affected by an environmental or social impact (a receptor may be a
community, household, individual or plant or animal species) is determined according to its likely
response to the change and its ability to adapt to and manage the impact. The specific criteria
and definitions of grades used to determine sensitivity are defined in the chapters of the report
dealing with each type of impact (see also Value of resources).
Sensitive visual receptor (SVR)
Locations within a ZVI where individuals or groups of people are potentially exposed to visual
changes caused by the Project. The degree of sensitivity is influenced by the activity people are
undertaking at the SVR location. A local community of people living in their homes with
permanent views of a Project are considered to be more sensitive than people with temporal
views passing through a ZVI.
Settlement
A hamlet, village, town or city.
Significance (significant/not
significant)
An impact is judged to be significant if, in isolation from, or in combination with other impacts, it
should, in the judgement of the SEIA team, as determined by reference to relevant standards
and guidelines and expert consideration, be reported in the SEIA Report so that it can be taken
into account in the decision on whether or not the project should proceed, and if so under what
conditions. Significant impacts can be or minor, moderate, major or critical significance as
defined in Chapter 1 of the SEIA Report (see Section 1.4.3.3).
Simfer SA
A Guinean registered company currently jointly owned by a joint venture of the Rio Tinto Group
and Chalco (95%), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC – 5%). The Government of
Guinea has an option to acquire up to a 35% equity interest in Simfer S.A.
Social and Environmental Impact
Assessment (SEIA)
A study into the effects or impacts of construction, operation and closure of a project on the
physical, natural, cultural, social and socio-economic environment.
Social and Environmental
Management Plan (SEMP)
A plan setting out all the proposed mitigation measures that the proponent of a project will take
to avoid, remedy and compensate for adverse effects, and to maximise the benefits of the
project. Also the plan for monitoring and auditing that will be undertaken to confirm compliance
with the SEMP.
Social and Environmental
Management System (SEMS)
Part of the client’s overall management system for the project, the Social and Environmental
Management System includes the organisational structure, policies, programmes,
responsibilities, procedures, and resources for successfully implementing the project-specific
Social and Environmental Management Plan.
Stakeholder
A person, group of people or organization that can be affected by or have an interest in the
Project.
Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is an ongoing process involving disclosure of information, consultation
with stakeholders and includes the process of dealing with comments and grievances.
Study Area
The study area is the area within which information is collected about the baseline environment
as part of an SEIA (see also Area of influence).
Submontane
Situated on or characteristic of the lower slopes of a mountain.
Tangible Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage sites that include archaeological sites, historic sites and monuments,
traditional-sacred sites and other places of importance.
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary
Term
Definition
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer
and winter pastures.
Turbidity
The measure of the degree to which water losses transparency due to the presence of
suspended particles.
Value of resources
The value of a resource affected by an environmental or social impact is judged taking into
account its quality and its importance as represented for example, by local, regional, national or
international designation, its importance to the local or wider community, or its economic value
(see also Sensitivity of receptors).
Workforce
Workers employed by the Project either directly by the Project company or via contractors and
subcontractors engaged to construct and / or operate the Project.
Working conditions
Conditions in the workplace and treatment of workers. Conditions in the workplace include the
legal, contractual, administrative, physical, environmental, health and safety and welfare
conditions affecting workers. Treatment of workers includes disciplinary practices, reasons and
process for termination of workers and respect for the workers personal dignity.
Zone of visual influence (ZVI)
The ZVI is generally defined as the area within which a project will be potentially noticeable to
the naked human eye.
Simandou SEIA Volume I Mine
Abbreviations and Glossary