Environmental problems of coal production in the United Kingdom with particular reference to the Yorkshire coalfield

This paper reviews the environmental problems associated with the coal-mining industry on the Yorkshire coalfield. The main environmental problems are identified as being caused by:

1. The need to dispose of large quantities of colliery waste or ‘spoil’, in an environmentally acceptable manner.
2. Derelict and despoiled land, including the problems caused by the re-working of old tips for their coal content.
3. Opencast coal mining.
4. Subsidence.
5. Transportation of coal and coal waste.

These problems are reviewed in the context of the role of coal in meeting the United Kingdom's energy needs and the framework of environmental control within which the coal-mining industry has to operate. Particular stress is laid on the fact that the Yorkshire coalfield, as with the majority of coalfields, is an old one with a legacy of inherited dereliction. Whilst modernisation of the mining industry is proceeding there have not been parallel developments put in hand to cope with the changing nature of the environmental problems resulting from the modernisation of the industry. Particular stress is placed on the need to dispose of the greatly increased quantities of spoil now being produced.