Policy guidance for identifying and effectively managing perpetual environmental impacts from new hardrock mines

Kempton, Houston; Bloomfield, Thomas A.; Hanson, Jason L.; Limerick, Patty

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2010.06.001

Cited by 28 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Poor tailing management can have major environmental and societal consequences, including the devastation of large areas, populated or of natural value, during major dam failures, the leaching of toxic chemicals and heavy metals and acidification of water ways (rivers, lakes) by oxidation of sulfide minerals resulting in acidic rock drainage (ARD) (Arnesen et al, 1997;Koski, 2012). The effects can last for hundreds and even thousands of years, resulting in the call for policy development in relation to perpetual management of mines, including the mine walls, waste rock and tailings (Kempton et al, 2010). For dams to be suitable, it is critical that the area has adequate amounts of precipitation and low seismic activity, to avoid erosion, leaching and, potentially, dam-wall failure (Franks et al, 2011;Cornwall, 2013).…”

Section: Tailing Disposal Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Submarine and deep-sea mine tailing placements: A review of current practices, environmental issues, natural analogs and knowledge gaps in Norway and internationally

Ramirez-Llodra

Trannum

Evenset

et al. 2015

Marine Pollution Bulletin

133

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Section: Tailing Disposal Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Submarine and deep-sea mine tailing placements: A review of current practices, environmental issues, natural analogs and knowledge gaps in Norway and internationally

Ramirez-Llodra

Trannum

Evenset

et al. 2015

Marine Pollution Bulletin

133

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“…The goal is to have germination and establishment of a vegetative cap followed by plant succession eventually leading to a stable vegetative community on the site. However, such capping strategies can be very expensive (Kempton et al, 2010). …”

Section: 0 Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytostabilization of mine tailings using compost-assisted direct planting: Translating greenhouse results to the field

Gil-Loaiza

White

Root

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

120

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Standard practice in reclamation of mine tailings is the emplacement of a 15 to 90 cm soil/gravel/rock cap which is then hydro-seeded. In this study we investigate compost-assisted direct planting phytostabilization technology as an alternative to standard cap and plant practices. In phytostabilization the goal is to establish a vegetative cap using native plants that stabilize metals in the root zone with little to no shoot accumulation. The study site is a barren 62-hectare tailings pile characterized by extremely acidic pH as well as lead, arsenic, and zinc each exceeding 2000 g kg−1. The study objective is to evaluate whether successful greenhouse phytostabilization results are scalable to the field. In May 2010, a 0.27 hectare study area was established on the Iron King Mine and Humboldt Smelter Superfund (IKMHSS) site with six irrigated treatments; tailings amended with 10, 15, or 20% (w/w) compost seeded with a mix of native plants (buffalo grass,arizona fescue, quailbush, mesquite, and catclaw acacia) and controls including composted (15 and 20%) unseeded treatments and an uncomposted unseeded treatment. Canopy cover ranging from 21 to 61% developed after 41 months in the compost-amended planted treatments, a canopy cover similar to that found in the surrounding region. No plants grew on unamended tailings. Neutrophilic heterotrophic bacterial counts were 1.5 to 4 orders of magnitude higher after 41 months in planted versus unamended control plots. Shoot tissue accumulation of various metal(loids) was at or below Domestic Animal Toxicity Limits, with some plant specific exceptions in treatments receiving less compost. Parameters including % canopy cover, neutrophilic heterotrophic bacteria counts, and shoot uptake of metal(loids) are promising criteria to use in evaluating reclamation success. In summary, compost amendment and seeding, guided by preliminary greenhouse studies, allowed plant establishment and sustained growth over four years demonstrating feasibility for this phytostabilization technology.

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“…Yet the generally positive association of remediation with "cleaning up" post-mining sites ignores the fact that simply containing and managing a toxic site is usually insufficient to deal with the broader histories, impacts, and liabilities connected to contaminated sites, and the challenges of perpetual care for these landscapes (Kempton et. al., 2010;Storm, 2014;Langhorst and Bolton, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rethinking remediation: mine reclamation, environmental justice, and relations of care

Beckett

Keeling

2018

Local Environment

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To date, research on mine remediation in North America has focused primarily on technical management; relatively less is known about the historical, political and social dimensions of remediation. Remediation, as a continuation of the mining process, alters local landscapes and economies and can be both dangerous and beneficial for surrounding communities. Because remediation projects tend to focus on the technical aspects of clean-up, such projects risk overlooking the environmental injustices associated with past development and obscuring blame or responsibility from industry and government for environmental degradation. Insofar as it is understood as cleaning up or repairing environmental damage, remediation is generally seen as 'doing the good' and is less amenable to political or ethical challenges based on community concerns or values. This paper argues that greater attention needs to be paid to public participation and justice concerns associated with cleaning up mine sites. Drawing from the literatures on ecological restoration, environmental justice, reconciliation, discard studies, and perpetual care, we highlight critical, yet overlooked issues in the remediation of post-mining landscapes. We argue that remediation projects present a unique opportunity for the negotiation and articulation of morals, values, histories, and physical experiences associated with mine sites and we seek to re-frame remediation as an ongoing, creative process of community healing.

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Policy guidance for identifying and effectively managing perpetual environmental impacts from new hardrock mines

Cited by 28 publications

References 5 publications

Submarine and deep-sea mine tailing placements: A review of current practices, environmental issues, natural analogs and knowledge gaps in Norway and internationally

Submarine and deep-sea mine tailing placements: A review of current practices, environmental issues, natural analogs and knowledge gaps in Norway and internationally

Phytostabilization of mine tailings using compost-assisted direct planting: Translating greenhouse results to the field

Rethinking remediation: mine reclamation, environmental justice, and relations of care

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