This document discusses the environmental impacts of mining, including noise and air pollution, water contamination, displacement of wildlife, soil degradation, subsidence, and underground mine fires. It also outlines regulations from the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and other laws regarding reclamation standards for returning mined land to its original condition. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act sets standards for mine cleanup and reclamation of disturbed lands.

1. Chapter 16, Section 3: Mining Regulations &
Mine Reclamation
Standards: SEV4a, c

2. 1. Noise & Air
pollution
2. Water
contamination
3. Displacement of
wildlife
4. Soil Degradation
5. Subsidence
6. Underground Mine
Fires

3.  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
Black lung disease on the far
right.

4.  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 Mine Drainage in Ohio
acid leaches into body
of water and causes
Acid Mine Drainage
Acid Mine
(AMD) Drainage in
Pennsylvania

5.  Removing vegetation
affects animals in
area.
 Animals die or move
out.
 Dredging in water
destroys aquatic
ecosystems
◦ Sediment in water
blocks sunlight
affecting algae & These fish died due to
clogging gills of fish & aluminum mining- aluminum
shellfish. makes their gills produce too
much mucus and they
suffocate b/c gills don’t work
properly.

6.  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.

7.  Subsidence- sinking
of the ground due to
lack of support below
ground.
 Can result when
mining pillars, roofs
or floors collapse.
 Houses, roads, buildi
ngs can be
damaged/destroyed

8.  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”

9.  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.

10.  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

11.  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.

12.  Reduce energy
consumption!
◦ Turn off
lights, computers, etc.
◦ Decrease your
dependence on coal!
 Reduce, Reuse, Recyc
le!
◦ If we recycled every
aluminum can on the
planet we would never
need to mine for
aluminum again!
◦ Recycling conserves
water & energy