Hardrock mining on federal lands / Committee on Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands, Committee on Earth Resources, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands.

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Earth Resources.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mines and mineral resources--United States.

Mines and mineral resources.

Public lands--United States.

Public lands.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (259 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. ; [Great Britain] : National Academy Press, c1999.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book, the result of a congressionally mandated study, examines the adequacy of the regulatory framework for mining of hardrock minerals--such as gold, silver, copper, and uranium--on over 350 million acres of federal lands in the western United States. These lands are managed by two agencies--the Bureau of Land Management in the Department of the Interior, and the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture. The committee concludes that the complex network of state and federal laws that regulate hardrock mining on federal lands is generally effective in providing environmental protection, but improvements are needed in the way the laws are implemented and some regulatory gaps need to be addressed. The book makes specific recommendations for improvement, including: The development of an enhanced information management system and a more efficient process to review new mining proposals and issue permits. Changes to regulations that would require all mining operations, other than "casual use" activities that negligibly disturb the environment, to provide financial assurances for eventual site cleanup. Changes to regulations that would require all mining and milling operations (other than casual use) to submit operating plans in advance.

Contents:

HARDROCK MINING ON FEDERAL LANDS

Copyright

Contents

Executive Summary

HARDROCK MINING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

EXISTING REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

IMPROVEMENTS IN IMPLEMENTATION

REGULATORY GAPS

RESEARCH NEEDS

CONCLUDING PERSPECTIVES

1 Introduction

POLICY CONTEXT

APPROACH TO THE STUDY

FEDERAL LANDS AND HARDROCK MINING

HARDROCK MINING

Exploration

Mine Development

Mining (Extraction)

Mineral Processing (Beneficiation)

Reclamation

POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF HARDROCK MINING

Potential Impacts on Water Quality

Potential Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems

Potential Impacts on Water Quantity

Potential Impacts on the Landscape and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Other Potential Environmental Impacts

Cumulative Effects

Long-Term Monitoring

CHANGING CONTEXTS

Changes in Technology

Changing Market Conditions

Changes in the Regulatory Environment

Socio-economic Changes

ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT

2 Existing Regulatory Framework

STATUTORY POLICIES FOR MANAGEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

Federal Land Management Agency Responsibilities

Environmental Permitting Requirements

RELATIONSHIPS AMONG STATE AND FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

TIME REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING

3 Adequacy of Environmental Protection

ELEMENTS OF A REGULATORY PROGRAM

Information

Models and Tools

Standards and Criteria

Monitoring

Reporting and Analysis

Corrective Actions

Enforcement

Financial Guarantees

Personnel and Resources

Management Information System

Stakeholder Communications

REGULATORY ISSUES

Role Conflicts in Land Management Agencies

Regulatory Standards

Financial Assurance

Modification of Plans of Operations.

Different Regulatory Approaches for Exploration, Mining, Extraction, and Mineral Processing

Protecting Valuable Resources and Sensitive Areas

Protecting Cultural Resources and Tribal Interests

Issues of Small Mining Operations

Mining Reclamation of Abandoned Mine Sites

Temporary Mine Closures

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES

Adequacy of Staff and Other Resources

Agency Data and Information Systems

Enforcement Authority

SCIENTIFIC ISSUES

Water

Baselines and Backgrounds

THE NEED FOR EARLY STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

RECLAMATION, CLOSURE, AND POST-CLOSURE MANAGEMENT

Backfilling

Reclamation Planning for Possible Future Uses

Post-Closure Issues

REGULATORY EFFICIENCY ISSUES

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ISSUES

SUMMARY

4 Conclusions and Recommendations

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Justification

Discussion

Implementation

References

APPENDIXES

Appendix A The Nature of Mining

DESCRIPTION OF ORE DEPOSITS

THE MINING PROCESS

Reclamation.

THE URANIUM INDUSTRY

Appendix B Potential Environmental Impacts of Hardrock Mining

INTRODUCTION

CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

LONG-TERM MONITORING

WATER QUALITY

Metals and Cyanide

Acid Drainage

Pit Lakes

Surplus Water Discharge

Road Construction

Contamination from Railroads

WATER QUANTITY

Minewater Discharge to Streams

Groundwater Withdrawal

Pit Lake Interception of Groundwater

Runoff from Hardened Surfaces

AQUATIC BIOTA

Aquatic Biota Response to Metals and Cyanide

Aquatic Biota Response to Acid Drainage

Impact of Placer Mining and Suction Dredging on Aquatic Biota

LANDSCAPE OR ECOSYSTEM ALTERATIONS

TERRESTRIAL VEGETATION

General Disturbances

Smelter Emissions Fumigation

Metal Toxicity

Exotic Plant Species

RIPARIAN VEGETATION

Valley Fill

Altered Hydrology

Water Contaminants

WETLANDS: HYDROLOGICAL AND SURFACE CHANGES

SOIL

Surface Alterations

Erosion

Air Deposition

TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE

Disruptive Activities

Consumption of Toxic Plants and Animals

Wildlife Enhancement

AIR QUALITY

Smelter Emissions

Fugitive Dust

NOISE

Appendix C Existing Regulatory Requirements

Appendix D Research Needs

Pit Lake Water Quality

Acid Drainage and Leaching of Mine Materials

Leaching of Mine Materials

HYDROLOGY

Pit Lake Water Quantity

Mine Area Dewatering and Discharge of Surplus Water

Modeling Flow in Mine Dumps and Impoundments

ECOLOGY

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

ALTERNATIVE MINING AND POLLUTION PREVENTION METHODS

Alternative Mining Techniques

Pollution Prevention and Treatment

MINING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE FUTURE

Mining

Mineral Processing

Appendix E Financial Assurance

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS COVERED

AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSURANCE.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL ASSURANCE

CONDITIONS FOR RELEASE

Appendix F Presentations to the Committee

SPEAKERS AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS

SPEAKERS AT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FORA

Appendix G Individuals Who Provided Documents to the Committee

Appendix H Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

NRC STAFF

Acronyms

Glossary.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610210299

9780309172660

0309172667

9781280210297

128021029X

9780309562102

0309562104

9780585126296

0585126291

OCLC:

44959069