National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 20305:2026. It supersedes BS ISO 20305:2020, which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee B/513/2.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 April 2026.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 82, Mining, Subcommittee SC 7, Sustainable mining and mine closure.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 20305:2020), which has been technically revised.

The main changes are as follows:

inclusion of concept diagrams within Annex A;
inclusion of thematic headings;
inclusion of concepts relevant to ISO 21795 (series) and ISO 24419 (series);
major revision of concept system for mine closure processes;
minor revisions of all concept systems and definitions to improve alignment with ISO terminological requirements;
improved harmonisation of definitions;
removal of mine closure activity concept system and general language terms not considered unique to subject field;
refraining of mine closure strategy concept system as mine closure process concept system.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

This vocabulary has been prepared to support the application of concepts presented within mine closure and reclamation standards, as well as to facilitate effective communication within the subject field of mine closure and reclamation.

Identified concepts were assessed and filtered based on the following criteria:

the concept is used within, and considered critical to, ISO mine closure and reclamation standards or documentation either existing or being prepared;
the concept is sufficiently important to avoid misunderstanding or ambiguity, such as where an alternative or conflicting definition exists or is in common use;
the concept is required to achieve a common understanding within the field of mine closure and reclamation, including amongst non-experts.

In selecting concepts for inclusion within this standard every effort has been made to avoid:

general concepts used across, and common to, subject fields other than mine closure and reclamation;
use of a single term for multiple concepts or multiple terms for a single concept;
contradictions occurring in terminological entries in other standards prepared under TC 82.

Where a concept was identified within the ISO Online Browsing Platform the definition was reviewed and adopted, if applicable in the mine closure and reclamation context. Definitions presented in publicly available and relevant documents were also reviewed and included where appropriate.

Where concepts have been defined within a specific mine closure and reclamation standard or jurisdictional statute that definition will supersede any term or definition presented within this document.

Concepts on mine closure and reclamation management have been classified into the following thematic headings:

mine closure phase;
mine closure process;
mine status;
mine closure governance;
legal and other obligations;
land use;
mine closure outcome;
mine feature;
mine material;
mine closure risk;
mine closure treatment;
mine closure cost.

This document is not intended to present a comprehensive list of all terms or concepts utilized within mine closure and reclamation.

1 Scope

This document establishes a vocabulary for mine closure and reclamation management.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

3.1 Terms related to the phase during which mine closure processes are undertaken (see Figure A.1)

3.2 Terms related to the process of mine closure (see Figure A.2)

3.3 Terms related to the status of mine closure (see Figure A.3)

3.4 Terms related to the management of mine closure (see Figure A.4)

3.5 Terms related to legal and other obligations (see Figure A.5)

3.6 Terms related to the use of land associated with mining and mine closure (see Figure A.6)

3.7 Terms related to mine closure outcomes (see Figure A.7)

3.8 Terms related to mine features (see Figure A.8)

3.9 Terms related to mined materials (see Figure A.9)

3.10 Terms related to the management and assessment of mine closure risk (see Figure A.10)

3.11 Terms related to the specific mine closure risks (see Figure A.11)

3.12 Terms related to treatments used in mine closure to address risk (see Figure A.12)

3.13 Terms related to mine closure cost (see Figure A.13)

Bibliography

BS ISO 20305:2026

Mine closure and reclamation. Vocabulary

Current

Published:

30 Apr 2026

1 Scope