Freshwater ecosystem services in mining regions : modelling options for policy development support

The ecosystem services (ES) approach offers an integrated perspective of social-ecological systems, suitable for holistic assessments of mining impacts. Yet for ES models to be policy-relevant, methodological consensus in mining contexts is needed. We review articles assessing ES in mining areas focusing on freshwater components and policy support potential. Twenty-six articles were analysed concerning (i) methodological complexity (data types, number of parameters, processes and ecosystem-human integration level) and (ii) potential applicability for policy development (communication of uncertainties, scenario simulation, stakeholder participation and management recommendations). Articles illustrate mining impacts on ES through valuation exercises mostly. However, the lack of ground-and surface-water measurements, as well as insufficient representation of the connectivity among soil, water and humans, leave room for improvements. Inclusion of mining-specific environmental stressors models, increasing resolution of topographies, determination of baseline ES patterns and inclusion of multi-stakeholder perspectives are advantageous for policy support. We argue that achieving more holistic assessments exhorts practitioners to aim for high social-ecological connectivity using mechanistic models where possible and using inductive methods only where necessary. Due to data constraints, cause-effect networks might be the most feasible and best solution. Thus, a policy-oriented framework is proposed, in which data science is directed to environmental modelling for analysis of mining impacts on water ES

Water Issues: Contributing to the Success of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development

This article is about the discussions held at the 16th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development and recognizes that Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) was the framework for the entire water sector and an essential tool for effectively managing water resources and water-related issues. This article highlights certain connections between water and the following thematic areas: 1) sustainable consumption and production, 2) mining, 3) chemicals, 4) waste management and 5) transport

ISER 2012 Working Paper No. 1

Large resource development projects take years to plan. During that planning time, the public frequently debates the potential benefits and risks of a project, but with incomplete information. In these debates, some people might assert that a project would have great benefits, while others might assert that it would certainly harm the environment. At the same time, the developer will be assessing different designs, before finally submitting one to the government permitting agencies for evaluation and public scrutiny. For large mines in Alaska, the government permitting process takes years, and often includes an ecological risk assessment. This assessment is a data-intensive, scientific evaluation of the project’s potential ecological risks, based on the specific details of the project. Recently, some organizations have tried to bring scientific rigor to the pre-design public discussions, especially for mining projects, through a pre-design risk ecological risk assessment. This is a scientific assessment of the environmental risks a project might pose, before the details of project design, risk-prevention, and risk-mitigation measures are known. It is important to know whether pre-design risk assessment is a viable method for drawing conclusions about risks of projects. If valid risk predictions can be made at that stage, then people or governments would not have to wait for either a design or for the detailed evaluation that is done during the permitting process. Such an approach could be used to short cut permitting. It could affect project financing; it could affect the schedule, priority, or even the resources that governments put toward evaluating a project. But perhaps most important: in an age where public perceptions are an important influence on a project’s viability and government permitting decisions, a realistic risk assessment can be used to focus public attention on the facts. But if the methodology is flawed and results in poor quality information and unsupportable conclusions, then a pre-design risk assessment could unjustifiably either inflame or calm the public, depending on what it predicts.Executive Summary / Section 1. Introduction / Section 2. Overview of Ecological Risk / Section 3. Ecological Risk Assessment Methodology / Section 4. Examples of Post-Design Ecological Risk Assessments / Section 5. Pre-Design Ecological Risk Assessment: Risks of Large Scale Mining in the Bristol Bay Watershed / Section 6. Conclusion / Bibliograph

