The Future Direction of Pit Lakes: Part 2, Corporate and Regulatory Closure Needs to Improve Management

Abstract Pit lakes may present significant risks to ecological and human receiving environments but can also provide beneficial end use opportunities. The understanding of many processes that influence the magnitude these opportunities remains limited, even where our is adequate, application knowledge not consistently applied. From initial planning long-term closure, regulation corporate management pit lake closure be improved realise more sustainable legacies. In this two-part manuscript, we recommend focus areas for future research by academics (Part 1), strategies structurally improve practice mining industry regulators, sustainability officers, global leads, site mine planners 2). Here identify barriers often limit practices suggest ways leaders, practitioners, regulators management. Recommended changes include: conducting risk assessments at an early stage; funding trials; allowing data sharing case study publication; avoiding simplifying assumption a fully mixed when making predictions; integrating climate change into improving quality technical reporting; generating guidance rehabilitation; maximizing subaqueous, in-pit disposal wastes; creating positive legacy through uses lakes; verifying predictions using monitoring. regulatory advancements raising expectations execution; acknowledging good examples; balancing need simulate long periods with model reliability; considering value as water resources during permitting; requiring costing bonding commensurate risk.