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?