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What Can We Do about the Problem?
Strategies for reclaiming mine sites have come a long way since
reclamation technologies began to evolve 50 years ago. Minimizing
the amount of waste created during mining is the first step to reducing
impacts to the environment. This involves the judicious use of resources
through source reduction, energy efficiency, reuse of input materials
during production and processing, and reduced water consumption.
For more information on pollution prevention and mining, see EPA
Hardrock Mining: Pollution Prevention.
Once all measures have been taken to prevent pollution production,
the best reclamation technologies should be implemented to successfully
control pollution that is created and restore a site to its original
pre-mining state. Mineland reclamation technologies span the spectrum
from natural recovery without human intervention to intensive treatments
using heavy equipment. Application of the appropriate technology
is analogous to selection of the proper tool from a toolbox. No
single tool is applicable to all tasks. Selection of the correct
tool or combination of tools falls to the judgement and experience
of the craftsman, or in the case of ecological restoration projects,
the selection of appropriate technologies falls to the designer.
Technology selection may range from simple land management practices
such as grazing management to complex water treatment systems. Each
is suitable to a specific circumstance. It is suggested that designers
select the technology which provides restoration levels consistent
with the project's goals using the minimum intensity treatment required
to attain the goal. If uncertainty exists in the outcome, more intense
treatments should be considered to provide a necessary margin of
safety.
The following technology guide provides comprehensive information
on the many technologies that could be implemented for reclaiming
a mine site. Not all of the technologies may be used on every site.
The goals and budget of each individual project will dictate which
of the technologies should be used.
Problem | Compliance
| Health & Safety | Sampling
| Analytical | Data
Quality
Site Assessment | Prediction
| Construction | GIS
| Monitoring & Assessment
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