Impacts of Mining, Mining Regulations &

Mine Reclamation

Do Now!Environmental Impacts of Mining

What are some environmental impactsassociated with mining?

Environmental Impacts of Mining• Air and noise pollution• Water pollution• Displacement of wildlife• Erosion and sedimentation• Soil degradation• Subsidence

Because the environmental impacts are so great, mining is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the US!

Air and Noise Pollution• Dust is produced by removing,

loading, hauling, and dumping soil and overburden

• Dust is also produced from ore blasting

• Noise is created by equipment and blasting

Think! How do you think noise pollution caused by equipment and noise pollution caused by blasting differ?

Air and Noise Pollution

• Equipment noise pollution is more of a nuisance.• Blasting noise pollution can cause damage to nearby

buildings.

Think! How do you think air and noise pollution are regulated?

Air and Noise Pollution Regulation

• Most surface mines are not located near urban populations

• Regulations in US forbid mining operations to allow dust or noise to exit the area being mined

Water Contamination• Water that seeps into mines or through piles of rock can

pick up or dissolve toxic substances• Containments can then wash into streams where they

can harm or kill aquatic life

Think! What do you think happens when water is contaminated with a mineral like sulfur?What regulations do you think exist to combat water contamination?

Water Contamination & Regulation• Minerals that contain a lot of sulfur

and react with oxygen and water to produce dilute sulfuric acid

• Contaiminated water from this process called Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

• Regulations in the US require companies to dispose of acid-producing rock in ways that prevent water contamination

Displacement of wildlife• Removing soil from a surface mine site strips away all

plant life.• Without plants, animals will leave the area.• Dredging disturbs river bottoms and destroys aquatic

plant life.

Think! What do you think happens when soil is returned to a surface mine site?

Displacement of wildlife

When the soil is returned to the site different plants and animals may establish themselves, creating a new ecosystem.

Erosion and Sedimentation

• Excess rock from mines is dumped into large piles called dumps.

• Running water erodes unprotected dumps and may harm water quality and aquatic life

Soil Degradation• Soil at a mine is removed from the uppermost layer

downward.• Soil must be stores in layers with the upper layers

stored above lower layers.

Think! What do you think happens if the soil is not removed and stored properly?

Soil Degradation

• Soil must be removed and stored properly or it can be depleted of nutrients when it is reclaimed.

• Deeper soil layers may also contain sulfur.

Think! What might happens to sulfur compounds in the soil? How might this affect plant growth?

Subsidence• The sinking of regions of

ground with little or no horizontal movement.

• Caused when pillars in a mind collapse or the mine roof or floor fails

Think! What are some hazards that may result from subsidence?

Subsidence

• Buildings, houses, roads, bridges, underground pipelines and utilities may be damaged

• Explosions, fires

• Loss of wildlife or human life

Underground Mine Fires• Fires in underground coal seams are one of the most

serious environmental consequences of coal mining• Lighting, forest fires and burning trash can cause

coal-seam fires.

Think! What are some of the problems with underground mine

fires?

Underground Mine Fires

• These fires are hard to put out and often left to burn out (which may take decades).

• They release smoke and gasses that can cause respiratory problems.

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The General Mining Act (GMA, 1872)• Signed by President Ulysses S. Grant.• Allowed miners who claimed minerals on federal public land

to decide where, when, and how to mine. • They had absolute right to mine without standards in place

for prudent mine operations, mine site cleanup, reclamation or restoration, or financial responsibility.

• Put in place to promote development and settlement of public owned land in the Western U.S.

Due to the impact on the environment, mining is the most heavily regulated industry in the US.

Mining Regulations• Mines on land in the US are regulated by federal and

state laws.• States must issue permits for mining, run inspections,

and address noncompliance.

Think! What federal regulations exist to control negative

impacts mining has on the environment?

Mining Regulations• The Clean Water Act (CWA, 1972) &The Safe

Drinking Water Act (SDWA, 1974 )– Regulates discharge of pollutants and quality

standards of surface waters in the U.S.– Ensures the quality of drinking water

• The Comprehensive Response Compensation and Liability Act (CRCLA, 1980)– Regulates the release of hazardous substances

into air, soil, & water• The Endangered Species Act (ESP, 1973)– Protects threatened & endangered species and

their habitats

The Surface Mining control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA, 1977) • Ensured reclaiming of the land- returning it to its original

or better condition after mining.• Billions of dollars are spent to clean up abandoned

mines.– Set standards to minimize the effects of coal mining on

environment– Established funds used to reclaim land and water resources

adversely affected by mining

Mine Reclamation

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