The Sixth International Conference for Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD 6) was held in Cairns, QLD Australia, July 14-17, 2003. The conference was entitled Application and Sustainability of Technologies. It was organized by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) in association with the Australian Center for Mining Environmental Research (ACMER). R. Batterham of the International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP) led the plenary session. He unveiled the regional organization program to conference delegates. INAP has entered into a statement of mutual intent with the Acid Drainage Technology Initiative (ADTI) in the United States, Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) in Canada and ACMER in Australia. What began as an industry initiative has become an international network with regional partners. The new structure allows all stakeholders to participate through the regional organizations. This includes regulators, academics, consultants and miners that do not belong to INAP. INAP hopes to form an umbrella organization to help organize and assure the future of ICARD conferences. Each regional organization gave an overview of its program, including the acid drainage situation in its region, and an overview of its organization and active programs. MEND, ADTI and ACMER, who make up the initial INAP regional organizations, were followed by the South African and European regions. INAP hopes to enlist them in the future.
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