This presentation was part of a talk by the author at the San Juan Mine Reclamation Conference in 2016. It discusses obstacles to the potentially beneficial re-mining of formerly mined lands and suggests a policy framework going forward.
Environmental Issues in Real Estate Transactions Polsinelli PC
Presentation covers basics of environmental law applicable to real estate transactions including key statutes, important liability defenses or "safe harbors", role of due diligence, and how much diligence is required, contractual provision and resources to address environmental issues and keep the deal alive.
Established in 1972 to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and non-point pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of waste water treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.
Environmental Issues in Real Estate Transactions Polsinelli PC
Presentation covers basics of environmental law applicable to real estate transactions including key statutes, important liability defenses or "safe harbors", role of due diligence, and how much diligence is required, contractual provision and resources to address environmental issues and keep the deal alive.
Established in 1972 to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and non-point pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of waste water treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.
Making florida flood impact resilient by nature 041216Marco Pluijm
This paper is about which mitigation and protection strategies are seen as viable solutions for solving the challenges Florida is facing in terms of sea level rise, flood control and hurricane impact safety and resilience.
Based on the Resilient by Nature approach, which finds its origin in what can be learned from coastal zones which face similar impact exposures or even worse and suffer less damage or hardly any at all. Translating those capabilities to areas less flood and extreme weather impact resilient, such as large parts of Florida.
Solutions for the affected areas are presented as input towards a safer and much more resilient coastal system for Florida and similar places, with regard to a rapid changing climate, accelerated sea level rise and overall related extreme weather impacts.
In order to prevent the situation that large parts of the built environment of Miami and the Keys will become the new Atlantis, sunken and lost cities.
The Stillwater Good Neighbor Agreement
A Model for Citizen and Industry Cooperation
Oversight of the Giant Mine Workshop Yellowknife, NT March 6&7, 2012
by
Charles Sangmeister
Member,
Stillwater Oversight Committee
President, Stillwater Protective
Association
Full text of the Stillwater/Northern Plains GNA can be found online:
http://www.northernplains.org/good-neighbor-agreement
The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, on behalf of the UK Committee for National and International Hydrology, convened a special session on International Catchment Management Science and Application at the World Water Congress XV in May 2015.
Making florida flood impact resilient by nature 041216Marco Pluijm
This paper is about which mitigation and protection strategies are seen as viable solutions for solving the challenges Florida is facing in terms of sea level rise, flood control and hurricane impact safety and resilience.
Based on the Resilient by Nature approach, which finds its origin in what can be learned from coastal zones which face similar impact exposures or even worse and suffer less damage or hardly any at all. Translating those capabilities to areas less flood and extreme weather impact resilient, such as large parts of Florida.
Solutions for the affected areas are presented as input towards a safer and much more resilient coastal system for Florida and similar places, with regard to a rapid changing climate, accelerated sea level rise and overall related extreme weather impacts.
In order to prevent the situation that large parts of the built environment of Miami and the Keys will become the new Atlantis, sunken and lost cities.
The Stillwater Good Neighbor Agreement
A Model for Citizen and Industry Cooperation
Oversight of the Giant Mine Workshop Yellowknife, NT March 6&7, 2012
by
Charles Sangmeister
Member,
Stillwater Oversight Committee
President, Stillwater Protective
Association
Full text of the Stillwater/Northern Plains GNA can be found online:
http://www.northernplains.org/good-neighbor-agreement
The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, on behalf of the UK Committee for National and International Hydrology, convened a special session on International Catchment Management Science and Application at the World Water Congress XV in May 2015.
Tight Oil & Shale Gas Water Management 2013 Brochurephilbrown49
Brochure of the Tight Oil & Shale Gas Water Management taking place in Calgary 25-26 September.
http://www.tight-oil-shale-gas-water-2013.com/
Bringing industry experts together in a forum focused on developing techniques for cost effectively recycling and handling flowback and produced water to drive down logistical costs, reduce waste water disposal and maintain social license to operate in the Western Canadian shale plays.
Speakers from super majors as well as small and large independents will demonstrate how they are implementing strategies to achieve more cost-effective water treatment and handling operations while remaining compliant with evolving regulations. The conference is also being supported by CAPP in the form of speaker representation in which they will be presenting on how to develop strategies for public awareness to minimize resistance to fracking and maintain a "social license" to operate in Western Canada. Additionally, a regulatory presentation will be delivered by the brand new Alberta Energy Regulator to explain how the new body will affect E&P water regulations moving forward.
Breaking down the best practices for the planning and operation of legacy sit...Daniel Eyde
A review of operational issues for legacy mine sites, and the use of natural zeolite ion exchange and sorbent medias as part of an effective water treatment system. Typical problems addressed are acid mine drainage, contamination by organics, heavy metals and radionuclides.
Here is what I submitted to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regarding the Darlington Nuclear power plant. Submitted on October as a formal written comment on October 15 2012.
