The legislation requiring land to be restored after mining makes mining more expensive by imposing certain rules and regulations to the mining company asking it to take responsibility of their land degradation and reclaim the land to its initial form . This process possess financial implications to the company.
Why does legislation that requires land to be restored after mining makes mining more expensive?
When the extraction of reserve is over, the altered landscape has to be reclaimed in order to relieve the damaging effects of opencast mining and restore the landscape and its immediate surroundings.
What happened to the land after mining?
Eventually, once the most accessible and valuable materials have been extracted, the mine is closed, and the site must be restored back to its original state . This includes covering up mine entrances, replanting grass and trees, and testing surrounding water, soil, and air for contaminants. ... The Clean Water Act.
When was the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act?
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (30 U.S.C. 1201-1328; 91 Stat. 445) — Approved August 3, 1977 , Public Law 95-87, as amended by Public Laws 95-240 (92 Stat.
What does the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act require coal mining companies to do?
It required coal companies to post a bond to ensure that the costs of reclamation would be covered . Miners would have to satisfy highly detailed standards for reclamation. The act delegated regulatory enforcement to the secretary of the interior and individual state regulatory agencies.
What are the bad effects of mining?
Across the world, mining contributes to erosion, sinkholes, deforestation, loss of biodiversity , significant use of water resources, dammed rivers and ponded waters, wastewater disposal issues, acid mine drainage and contamination of soil, ground and surface water, all of which can lead to health issues in local ...
Can mined land be returned to a better than original condition?
Across the US, mine reclamation – even when approved by state regulators – rarely returns land to pre-mining levels of wilderness or productivity, according to a decade of government reports compiled by Climate Home News.
Is the surface mining Control and Reclamation Act successful?
This is the true success of SMCRA. About 29.5 billion tons of coal have been mined while SMCRA has been in place. Most of that, about 90 percent, was used to generate electrical power. During this same time, the coal mining industry has successfully reclaimed more than 2 million acres (2,238,560) of mined lands.
What are the goals of the surface mining Control and Reclamation Act?
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is the primary federal law that regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States . SMCRA created two programs: one for regulating active coal mines and a second for reclaiming abandoned mine lands.
Why must a mining company reclaim a mine?
It ensures that coal mining operations are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner and that the land is adequately reclaimed during and following the mining process.
What is the critical difference between surface and subsurface mining?
Surface mining is often preferred to subsurface mining by companies in the industry because it is less expensive, there are fewer complications with electricity and water , and it is safer. However, surface mining can be more environmentally-damaging than subsurface mining.
What are the four major types of surface mining?
There are five recognized types of surface mining, each with specific variations depending on the minerals being extracted. These include strip mining, open-pit mining, mountaintop removal, dredging and highwall mining .
What are the negative and positive effects of mining?
Mine exploration, construction, operation, and maintenance may result in land-use change, and may have associated negative impacts on environments, including deforestation, erosion, contamination and alteration of soil profiles , contamination of local streams and wetlands, and an increase in noise level, dust and ...
How can we reduce the effects of mining?
This simple act can go a long way towards increasing the environmental sustainability of mining. There are simple solutions that can be followed, such as replenishing native soils and grasses, cleaning excess waste, proper waste removal, site inspections and replanting trees and natural forestry.
How does mining affect humans?
Most of miners suffer from various respiratory and skin diseases such as asbestosis, silicosis, or black lung disease. Furthermore, one of the biggest subset of mining that impacts humans is the pollutants that end up in the water, which results in poor water quality.
