Reduction and utilization of coal mine waste rock in China: A case study in Tiefa coalfield

In China, coal mine waste rock (CMWR) produced during coal mining and processing is still increasing significantly as a result of coal production which has huge environmental impact. CMWR reduction and utilization is a major issue for coal enterprises and government to reduce the surface footprint and the public environmental impact. Tiefa coalfield, an old coalfield with 60 years of coal exploitation, was selected as a case to study the methods to minimize the environmental impacts of CMWR piles in a short period. We argue that a systematic design on CMWR utilization is needed on the basis of a usage evaluation which takes consideration of CMWR source, compositions, and proximate analysis. Mine design is crucial and the base for reducing the CMWR generation at the headstream. Placing roadway into coal seam rather than rock, panel optimization, and parametric analysis for mining technique were conducted in Tiefa coalfield. A promising technology of CMWR backfill under the ground was employed with a resultant increase of coal recovery rate. The surface CMWR recycling depends on brick making, electricity generating, and rehabilitation of subsided land. The practice of the presented methods indicates that the CMWR piles on Tiefa coalfield may disappear in 3 years, which could significantly reduce the environmental impacts of CMWR dumps. The technologies conducted in Tiefa coalfield developed a model of CMWR reduction and utilization for Chinese coal mines.     

试论农业政策的环境影响评价简

为了实现农业政策的生态化,即农业政策以环境保护为导向,减少农业政策对环境的影响,需要对农业政策进行环境影响评价。通过深入分析农业政策的环境影响评价对法治建设和生态文明建设的意义,认为在当前我国环境影响评价制度缺少相关政策层面环评的情况下,应当先对农业政策进行环评,通过确立政策环评范围、主体,对其进行阶段性设置,从而完善环评的法律体系,实现农业政策与环境保护的统一。     

Optimization of mining by application of the equality principle

This paper shows how the equality principle can be applied to traditional mining activities as a theoretical economic basis for “environmentally friendly” waste management of natural resources. A cost structure is proposed to generally improve the exploitation of the natural resources and save energy due to the promotion of corporate economic incentives to a more cost-effective waste management related to these resources. The methodology proposed is based on the cost-benefit analysis concept. It employs the previously introduced equality principle and the model for Efficient Use of Resources for Optimal Production Economy (EUROPE) featuring shadow prices so as to optimize the mining slope and the ore-concentration when utilizing the resources of the rock and provide management with a one digit indicator of the performance of a certain mining activity to get in just once glance an instant comprehension of their mine's overall performance. This approach simultaneously improves the profitability, the technology used and the environment. A case study presents the practical application of the proposed theory on a Swedish copper mine. It is concluded that the presented methodology improves the exploitation of natural resources in mainly technological, economical and environmental terms. The methods that are developed are regarded as being suitable information support tools for decision-making in waste management and optimization of the exploitation of natural resources in the corporate and public context.     

Life cycle assessment analysis of active and passive acid mine drainage treatment technologies

Acid mine drainage (AMD), resulting from open-cast coal mining, is currently one of the largest environmental challenges facing the mining industry. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of different AMD treatment options typically employed. LCA is a well-reported tool but is not documented for AMD treatment systems despite their ubiquitous implementation worldwide. This study conducted detailed LCA analysis for various passive and active AMD treatment approaches implemented or considered at a major coal mine in New Zealand using a comparative functional unit of kg acidity removed per day for each treatment option. Eight treatment scenarios were assessed including active limestone and hydrated lime treatments, and compared to passive treatments using limestone and waste materials such as mussel shells. Both midpoint and endpoint LCA impact categories were assessed. Generally, the active treatment scenarios demonstrated greater LCA impacts compared to an equivalent level of treatment for the passive treatment approaches. Lime slaking had the greatest LCA impacts, while passive treatment approaches incurred consistently less impacts except for one passive treatment with a purchased energy scenario. A 50% reduction in transportation distances resulted in the lowest LCA impacts for all scenarios. This study highlights the importance of evaluating the environmental and social impacts of AMD treatment for the mining industry.     