Submission to the CNSC regarding the geological risks of the proposed deep geological repository planned to be placed along the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario. Karst moraines and geological risks, seismic risks etc. (Project cancelled)
Study: The Potential Environmental Impacts of Fracking in the Delaware River ...Marcellus Drilling News
A $320,444 "study" bought and paid for by Big Green groups (the William Penn Foundation and Delaware Riverkeeper) that reportedly shows the impacts (i.e. harms) that would occur if shale drilling were allowed in Wayne and Pike counties in Pennsylvania. Currently those counties cannot drill for shale energy because they are part of the Delaware River Basin Commission's jurisdiction and the DRBC does not allow drilling. This study, using Big Green money, is meant to keep it that way--no drilling ever in those counties, denying landowners their Constitutional rights. It is a sham study with a pre-determined outcome authored by CNA, a non-profit organization that sells itself to the highest bidder.
"Understanding the Carbon Cycle: Processes, Human Impacts, and Strategies for...MMariSelvam4
The carbon cycle is a critical component of Earth's environmental system, governing the movement and transformation of carbon through various reservoirs, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. This complex cycle involves several key processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and carbon sequestration, each contributing to the regulation of carbon levels on the planet.
Human activities, particularly fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, have significantly altered the natural carbon cycle, leading to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and driving climate change. Understanding the intricacies of the carbon cycle is essential for assessing the impacts of these changes and developing effective mitigation strategies.
By studying the carbon cycle, scientists can identify carbon sources and sinks, measure carbon fluxes, and predict future trends. This knowledge is crucial for crafting policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, enhancing carbon storage, and promoting sustainable practices. The carbon cycle's interplay with climate systems, ecosystems, and human activities underscores its importance in maintaining a stable and healthy planet.
In-depth exploration of the carbon cycle reveals the delicate balance required to sustain life and the urgent need to address anthropogenic influences. Through research, education, and policy, we can work towards restoring equilibrium in the carbon cycle and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT GREEN WASHING IS!.pdfJulietMogola
Many companies today use green washing to lure the public into thinking they are conserving the environment but in real sense they are doing more harm. There have been such several cases from very big companies here in Kenya and also globally. This ranges from various sectors from manufacturing and goes to consumer products. Educating people on greenwashing will enable people to make better choices based on their analysis and not on what they see on marketing sites.
Natural farming @ Dr. Siddhartha S. Jena.pptxsidjena70
A brief about organic farming/ Natural farming/ Zero budget natural farming/ Subash Palekar Natural farming which keeps us and environment safe and healthy. Next gen Agricultural practices of chemical free farming.
Characterization and the Kinetics of drying at the drying oven and with micro...Open Access Research Paper
The objective of this work is to contribute to valorization de Nephelium lappaceum by the characterization of kinetics of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum. The seeds were dehydrated until a constant mass respectively in a drying oven and a microwawe oven. The temperatures and the powers of drying are respectively: 50, 60 and 70°C and 140, 280 and 420 W. The results show that the curves of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum do not present a phase of constant kinetics. The coefficients of diffusion vary between 2.09.10-8 to 2.98. 10-8m-2/s in the interval of 50°C at 70°C and between 4.83×10-07 at 9.04×10-07 m-8/s for the powers going of 140 W with 420 W the relation between Arrhenius and a value of energy of activation of 16.49 kJ. mol-1 expressed the effect of the temperature on effective diffusivity.
Unblocking the Roadblocks to Environmentally Beneficial Re-Mining ml
1. Unblocking the Roadblocks to
Environmentally Beneficial
Re-mining
Mark Levin, P.E.
Mining & Environmental Services, LLC
2. Technical resource on projects involving specialized underground mine evaluation, physical or
subsidence hazards, development and remedial cost estimation, and/or environmental
evaluation at over 460 mine sites.
Construction contractor or construction project manager for tunnel/mine/mill rehabilitation,
closure, development, special project or cleanup work at over 150 sites.
Specializing in bulkheading for mine drainage control.
3. Colorado has a rich endowment of mineral resources
and mining history, with approximately 30,000 to
40,000 inactive mines of various sizes. Ranging from
small prospects to major operations; these mines ran
for decades and employed thousands of people.
4. We are left with the legacy of waste rock, water
pollution and safety hazards from mining
operations conducted before the advent of current
reclamation and other environmental laws.
5. Local governments, NGOs interested in improving water
quality, and private companies interested in either resource or
land development are all deterred from involvement with
inactive mining properties with water discharges, due to
potential Clean Water Act and Superfund liability associated
with existing mine drainage.
For over two decades, parties with various interests have
debated “Good Samaritan” amendments to the Clean Water
Act, without any resolution.
7. Taxpayer funding alone cannot begin to touch the entire
problem, and should not – other priorities for Government
environmental funds exist and many of those needs are more
urgently tied to mitigation of greater health or environmental
risks than remediation of old mines in remote areas.
8. We are already living with the historic
environmental impacts of past mining, so why not
have some economic benefits to go along with
them?
