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