西部开发中的累积环境影响

本文首先分析了西部地区生态环境现状，指出西部生态环境十分脆弱，破坏严重。然后在介绍累积影响概念的基础上，结合累积影响的发生过程，对西部地区的开发建设项目以及它们对环境可能产生的累积影响进行具体分析，指出累积影响问题在西部大开发过程中是客观存在的，西部开发过程中必须重视累积影响的作用。最后文章提出了一系列对策和建议，包括加强对累积影响的研究、对开发项目进行累积影响评价（CIA）、强化环境管理和法律监督，以及加强关于生态环境的宣传教育等，以促进西部地区的可持续发展。     

Tracking changes in the global impacts of metal concentrate acquisition for the metals industry in Finland

This article considers the environmental impacts and the governance framework of the domestic and international supply of iron, zinc, copper and nickel concentrates smelted and refined in Finland. The metals industry in the country is heavily dependent on imported concentrates, and the research is thus focused on defining the level of impacts related to mining and mineral processing abroad, and the change in the impacts between 2000 and 2010. The estimations of environmental impacts are based on waste minerals and CO_2eq emissions, and the quality of governance in the set of indicators measuring different aspects of governance. The total amount of waste minerals and CO_2eq emissions related to metal concentrates decreased over the ten-year period. At the same time, the quality of governance improved in all concentrate groups except nickel. Ore grade, mine type and transportation distance appear to be the most influential factors on environmental impacts. The results suggest that the country of origin can have a noticeable effect on the environmental impacts and the quality of governance of the mining and processing of metal concentrates.     

Sustainable development in the mining industry: clarifying the corporate perspective

This paper examines sustainable development in the corporate mining context, and provides some guidelines for mining companies seeking to operate more sustainably. There is now a burgeoning literature that examines sustainable development in the context of minerals and mining, most of which is concerned with sustainability at global and national scales. What is often challenging to ascertain, however, from these numerous perspectives on sustainable mineral extraction, minerals and metals recycling, environmental management, and social performance, is how sustainable development applies to mining companies themselves, and what steps a mine must take in order to improve the sustainability of operations. Since mining processes have the potential to impact a diverse group of environmental entities, and are of interest to a wide range of stakeholder groups, there is ample opportunity for the industry to operate more sustainably. Specifically, with improved planning, implementation of sound environmental management tools and cleaner technologies, extended social responsibility to stakeholder groups, the formation of sustainability partnerships, and improved training, a mine can improve performance in both the environmental and socioeconomic arenas, and thus contribute enormously to sustainable development at the mine level.     

Environmental regulatory failure and metal contamination at the Giap Lai pyrite mine, Northern Vietnam

The causes for the failure in enforcement of environmental regulations at the Giap Lai pyrite mine in northern Vietnam are considered and the environmental impacts that are associated with this mine are evaluated. It is shown that sulphide-rich tailings and waste rock in the mining area represent significant sources of acid rock drainage (ARD). The ARD is causing elevated metal levels in downstream water bodies, which in turn, represent a threat to both human health and to aquatic ecosystems. Metal concentrations in impacted surface waters have increased after mine closure, suggesting that impacts are becoming progressively more serious. No post-closure, remediation measures have been applied at the mine, in spite of the existence of environmental legislation and both central and regional institutions charged with environmental supervision and control. The research presented here provides further emphasis for the recommendation that, while government institutions may need to be strengthened, and environmental regulations need to be in place, true on the ground improvement in environmental quality in Vietnam and in many other developing countries require an increased focus on promoting public awareness of industrial environmental issues.     

Where artisanal mines and forest meet: Socio‐economic and environmental impacts in the Congo Basin

While mineral exploitation can provide significant income and employment, it may negatively impact the environment, being ultimately detrimental to livelihoods in the long term. The consequences of mining are of concern in high value forest ecosystems such as the Sangha Tri‐National (TNS) landscape covering Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Republic of the Congo. This paper captures the socio‐economic and environmental impacts of small‐scale mining in the TNS. Using structured questionnaires, consultations and observation, diamonds and gold were found to contribute directly to the livelihoods of at least 5% of the landscape's population. Although up to eight income‐generating strategies are used, mining contributes on average to 65% of total income and is used mainly to meet basic needs. A gold miner's average income is US$ 3.10 a day, and a diamond miner earns US$ 3.08, making them slightly wealthier than an average Cameroonian and three times wealthier than an average non‐miner in the TNS. Environmental impacts were temporary, low impact and of limited scale. However, with mining likely to increase in the near future, an increasing population and miners' low environmental awareness, measures are needed to ensure and reinforce the positive impact of artisanal mining on livelihoods and maintain its low environmental footprint in the TNS landscape.     