A new “Mining Brownfields” regulatory approach
to encourage exploration and re-mining of
historic mineral districts, while providing tangible
environmental benefits as part of the work, may
be worth considering.
9. BARRIERS TO NEW MINERAL EXPLORATION AND
DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORIC MINING DISTRICTS
10. Superfund (CERCLA) Liability – any company
acquiring and exploring an old mining property with
environmental impairment could become a Potentially
Responsible Party (“PRP”), even if doing everything
right.
This scares the investment community: in many
other jurisdictions, the most you can lose on a
mining investment is 100% of everything you
invested – in the US, there is significant financial risk
beyond that.
11. CERCLA LIABILITY
The framework of the National Priorities List
(“Superfund”) cleanup approach to investigate and
remediate is rooted in a legalistic, adversarial model,
tied to the concept of cost recovery from PRPs, and thus
the steps in that process often lead to long timeframes
and substantially more costs than might otherwise be
necessary.
12. But, most of the historic mines which have present day environmental problems were
operated in substantial compliance with the environmental laws and standards of the
time, and continued to operate until they lost money for an extended period.
This is because the original underlying conceptual model for CERCLA liability provisions
was one of seeking justice from greedy corporations knowingly sacrificing the
environment for more profit, in an era of growing public awareness and outrage over
chemical pollution, rivers catching fire, Love Canal, Silent Spring, etc..
13. Activist groups call for financial attacks on “Potentially
Responsible Parties”, but few active owners or operators
of these historic mines exist.
14. Our society at that time was not willing to incur the added cost for
the environmental externalities…
And, we still enjoy the benefits of much of those mined products
even today.
The entire output of metals were provided to the
benefit of the growing American economy in a
competitive market at prices that did not include
accounting for the external costs of environmental
damage by our current definitions.
15. Clean Water Act
The current CWA framework essentially looks at old mines with existing discharges as if they
were newly created point sources if a potential new operator attempts to get an NPDES permit
for the existing drainage. There is no readily available flexibility for recognizing existing water
quality impacts from historic mines as a baseline for establishing new permit limits.
Result:
• Proposed effluent limits that may not be technically attainable or realistic from an economic
perspective
• Possible perpetual treatment liability if project proceeds
• Lost opportunities for improvement of water quality - better just isn’t good enough.
16. Regulatory Hypocrisy – mine cleanup standards
for government or NGO funded remediation projects are often
essentially relaxed ‘best efforts’ approaches, but for private
companies considering re-mining of historic sites, economically
impossible and technically impractical perfection is often the
requirement.
“Perfection is the Enemy of Good”
Pareto’s Rule – 80% of results typically achieved with 20% of
the cost. 100% at infinite cost.
“Cost/Benefit Ratio Matters” – for Everyone!
Misallocation of either public or private money hurts the
overall economy and our nation’s wealth.
18. Environmental “NIMBY” Hypocrisy
We all use enormous amounts of mined materials in our
daily lives – often without realizing it.
Modern mines in the US produce within a framework of
high standards for wages, worker safety, and environmental
protection.
Yet, it has become fashionable for some to oppose mineral
resource development in our backyards, while happily using
mass amounts of imported finished goods made with
mineral commodities that are sourced from areas where
there are very low environmental and safety standards, and
at slave labor wages.
Efforts to render local production infeasible or uneconomic
simply displace the externalities elsewhere, and often, to a
much greater degree.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
Use of permanent CERCLA (non-NPL) Agreements on
Consent (AOCs) or other means to negotiate agreements to
encourage exploration and re-mining linked to tangible
environmental betterment.
Amendments to the Clean Water Act to enable permitting of
existing discharges using status quo as baseline for mass
loading / effluent limitations.
Expedited permitting processes for mineral exploration and
development projects that are tied to environmental
remediation
Expedited permitting or permit waivers for removal and
reprocessing of historic waste piles - (Montana does this
already).
24. Policy changes to allow “trading” of environmental remediation for
flexibility and attainment of maximum environmental benefit for
funds expended, based in area-specific needs.
This could potentially involve impact reduction swaps across:
o Types of loading, e.g. - Storm water for point source;
o Media – water vs. soils;
o Watershed basins;
o Contaminants;
o Values– critical habitat vs. non-critical, visual, etc.
Establishing a fair legal framework for unitization of fragmented
mineral estates into viable size for exploration and redevelopment.
Principles for this should include a pooled royalty structure for the
current owners.
25. Example of Successful Approach in Canada:
Keno Hill District, Yukon Territory –
• High grade silver mining district with significant legacy environmental issues
• Former owner - United Keno Hill Mines - bankruptcy ca. 2000
Alexco Resources Deal with Government and Bankruptcy Trustee
• Alexco gets mineral rights – initiates new exploration and mining program
• Alexco acts as environmental contractor to Government – full indemnity for past environmental
conditions. Alexco responsible for new mine disturbance.
• Mixture of Government and private funding from Alexco for cleanup and O&M