Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
“Sustainable Mining and Reclamation: Is this possible?”
Lois Uranowski P.E.
2014 Pennsylvania Abandoned Mined Reclamation Conference,
June 26-27, 2014
Purpose of Today’s Talk
• Basic premise- Ecosystem Reclamation Approach
• Benefits and costs
• Why do it?
Sustainable What?Jim Burger’s article appeared in the Fall 2012 ASMR
“Sustainable” based on premise that resources currently used without compromising their availability to future generations.*
* World Commission on Environment and Development (Our Common Future, Brundtland Commission, 1987
Sustainable What?
Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development program = Breaking New Ground found:
“Triple bottom line” meaning a mine may be economically, ecologically and socially sustainable
Economically feasible
Ecologically viable
Socially desirable
Provide profit & benefitUse resource efficientlyInternalize environmental & social cost
Restore ecosystems & services it provides
Engage neighborsRespect property, culture, & safetyFollow spirit & letter of lawContribute to communities
Sustainable Solution
Active Mine Scenario
Adapted from Burger, ASMR Newsletter Fall 2012
Ecologically viable
Socially desirable
Restore ecosystems & services it provides
Engage neighborsRespect property culture, & safetyFollow spirit & letter of lawContribute to communities
Sustainable Solution
AML Reclamation Scenario
Cost of the reclamation has to be considered
Ecosystem Restoration Approach
Ecosystem Restoration
• Process of returning function and structure from degraded to original condition
• Function- biomass/carbon accumulation, hydrologic function, water quality, flood control, etc.
• Structure- species diversity, habitat, water quality, etc.
1st prong:Watershed Consideration
Watershed Approach
• Legacy or AML sites incorporate multiple layers of data (Little Conemaugh) to build a GIS basis for decisions
• Holistic design to better attain the reclamation goals (IPADEP Bennett Creek restoration projects)
• Long term planning, leveraging partnerships• Multiple funding sources
Project designs consider:
• Spoil materials selected and placed to minimize hydrologic contact (e.g. segregating and placing weathered spoil material on top, isolate material with high soluble salts that lead to high TSD in waterways)
• Stream restored using stream channel design (rills, riffles, habitat) Natural Stream software
• Revegetation with native species using woody debris and litter (seed pods)
2nd Prong:Geomorphic Reclamation
The outcome from applying geomorphic reclamation techniques coupled with natural stream design and ecological reclamation greatly improve our chance of more than just restoring the mining-disturbed land but to elevate that land to a sustainable ecosystem.
Geomorphic landscape would
• Establish AOC• Mimics stable, natural slopes• Cost effective• Attractive• Resistance to surface erosion and mass
wasting
Faster ecology regeneration
Landforming Objectives
• Constructing artificial landforms that blend in with the surrounding natural landscape.• Constructing artificial landforms that are
naturally stable (i.e. stable landforms that nature would form).• Rephrasing bullet above: constructing
artificial landforms that are stable in the long-term and maintenance free.
Tailings-disposal fill configurations: (a) “outward”-facing slope of valley fill once constructed and graded and (b) adjacent natural slope, whose topographical form would have made an ideal natural analog for the “outward” slope. (from Schor and Gray, ©2007 John Wiley and Sons, Inc., reprinted with permission of John Wiley and Sons, Inc.)
(a)(b)
North Dakota (McKinley) Mine
July 22, 2009
July 23, 2009
3rd ProngForest Ecology Restoration
Forestry Reclamation Approach
• Provide at least 4 feet of material suitable for tree roots
• Avoid compaction• Limit ground cover• Plant a variety of high quality hardwood
tree species• Use proper tree planting techniques
June 2005. . .
July 2007
May 1, 2007
July 2007
• Since 2005, approximately 85 million trees have been planted on 125,000 acres in Appalachia.
• However, an estimated 1 million acres of coal mines in Appalachia have been reclaimed in a manner not conducive to tree growth.
http://arri.osmre.gov/
Conclusion
• New reclamation approaches, practices, and regulations must evolve to reverse the long-standing cumulative impacts on aquatic, terrestrial and human capital.
• Open mindedness to change is needed• Adaptive management is the key.