Efficacy of Standards vs. Incentives for Managing the Environmental Impacts of Agriculture

The environmental impacts of agriculture depend on both the longrun and shortrun production decisions of farmers. In the longrun, technologies and quasi-fixed factors are selected and put in place through investment. In the shortrun, production plans are made and implemented conditionally upon available technologies and quasi-fixed factors. An important implication is that the environmental effects of agricultural activities result from an integration of economic decisions, private good production practices and biophysical processes. Viewed from a system perspective, these processes transform a set of private and environmental inputs into a set of private good and environmental outputs. It follows from this logic that the environmental impacts or performance of agriculture result not only from the nature of available technologies, but also how those technical opportunities are exploited in response to market and public policy incentives and constraints. This paper presents results of an application of such an integrated model of biophysical and economic processes to evaluate the potential responsiveness of water quality impacts of agricultural field crop practices to changes in economic incentives.     

Environmental Impact Evaluation Model for Industrial Processes

This paper proposes a model to evaluate the environmental impact of manufacturing processes. This model uses the potency factor approach to classify environmental impacts into five ecological health impact groups and uses their toxicological, cancer, and physical effects as the bases to rate the seven groups of human health impacts. The environmental impacts in each impact group are reported, and their hazard scores on ecological and human health are determined. The model also generates a single score for the overall environmental impacts of a process. This single score system helps to identify, among all the viable processes, which is the most environmentally friendly process. This model can serve as a tool to highlight the potential environmental hazards of process operations and to provide information about environmental performance for decision making. The model has been developed into a computer software program, Environmental Impact Evaluation System, and is demonstrated by using the processes employed for the manufacture of paper bags.     

Environmental impact assessment in the People's Republic of China

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures have been in existence in the People's Republic of China over the last decade. The impetus for China's introduction of EIA was provided by the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, which was adopted by the Fifth National People's Congress in 1979. The EIA process, which is administrative and not statutorily mandated, has been applied primarily to construction projects. Four stages are typically involved in an EIA investigation: design of the investigation, evaluation of background environmental quality, prediction of environmental impacts, and an assessment and analysis of the environmental impacts. A variety of approaches is used for predicting and analyzing environmental impacts, ranging from ad hoc methods to fairly sophisticated mathematical models. The results of the EIA investigation are compiled in an environmental impact statement, which is used as the basis for decision making by personnel in environmental protection departments. The EIA process does not include provisions for citizen notification or involvement. Views differ concerning the effectiveness of the EIA program in protecting China's natural, social, and cultural environments. Some hold that the EIA program has brought about improvement in environmental protection, while critics contend that the program has had little effect in the prevention of pollution. However, most, if not all, observers seem to feel that the program should be continued and improved. A major avenue for improvement is to place the evaluation of a particular project in a regional context. An earlier version of this paper was distributed at a workshop on Environmental Assessment Development Planning held in conjunction with the VII Annual Meeting of the International Association for Impact Assessment, Brisbane, Australia, July 5–8, 1988.     

关于世行贷款农业灌溉项目环境影响评价问题的讨论

农业灌溉工程建设是我国第十二个五年规划纲要中提出的全面加强农田水利建设工作的重要组成部分。随着越来越多农业灌溉项目的兴建及我国环境影响评价制度的发展,农业灌溉项目的环境影响评价也在不断发展和完善中。本文根据世行贷款项目——中国四川武都农业灌溉项目环境影响评价实践和工作经验,分析总结了世界银行及我国在农业灌溉项目环境影响评价工作方面的特点和要求,其中世界银行在有些方面,如评价等级、公众参与等与国内环评要求基本一致,而有些方面,如回顾性评价、替代方案分析、累积性影响分析、环境管理计划、移民安置行动计划、病虫害管理计划等在国内环境影响评价中尚未引起足够的关注或与世界银行要求存在较大差异,值得我国环评工作参考和借鉴。     

A double‐edged sword: Realities of artisanal and small‐scale mining for rural people in the Alaotra region of Madagascar

A growing number of people are entering the artisanal and small‐scale mining (ASM) sector worldwide. In Madagascar, millions of individuals depend on this informal activity. Through a case study in the Alaotra‐Mangoro region of Madagascar, our research aimed to understand the “bottom‐up” dynamics and ripple effects of the sector, by looking at the realities for rural communities where inhabitants are both directly and indirectly affected by ASM. We were interested in community members' and miners' perceptions of the socio‐economic and environmental impacts of ASM, and in identifying the factors attracting people living in one of the country's agricultural hubs to this activity. Our results show a wide diversity of push and pull factors leading people to enter the sector. Although many positive impacts of ASM exist for miners and communities within the vicinity of mines, most miner participants considered themselves worse off since starting to mine, highlighting the high risk and low probability of return of ASM. ASM's potential for local and national development will remain squandered if its negative impacts continue to go unmanaged. Accounting for local contexts and the ripple effects of ASM will be crucial in achieving safety and security for miners, and to tap into the benefits it may offer communities while minimising environmental damage.     

