This document outlines the environmental impact of mining techniques, specifically discussing in situ leaching (ISL) as a method of extracting uranium through acid or alkaline leaching directly in the ground. It provides advantages and disadvantages of ISL, and references three sources on acid ISL uranium mining practices in the US and Australia, an environmental critique of ISL uranium mining, and an IAEA guidebook on environmental impact assessment for ISL mining.

1. SH2607, Winter 2009 Environmental Impact of Mining

2. Outline

3. Mining Techniques

4. Environmental Impact and Health

5. The In Situ Leaching Process

6. Acid and Alkaline leaching

7. Advantages and disadvantages of ISL Advantages Disadvantages

8. References Mudd. (2000). Acid In Situ Leach Uranium Mining : 1 - USA and Australia. Research Report. Mudd. (1998). An Environmental Critique of In Situ Leach Uranium Mining. Research Report, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. IAEA-TECDOC-1428. (2005). Guidebook on environmentaL impact assessment for in situ leach mining process. IAEA in Austria.