BEMAX ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

In fulfilling this commitiment, Bemax:

• Operates in compliance with an Environmental Manual documented and implemented in accordance with AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004.
• Operates in compliance with applicable legislation, regulations and Codes of Practice.
• Commits to pollution prevention and waste minimisation.
• Recognises that operations will have a localised, short term impact on the environment and aims to reduce this impact wherever practicable.
• As a basis for improvement and to demonstrate compliance, regularly audits and monitors environmental performance and applies the principles of hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
• Aims to continually improve environmental management practices and performance.
• Works with the community with the aim of achieving mutually acceptable outcomes from all areas of operation.
• Conducts mining in a manner that ensures that rehabilitation to the agreed end land use can be achieved at the earliest practical time.
• Ensures that all employees, including contractors, are aware of their role in implementing company environmental responsibilities, policies and commitments.
• Openly reports on its environmental performance.

Scope

Developing an Integrated Management System

Throughout 1996 and 1997 Bemax's Western Australian subsidiary group, Cable Sands, developed and implemented an Environmental Management System, to the ISO Standard 14001:1996, across all sites, to manage all activities with the potential to impact on the environment.

Certification was achieved in July 1997 with Cable Sands becoming the first titanium minerals mining company in the world to be certified to the ISO 14001 Standard.

Certification of the EMS was followed by Quality (ISO 9001) in 1999 and Safety (AS 4801) in 2001. These systems have now been combined, forming an Integrated Management System (IMS), covering environmental, quality and safety aspects of operations. Audits against the requirements of the IMS and individual standards are conducted six-monthly by independent auditors.

Work is underway to extend the scope of certification to encompass all of the Bemax operations, both in western and eastern Australia. The IMS is being rolled out to the eastern operations as they commence, and is planned to be fully certified in 2006.

• Improved performance.
• Increase in awareness within the workforce.
• More efficient and effective operations.

Demonstrating continual improvement in performance is an essential part of the system and the auditing process.

All Bemax employees and major contractors receive training through induction as well as on going refresher training, emphasising their individual roles and responsibilities in implementing the IMS.