Convergence of International Mining Protocols and Compliance of Tailings Structures in Closure: An Integrated Assessment

Tailings management has become a central concern in mining, especially after disasters such as Mariana (2015) and Brumadinho (2019). In response, several international protocols emerged to guide safer and more responsible practices. This article presents an integrated analysis of five key frameworks – GISTM, MP, TSM, RGMP, and RRA – combined with a case study evaluating 12 Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) in closure phase, located in Brazil and the United States. Using the RCMS (Risk Control Management System) methodology, the research assessed the degree of alignment between the GISTM and the other protocols and measured the practical compliance of each TSF against GISTM requirements. By situating tailings governance within the field of political ecology, this article explores how technical standards mediate power relations between mining companies, regulators, and affected communities (Bridge, 2004; Robbins, 2020). It highlights how the absence of community engagement, residual risk documentation, and post-closure monitoring reflects broader asymmetries in environmental decision-making (Escobar, 1996; Pulido, 1996). The findings support the CMSI initiative, which proposes consolidating existing standards under a unified framework, with GISTM as technical reference. The RCMS methodology proved effective in mapping compliance and facilitating cross-protocol analysis. The research concludes that TSFs in closure require the same level of rigor as active structures, and that a unified, verifiable standard is essential for advancing socially just and environmentally responsible mining practices (A. J. Bebbington, Hinojosa, Humphreys Bebbington, Burneo, & Warnaars, 2008; Martínez Alier, 2003).