Community Citizen Science for Risk Management of a Spontaneously Combusting Coal‐Mine Waste Heap in Ban Chaung, Dawei District, Myanmar

Abstract

Since 2015, a large heap of improperly disposed coalmine waste in Ban Chaung, Dawei district, Myanmar, has repeatedly spontaneously combusted, affecting an indigenous community. Recently, the regional Myanmar government has compelled the mine to properly manage the mine waste heap, but there is no opportunity for affected villagers to participate. This study empowers the affected villagers to make risk management decisions via a community citizen science approach. First, field investigations were performed with the affected community to identify hot spots at the waste heap releasing gaseous pollutants that may exceed acceptable levels. Next, existing monitoring data previously collected by the community were interpreted as clear evidence of past poor waste management. Information about suppression of existing fire and mine waste storage options was presented to the community for them to make an informed decision about the most appropriate corrective action that should be taken by the mine. The mining company chose to use surface sealing for both suppression of existing fire and on-site storage of the mine waste but did not install any long-term monitoring system. Nevertheless, the community's choice was surface sealing with preventive monitoring together with emergency response, which is the more scientifically appropriate option. This outcome of a science-based risk management decision by the community will be forwarded to the regional government for enforcement. This process of community citizen science is in line with the normative rationale of public participation, which is meant to influence decisions, elevate democratic capacity, and empower marginalized individuals and communities.

Clean Air Action: Applications of Citizen Science to Identify and Address Air Pollution Emission Sources

“…▪ In Myanmar, for example, previous efforts by villagers in the Ban Chaung, Dawei District to collect data on the burning waste heap were interpreted as clear evidence of past poor waste management and fire suppression by the mining company (Phenrat 2020). New data allowed the community to influence enforcement decisions, elevate democratic capacity, and empower marginalized individuals and communities to advocate for scientifically appropriate mitigation options (Phenrat 2020).…”

“…▪ In Myanmar, for example, previous efforts by villagers in the Ban Chaung, Dawei District to collect data on the burning waste heap were interpreted as clear evidence of past poor waste management and fire suppression by the mining company (Phenrat 2020). New data allowed the community to influence enforcement decisions, elevate democratic capacity, and empower marginalized individuals and communities to advocate for scientifically appropriate mitigation options (Phenrat 2020). In San Diego, California, the work of the Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) and its partnership substantially impacted air quality regulatory action, including passage of an amortization ordinance and a law to limit the operation of a truck-driving school adjacent to the local elementary school, as well as the securing of funds for a feasibility study for an industrial park outside the city limits (Minkler et al 2010).…”

Modified Stochastic Petri Net-Based Modeling and Optimization of Emergency Rescue Processes during Coal Mine Accidents

“…It is found that the emergency stations covering all mining areas are set up underground to provide medical first aid and transportation of injured in the shortest time [10]. In addition, it is significant for rescue to improve the existing refuge chamber and strengthen the escape simulation training [11].…”

Investigation of bacterial diversity in Cajanus cajan -planted gangue soil via high-throughput sequencing

“…Gangue, which is a waste product of global coal and carbon energy industry, has the properties of easy acidification with high sulfur content [ 1 ]. The stock of coal gangue in China has reached the level of 1 billion and is increasing at a rate of 200 million per year [ 2 ].…”