Mining & Mineral Resources

Chapter 16, Section 3: Mining Regulations & Mine Reclamation

Standards: SEV4a, c

1. Noise & Air pollution

2. Water contamination

3. Displacement of wildlife

4. Soil Degradation5. Subsidence6. Underground

Mine Fires

What are the environmental impacts of mining?

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

1. Noise & Air Pollution

Black lung disease on the far right.

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)

2. Water Contamination

Acid Mine Drainage in Ohio

Acid Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania

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.

3. Displacement of Wildlife

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.

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.

4. Soil Degradation

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

5. Subsidence

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”

6. Underground Mine Fires

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 regulations are established to regulate mining?

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.

What is Reclamation?

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

How can YOU reduce the impact of mining?