Environmental Impacts of Quarrying and Mining

As essential industries in today’s environmentally aware society, it is vital that quarrying, mining and dredging operations ensure that they achieve the best possible environmental management of their activities. Poor environmental management within the industry results not only in non-compliance of legislation, which includes heavy fines, but also in poor public relations, loss of business, and loss and destruction of wildlife and habitats. Good environmental management in the industry can result in good publicity and public relations, increase in business, and the creation of habitats for a variety species, including endangered species and specialist habitats.

Understanding the essential role of the extractive industry and its contribution to society is an important part of the education process. It is equally important to recognize and increase understanding of the industries environmental impacts, both negative and positive, and understand management techniques to both mitigate in the former and enhance in the latter.

Mining involves bunch of activities which affects the natural balance like removal of top and subsoil for access to resources underneath, the mechanical handling of minerals and so on. Given are some of the activities and their impacts on environment.

Removal of top soil for accessing natural resources

The most potential impact of removal of top and sub soil is loss of organic rich soil and the forms of life it contains. Land without top and sub-soil is less capable of sustaining life and barren land after quarry operations have ceased if the land is not restored with soil.

Permission for extraction sites usually require the strategy for the movement of soils to be drawn up before permission is granted during the planning process, unless restoration is to commercial or domestic development. The need for progressive restoration is usually stressed in planning conditions. Soil can also be stored for use in the sites restoration by preventing it from contamination by weeds, seeds, etc.

The mechanical handling of minerals

Most probable impact of mineral handling is dust emission. The emitted dust gets deposited in nearby surrounding which becomes a hazard for the health of living beings in that area. Ecological impacts like Physical effects of stomata damage and blockage, resulting in drought stress and Chemical effects of dust either directly on the plant surface or on the soil health cannot be undermined.

These impacts can be minimised certainly by preventing the dust becoming airborne. It can either be achieved through legislation or/and good practices. Active monitoring devices for occupational health and safety methods, and passive monitoring devices for a broader approach, including for nuisance effects can be effective. An Environmental Management System (EMS) can be encouraged for the effective ongoing assessment of impacts, such as the Eco-Management. Dust assessment survey can be used to effectively reduce the dust emission. More of the protection measures like placing dust generating activities where maximum protection can be obtained from topography, woodland or other features; locating dust generating activities where prevailing winds will blow dust away from residential properties/sensitive premises/ users; minimising the need to transport and handle materials by placing adequate storage facilities close to processing areas can also be considered.

Removal of a wild area for site operations

It may result into loss of species and habitat if area is not restored for wildlife. The alteration to existing habitat (e.g. creation of soil storage mounds, creation of barriers, fragmentation of habitats, changes in numbers to predator/prey, introduction of new habitats/species) and The removal of wildlife and habitats in the surrounding area (due to loss/reduction of species bank, removal of keystone species) may lead to detrimental effects.

Legislative side to protect wildlife form the negative impacts of mining activities consists of bunch of acts like Wildlife protection act, 1972;  Indian Forest Act, 1927; National Biodiversity rule, 2002, etc. Ecological Impact assessments (EIA) are required as part of the planning process, which has many purposes like demonstrating that a proposed development, will meet the legal requirement relating to species and to determine the significance of impacts affecting valued species and habitats. It can also be worked out by Identifying and designing measures to mitigate and compensate for negative impacts, and also measures to achieve positive enhancement for example alternative Sites can be considered wherever possible to avoid any impacts in the first place, Habitat creation is possible both during site restoration and during the operational period of the site, providing opportunities for the enhancement of wildlife and habitats.

The production of mineral waste

It has a visual impact especially when waste is dumped off site and piled high. Large overburden dumps, and if allowed to dry out, silt from settling ponds, can be a source of dust. Runoff from wastes can carry sediment that can potentially contaminate the water environment and cause erosion.

It is important to recognise that operators are always keen to minimise the amount of mineral waste they produce as material that is dug and not used is wasting time and money. There are many laws like Environmental protection act, 1986; EIA notification, 2006; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; MCDR 1988, etc  to deal with the negative impacts of pollution caused by mineral waste produced through mining activities. Good practice like reducing waste through proper planning by mining authorities, proper restoration of top and sub soil for future use, keeping waste out of sight within workings, ensuring that contamination is encased, can help reduce the impacts to a great extent.

Change in/removal of land use

Change in land use for mining activities may lead to anaesthetic surrounding, visual problems, conflicts with existing land use, and bad relations with surrounding communities.. The mining authorities should follow guidelines by the government in the form of national and regional guides and strategies. Government policy should require greater consultation and involvement with the community during planning. Permission should be refused for site development where adverse effects on the local community, environmental damage or loss of amenity cannot be kept to an acceptable minimum.