 A Swiss environmental expert launched on Friday a six-week public consultation as he spearheads efforts to create new global standards next year following the Vale dam disaster in Brazil. The safety of dams used to store mining waste, known as tailings, gained prominence after the collapse of Vales dam at Brumadinho, Brazil, in January that killed an estimated 300 people. The International Council on Mining and Metals ICMM said in March it was working on new standards with the U.N. Environment Programme UNEP and ethical investors body the Principles for Responsible Investment PRI. 