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Mining & Mineral Resources. Chapter 16, Section 3: Mining Regulations & Mine Reclamation Standards: SEV4a, c. What are the environmental impacts of mining?. Noise & Air pollution Water contamination Displacement of wildlife Soil Degradation Subsidence Underground Mine Fires.
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Mining & Mineral Resources Chapter 16, Section 3: Mining Regulations & Mine Reclamation Standards: SEV4a, c
What are the environmental impacts of mining? • Noise & Air pollution • Water contamination • Displacement of wildlife • Soil Degradation • Subsidence • Underground Mine Fires
1. Noise & Air Pollution • Noise pollution from blasting & machinery. • Blasting can cause physical damage to houses • Air pollution from dust produced by mining • Dust may contain harmful materials such as mercury & asbestos Black lung disease on the far right.
2. Water Contamination • Water seeps thru piles of excess mining rock & picks up toxic materials • Toxins seep into body of water & kill wildlife • Ex: Coal contains sulfur, sulfur reacts with rainwater & makes sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid leaches into body of water and causes Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Acid Mine Drainage in Ohio Acid Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania
3. Displacement of Wildlife • Removing vegetation affects animals in area. • Animals die or move out. • Dredging in water destroys aquatic ecosystems • Sediment in water blocks sunlight affecting algae & clogging gills of fish & shellfish. These fish died due to aluminum mining- aluminum makes their gills produce too much mucus and they suffocate b/c gills don’t work properly.
4. Soil Degradation • Soil must be removed in layers and kept separate. • Must return soil to original layers so that most fertile is on top of repaired mining land. • If lower layers containing sulfur are placed on top of repaired land, acid will form and plants won’t grow.
5. Subsidence • Subsidence- sinking of the ground due to lack of support below ground. • Can result when mining pillars, roofs or floors collapse. • Houses, roads, buildings can be damaged/destroyed
6. Underground Mine Fires • Coal mines are prone to catch on fire underground • Will burn for decades and cannot be put out. • Centralia, PA • Miners started burning trash near coal seam • Coal seam caught fire • Enough coal to burn for 100-1,000 years • Inspiration for the fictional movie “Silent Hill”
What regulations are established to regulate mining? • Federal Regulations • Clean Water Act & Safe Drinking Water Act protect water from mining activities • Comprehensive Response Compensation & Liability Act protect soil, air & water from hazardous substance release from mines • Endangered Species Act must also be observed.
What regulations are established to regulate mining? • State Regulations • Mining companies must get permit. • Must submit plan for mine design and reclamation before they start mining • May be forced to participate in bond forfeiture program • Must deposit funds into this program. • If mine is not reclaimed properly, the funds are used by the state for the reclamation process
What is Reclamation? • Process of returning mined land back to its original condition • Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) • Sets standards for surface clean up of mines • Establishes funds for clean up of old coal mines & the environments they’ve destroyed. • Must replace soil, reseed, replant, & irrigate.
How can YOU reduce the impact of mining? • Reduce energy consumption! • Turn off lights, computers, etc. • Decrease your dependence on coal! • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! • If we recycled every aluminum can on the planet we would never need to mine for aluminum again! • Recycling conserves water & energy
