Zara Adamson - L2a - Reclamation After Mining PDF

Lesson 2a - Reclamation after Mining 1.​ Name a resource, how it is used and where it is found Rice is a resource predominantly used for nutrition due to its high levels of fibre, protein and iron, each of these factors making it a vital way of fighting malnutrition. Australian rice is grown wit...

Lesson 2a - Reclamation after Mining 1.​ Name a resource, how it is used and where it is found Rice is a resource predominantly used for nutrition due to its high levels of fibre, protein and iron, each of these factors making it a vital way of fighting malnutrition. Australian rice is grown within the Murray and Murrumbidgee Valleys within New South Wales. 2.​ Provide advantages and disadvantages for one type of renewable energy. Tidal power is advantageous due to the density of water in comparison to wind making the use of tidal power more powerful and effective than wind or solar. Additionally, the use of tidal turbines and production of tidal energy produces no greenhouse gases. However, the initial construction cost is extremely high due to its location. The migration of aquatic animals can be disturbed by the movement of turbines. Inquiry Question 1: How are Australia’s natural resources extracted, used and managed? ​ Investigate how mining sites affect the environment, including Aboriginal cultural sites, and examine methods of reclamation of the environment and those sites after mining operations cease including: -​ open-pit mining -​ underground mining methods -​ offshore and onshore drilling Mining and the Environment Brainstorm ways mining can affect the environment  ➔​ Removal of native flora and large areas of vegetation and trees (land clearing) ➔​ Disruption of animal habitats ➔​ Contamination of nearby water sources ➔​ Oil spills ➔​ Chemical and sound pollution ➔​ Erosion of excavated land ➔​ Heavy metal contamination ➔​ Leachates- something that seeps through into the groundwater (toxins) Mining companies understand land rehabilitation is fundamental to responsible mining. It is a critical factor for ongoing community acceptance and a key indicator for corporate reporting. Planning for rehabilitation takes place long before mining commences. Rehabilitation is undertaken progressively during the life of a mine wherever practical. Rehabilitation is central to the business of mining. Planning for rehabilitation takes place long before mining commences and is continually reviewed throughout the life of a mine. Rehabilitation occurs not only at the end of mining operation but is undertaken progressively during the life of a mine wherever practical. Mine Rehabilitation Case Studies Watch: Mine rehabilitation Mine rehabilitation: an ecological rehabilitation case study at Mount Owen Mine, Hunter… What strategies were successful in the mine rehabilitation? Mount Owen Coal Mine- Hunter Valley NSW ➔​ Shaped to required land form ➔​ Top soil from the mine is placed back on to the land ➔​ The top soil still includes seeds from the land previously ➔​ Additionally, they plant seeds and trees of different sizes ➔​ Addition of rocky outcrops to be used as dens for spotted tail quail ➔​ Encouragement of local fauna to migrate back- nest boxes for gliders Read the information provided by Peabody Mining company (CG) and discuss the general process of mine rehabilitation that they follow. General Rehabilitation Process: Mine Rehabilitation Rehabilitation as defined by the Mining Act means the treatment or management of disturbed land or water for the purpose of establishing a safe and stable environment. This relates to both exploration and mining projects where the land is restored to a sustainable and productive useful purpose. The scope of rehabilitation activities covers a broad range of components that need to be addressed to establish a safe and stable environment following the closure of a mining operation. The scope of rehabilitation activities includes but is not necessarily limited to demolition of surface infrastructure; remediation of contaminated land; capping of tailings dams; final landform establishment; geotechnical stabilisation; sealing of mine entries and boreholes; removal of ore pads; amelioration of soils for revegetation and revegetation works. Rehabilitation is effectively another phase of mining, which is undertaken both progressively over the life of the mine as well as at cessation of mining (i.e. total life cycle of a mine). Mining affected land can be rehabilitated to a variety of land uses including cropping and agriculture, native ecosystems, forestry, industry, heritage sites, residential developments and mixed land uses. Regulatory System for Rehabilitation Rehabilitation commitments and post mining land use objectives for mining development are established as part of the development approval/EIS phase of a mining project and approved by a determining authority such as Department of Planning and Environment or a local council under the Environment Planning & Assessment Act 1979. The Division’s role under the Mining Act is to regulate rehabilitation activities to ensure that the post-mining land uses of a development approval issued under the Environment Planning & Assessment Act 1979 are met. The Division’s regulatory approach to rehabilitation is outcomes focused whilst being flexible to allow for industry to develop and implement innovative and best practice methodologies specific to a site. The key elements of the Division’s regulatory approach to rehabilitation are listed below. ​ titleholders are required to develop and implement a Mining Operations Plan (MOP), soon to be called a Rehabilitation Management Plan (RMP), which includes the following: o​ objectives and criteria for rehabilitation that are required to be met for rehabilitation before the Division will relinquish the mining lease and any associated rehabilitation security bond; o​ proposed rehabilitation plans including a progressive rehabilitation schedule for the entire life cycle of a mine; o​ defined key risks and opportunities that need to be addressed to achieve successful rehabilitation; o​ the range of risk-based rehabilitation controls and methodologies; o​ detailed monitoring programs designed to measure performance and compliance against the criteria as well as promote adaptive management processes. ​ in regard to exploration activities, titleholders are required to comply with a Rehabilitation Code and conditions of an exploration authorisation; Describe key features of the rehabilitation program The central feature of the mine rehabilitation program strives to restore the land to a sustainable and productive, useful purpose. The rehabilitation process includes the demolition of surface infrastructure, remediation of contaminated land, sealing of mine entries and boreholes, removal of ore pads as well as revegetation works. Peabody Mining Company describes rehabilitation as another phase of mining, undertaken both through the life of the mine and after the mine is used. The Mining Operations Plan is required for the rehabilitation of a mine site. It includes the proposal of rehabilitation plans requiring a specific schedule during the entire life cycle of the mine, a range of risk based rehabilitation controls and methodologies as well as detailed monitoring programs designed to measure performance and compliance against the criteria. The MOP is a designated plan and intends to restore the land for cropping, agriculture, industries, heritage sites and other sustainable, useful purposes. Watch: Oil and Gas Drilling Oil and Gas 101: Offshore Drilling at Woodside I have: ​Completed all activities for this lesson including homework ​Textbook: ​ EES in Focus p. 303-306 ​ Spotlight: p 229-234 ​Submitted to Google Classroom ​Created my study notes for this lesson