Hydrologic Effects of Surface Coal Mining in Appalachia (U.S.)

Surface coal mining operations alter landscapes of the Appalachian Mountains, United States, by replacing bedrock with mine spoil, altering topography, removing native vegetation, and constructing mine soils with hydrologic properties that differ from those of native soils. Research has demonstrated hydrologic effects of mining and reclamation on Appalachian landscapes include increased peakflows at newly mined and reclaimed watersheds in response to strong storm events, increased subsurface void space, and increased base flows. We review these investigations with a focus on identifying changes to hydrologic flow paths caused by surface mining for coal in the Appalachian Mountains. We introduce two conceptual control points that govern hydrologic flow paths on mined lands, including the soil surface that partitions infiltration vs. surface runoff and a potential subsurface zone that partitions subsurface storm flow vs. deeper percolation. Investigations to improve knowledge of hydrologic pathways on reclaimed Appalachian mine sites are needed to identify effects of mining on hydrologic processes, aid development of reclamation methods to reduce hydrologic impacts, and direct environmental mitigation and public policy.     

Tracking the implementation of green credit policy in China: top-down perspective and bottom-up reform

The Chinese government has introduced the green credit policy to mitigate the environmental impact of industrialization by reining in credit loans to companies and projects with poor environmental performance. This research investigated the implementation of the green credit policy both at the national and provincial levels. Our results show that the green credit policy is not fully implemented. The wide-ranging impact on high-polluting and high energy-consuming industries, vague policy details unclear implementing standards, and lack of environmental information are the main problems in the implementation of the green credit policy in China. On the other hand, the practice at local level (Jiangsu Province) is more practical by integrating green credit policy with the environmental performance rating system. Finally, suggestions are outlined to improve China's green credit policy.     

Incorporating environmental issues into optimum cut-off grades modeling at porphyry copper deposits

Cut-off grade is defined as the grade which discriminates between ore and waste within a given orebody. Determination of a complete optimum cut-off grade policy is a very important function during mine life. Using the modified optimum cut-off grade model presented in this paper not only the net present value of a porphyry copper mining project is maximized, but also the adverse environmental impacts of the project are minimized simultaneously. This methodology is more effective in long-range planning. For showing the effectiveness of the model, two scenarios are considered in a hypothetical deposit and the results show that incorporating the modified optimum cut-off grade policy, the net present value will be increased by 3.6% in comparison with the Base Case.     

Derivative mine valuation: strategic investment decisions in competitive markets

Successful management in competitive markets requires evaluation methods that respond to global market dynamics and provide investors with relevant information to make strategic investment decisions. These strategic decisions include decisions on investment timing, feasibility study and risk management and mine operating options. Conventional methods do not have the built-in capabilities to help investors handle these strategic issues. Advances in modern finance have had profound impacts on financial markets for options, futures and collaterized securities and offer appropriate tools in solving these problems. In this paper, the authors have extended the Brennan and Schwartz mineral resource model to develop the derivative mine valuation method based on the dynamic arbitrage theory. A copper mining venture has been evaluated using the derivative mine valuation and conventional methods. The results show that the derivative mine valuation method allows investors to maximize the venture's market value by exercising these strategic options.     

矿业环境治理的经济学分析

当前，我国矿山环境问题突出。重点分析了矿山开采环境问题的特殊性，这些特殊性包括矿业对地域区位的依赖性、破坏的大量不确定性以及不可逆性。根据特殊性，讨论了环境经济学的适用性。不确定问题转化为确定性问题或者风险问题依赖于技术层面学科（如矿山环境影响评价和矿山环境地质学等）的支撑。最后指出随着这些技术学科的发展，矿山环境问题就会更精确地纳入成本——效益分析框架，从而发挥更大的作用。     

安徽省矿山环境质量评价研究

建立省区一级的矿山环境评价指标体系具有重要的理论和实践意义。根据科学性和可操作性等原则，综合考虑矿山环境影响因子及其相互之间的定量关系，以安徽省县区为评价单元，探索性建立了矿山环境评价指标体系，构建了矿山环境质量评价模型。实例研究表明，所建评价指标体系和评价模型具有很好的适用性和较好可信度。