Assessment of environmental impact of gemstone mining in Ijero-Ekiti, Nigeria

Purpose. To examine the environmental impacts of gemstone mining activities on the people of Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methods. Soil and water test were carried out on samples from the mine and its environment. Remote sensing as a tool for environmental assessment was introduced to generate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Use Land Cover maps using ArcGIS 10 software. Findings. Water test carried out on stream, well and pond shows that some of the samples are slightly acidic. Total Dissolved Solid and hardness analysis show ranges lower than the acceptable limit given by Nigerian Industrial Standard and the World Health Organization (WHO). Iron concentration was found to be exceptionally higher than the permissible standard given by the WHO rendering the water resources unfit for drinking. Soil test carried out in the area proved that the soil is good for agriculture as it is high in nitrogen and organic matter content. Originality. This assertion can be back up by the results of the NDVI analysis which shows an increase in vegetation index from 0.2190 in the year of 1991 to 0.2435 in the year of 2013. Land use change detection analysis also showed a slight change in land use over the year from 2005 to 2010. This may be attributed to the fact that the gemstone mining is conducted on a small scale. Practical implications. Test results can be used in making recommendations to the community. Farmers cultivating land where samples S1 and S4 were taken need to apply fertilizer to bring up the percentage of organic matter of the soil. Provision of drinkable water sources should be made to the community. Remote sensing as the applied tool has proved its usefulness in environmental degradation assessing. It gives the possibility of generating an environmental database for impact assessment in regional context which can be a difficult task when carried out by the conventional method.Мета. Вивчити вплив на навколишнє середовище і жителів Іжеро-Екіті (штат Екіті, Нігерія) розробки родовищ дорогоцінного каміння. Методика. Для проведення досліджень проведено відбір проб ґрунтів і води з прилеглої місцевості шахти. Застосовано дистанційне зондування в якості інструменту екологічної оцінки для визначення нормалізованого відносного індексу рослинності (НВІР), а також карти землекористування й рослинного покриву за допомогою програмного забезпечення ArcGIS 10. Результати. Встановлено, що взяті у діючій свердловині та ставку-відстійнику зразки води є слабокислотними. Повний аналіз розчиненої твердої речовини й аналіз на жорсткість води показали менший розкид величин, ніж допустима межа, що визначена галузевим стандартом Нігерії та Всесвітньої організацій охорони здоров’я (ВООЗ), а рівень концентрації заліза значно вище допустимих меж, визначених ВООЗ для водних ресурсів, непридатних для пиття. Аналіз ґрунту в цьому районі підтвердив, що він придатний для сільського господарства, оскільки містить багато азоту й органічної речовини. Наукова новизна. За результатами аналізу НОІР спостерігається зростання вегетативного індексу з 0.2190 у 1991 році до 0.2435 у 2013 році. Аналіз визначення змін у землекористуванні також показав незначне річне різноманіття протягом року з 2005 до 2010. Це пояснюється тим фактом, що видобуток дорогоцінного каміння ведеться в невеликих масштабах. Практична значимість. Результати аналізів якості ґрунтів і води в районі видобутку можна використовувати при складанні рекомендацій для місцевого населення. Для підвищення продуктивності аграрного сектора в районі, де були взяті проби S1 і S4, слід застосовувати добриво, аби збільшити процентний вміст органічної речовини у ґрунті. Дистанційне зондування довело свою ефективність для оцінки погіршення екологічноїЦель. Изучить воздействие на окружающую среду и жителей Ижеро-Экити (штат Экити, Нигерия) разработки месторождений драгоценных камней. Методика. Для проведения исследований произведен отбор проб почв и воды из окрестностей шахты. Применено дистанционное зондирование в качестве инструмента экологической оценки для определения нормализованного относительного индекса растительности (НОИР), а также карты землепользования и растительного покрова посредством программного обеспечения ArcGIS 10. Результаты. Установлено, что взятые в действующей скважине и пруде-отстойнике образцы воды являются слабокислотными. Полный анализ растворенного твердого вещества и анализ на жесткость воды показали меньший разброс величин, чем допустимый предел, определенный отраслевым стандартом Нигерии и Всемирной организаций здравоохранения (ВОЗ), а уровень концентрации железа значительно выше приемлемых пределов, определенных ВОЗ для водных ресурсов, непригодных для питья. Анализ почвы в этом районе подтвердил, что она пригодна для сельского хозяйства, поскольку содержит много азота и органического вещества. Научная новизна. По результатам анализа НОИР наблюдается рост вегетативного индекса с 0.2190 в 1991 году до 0.2435 в 2013 году. Анализ определения изменений в землепользовании также показал незначительное годовое разнообразие на протяжении года с 2005 до 2010. Это объясняется тем фактом, что добыча драгоценных камней ведется в небольших масштабах. Практическая значимость. Результаты анализов качества почв и воды в районе добычи можно использовать при составлении рекомендаций для местного населения. Для повышения продуктивности аграрного сектора в районе, где были взяты пробы S1 и S4, следует применять удобрение, чтобы увеличить процентное содержание органического вещества в почве. Дистанционное зондирование доказало свою эффективность для оценки ухудшения экологической ситуации. Это дает возможность создания базы данных региональной оценки состояния окружающей среды, что весьма затруднительно при использовании традиционной методики.This research is sponsored by FUTA 003/15 project. The authors appreciate their contribution toward the success of the work. Input of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is also appreciated

