Ground Water Protection Council
|
Key Message
Abandoned mines with associated acid mine drainage
(AMD) discharges are among the greatest threats to ground and
surface water quality in many areas of the United States.While
mining is extremely important to our standard of living, energy
production, and national security, it can disturb the land and
alter the hydrologic balance—affecting the quality and quantity
of ground and surface waters in the vicinity of mining
operations.Most modern mines are now reclaimed during and
after completion of mining activities; but prior to the
enactment of environmental laws in the 1970s, most abandoned
mines were not reclaimed when it was no longer profitable to
retrieve the mineral or coal resources.
Abandoned mine sites, along with associated acidic discharges,
must be remediated. To optimize remedial work, state officials
should use all available funding sources, develop new funding
sources, build partnerships, and remove obstacles that prevent
third parties from undertaking activities that address ground
water contamination problems. Future mining and reclamation
activities must be planned with a critical eye to environmental
and ecological circumstances, using information that
incorporates adequate hydrological data, to prevent creation of
new acidic discharges.
Such plans should evaluate the impacts or ramifications of
mining before the fact and assist the industry in implementing
mitigating measures. States should also adopt full-cost bonding
requirements, or an equally effective alternative, to reduce the
number of mine sites added to the abandoned mine lands
inventory through bankruptcy.
An old coal strip mine south of Victoria, Illinois.
More than a million abandoned hardrock and coalmine
sites are scattered throughout the United
States. The Mineral Policy Center evaluated state
and federal inventory data in 1995 and concluded
that there were more than 557,000 abandoned
hardrock mines nationwide, the majority in the
western states. While most states have not completed
detailed inventories or environmental
impact assessments, the Western Governors
Association estimates that up to 20 percent of
these mines pose a threat to the environment.
Photo: Copyright © Louis Maher
|
At the Yankee Doodle tailings pond in Montana, a mix of
clean influent water from upgradient (left) with mine tailings
(right) can be seen.
Photo: Copyright Stuart Jennings, Montana State
why abandoned mines
matter to ground water...
Many abandoned coal mines and
hardrock mines emit acid mine
drainage. This takes place because the
rocks associated with both types of
mines often contain metal sulfides, such
as pyrite. When the rock or coal deposits
are excavated, the sulfides are exposed
to water and oxygen, and react to form
sulfuric acid. Many surface and underground
abandoned mines, and their
associated spoil and refuse piles, provide
an ongoing source of acid mine drainage
and toxic heavy metals that can have
long-term devastating impacts on ground
water, community water supplies, rivers,
streams, and aquatic life.
If not adequately reclaimed, abandoned surface and underground
mines, and their associated spoil and refuse piles, provide an
ongoing source of acid mine drainage and toxic heavy metals
that can have long-term devastating impacts on ground water,
community water supplies, rivers, and streams.
|
Recommended Actions
To Congress:
- Enact Good Samaritan legislation to encourage third-party efforts to remediate
AMD problems without the risk of penalties and liability.
- Work with interested parties to enact an Abandoned Hardrock Mines
Reclamation Act that would attempt to address problems caused by abandoned
hardrock mines. This would essentially be the hardrock equivalent
of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA).
- Continue to appropriate funds for remediation of contaminated abandoned-
mine sites that pose an immediate threat to human health under
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA).
To Governors and State Legislatures:
- Increase the level of state commitment to address and resolve the problem
of abandoned mines and AMD; recognize AMD and environmental issues
as a use of funds under the Abandoned Mine Land Program; and establish
funds dedicated for cleanup of abandoned mine sites that are not covered
under SMCRA or CERCLA.
To State Agencies:
- Establish comprehensive inventories of abandoned mines and AMDdegraded
aquifers, underground mine pools, and streams, and develop a
strategy to address identified abandoned mines and AMD discharges on a
priority basis.
Acid mine drainage (AMD) at a sulfide-rich nickel and copper ore deposit.
Photo: savethewildup
|
|