Can you take the heat? – Geothermal energy in mining

In 2013, there are less than 20 documented examples of operational geothermal systems on mine sites worldwide. This is surprising, since on remote mine sites, where fuels may have to be shipped in over great distances, heating and cooling from low-enthalpy geothermal sources may have a significant advantage in operational cost over conventional energy sources. A review of factors affecting the feasibility of geothermal systems on mining projects has been undertaken, and has identified the possible configurations of geothermal systems suitable for the exploration, operational and closure phases of mine development. The geothermal opportunities associated with abandoned or legacy mines are also discussed. The potential categories of heat reservoirs associated with mine sites are: natural ground; backfilled workings; mine waste; dewatering pumping; and flooded workings/pit lakes. The potentially lower operational costs for heating and cooling must be offset against the capital cost of a geothermal system. The focus for mine operators should therefore be on identifying at feasibility stage those projects where conditions are favourable for geothermal systems, the potential risks are understood, the economics are likely to be beneficial, and geothermal systems can be established while minimising additional capital costs

California’s Flawed Surface Water Rights

California sprang into existence following the discovery of gold in 1848. Aside from domestic use, the first major use of water in California was in mining. The first mining consisted of placer mining of alluvial deposits in stream beds throughout the Sierra foothills. As those deposits were depleted, hydraulic mining arose, in which high-pressure jets of water were used to remove overlying earth from upland gold- bearing deposits. That type of mining, first employed in 1853, required substantial water diversions. When California entered the Union in 1850, the English common law was adopted as the “rule of decision” in courts, including the doctrine of riparian rights for surface water1 (it was also the governing doctrine in the rest of the Union). Riparian rights entitle the owner of land bordering a surface water body (“riparian” land) to use the water on his or her riparian land. This is a right to use water, not a right of ownership, and it inheres only in riparian lands. Riparian rights remain with the riparian land regardless of changes in ownership. Water under a riparian right cannot be used on nonriparian land.2 The right is shared equally among all riparians: they own access to the stream as “tenants in common.” They can divert water as long as this does not impair the rights of other riparians. No specific quantity attaches to a riparian right. If a riparian originally applied X, this does not preclude him from applying 5X later. Nonuse does not terminate the right. There is no recording of the volume diverted. No institution administers the ripar- ian right. Disputes are resolved through litigation among riparians. The riparian doctrine was logical where it originated, in a humid region with plentiful streamflow. Streamflow is treated as a common pool to be shared among all riparian landowners. But in an arid region like California, where rivers can run dry by the late summer and annual streamflow can vary by an order of magnitude, there needs to be a specific mechanism for allocating limited streamflow. The riparian right lacks this

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND PUBLIC POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF INCREASED COAL USE

Environmental Economics and Policy,

Sixth annual conference on alaskan placer mining

An abridged format of papers, presentations and addresses given during the 1984 conference held on March 28-29, 1984, compiled and edited by Daniel E. Walsh and M. Susan Wray