Transcript World Orange - India Energy Forum

Mining impact on Environment
Dr. Manoranjan Hota
07 September, 2016
[email protected]
What is an impact?
• EIA Notification: …….potential
environmental impacts…..
• The impact of an activity is a deviation
(a change) from the baseline situation
that is caused by the activity.
• To measure an impact, you must know
what the baseline situation is.
• The baseline situation is the existing
environmental situation or condition
in the absence of the activity.
• The baseline situation is a key
concept in EIA.
The baseline situation
• In characterizing the
baseline situation,
many environmental
components may be
of interest.
• The components of
interest are those that
are likely to be
affected by your
activity—or upon
which your activity
depends for its
success
Water:
Quantity, quality, reliability,
accessibility
Soils: Erosion, crop productivity,
fallow periods, salinity,
nutrient concentrations
Fauna: Populations, habitat
Env Health: Disease vectors,
pathogens
Flora:
Composition and density of
natural vegetation,
productivity, key species
Special Key species: ecosystems
Types of impacts & their attributes
EIA process is
concerned with
all types of impacts
which can
described in many
ways
 Intensity
 Direction
 Spatial extent
 Duration
 Frequency
 Reversibility
 Probability
•
Direct & indirect impacts
•
Short-term & long-term
impacts
•
Adverse & beneficial
impacts
•
Cumulative impacts
But all impacts are
NOT treated equally.
The Preliminary Assessment
• The purpose of a preliminary
assessment is to provide
documentation and analysis that:
• Allows the prepare to determine whether or
not significant adverse impacts are likely
• Allows the reviewer to agree or disagree with
the preparer’s determinations
• Sets out mitigation and monitoring for adverse
impacts
Why EIA ???
• Protect environment and control pollution
• Environment Protection Act ,1986
• Environment Protection Rules, 1986 ,
• Section 5 Environment Protection Rules 1986:
Prohibitions and restrictions on the location of
industries; carrying on of processes and
operations in different areas
• EIA 1994
• EIA 2006 is supersession of EIA 1994, except
in respect of things done or omitted to be done
before such supersession
• Coal is an essential resource and plays a major
role in producing electricity across the globe.
• Coal is estimated at > 861 billion ton globally.
• India has the fifth largest coal reserves in the
world.
• While India accounts for about 286 billion
tonnes of coal resources, other countries USA,
China, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and
Mozambique also share major share of coal
resource.
• Coal meets approximately30.3% of the global
primary energy needs and generates 42% of
the world’s electricity.
• Of the total reserves, nearly 88% are oncoking coal reserves, while tertiary coals
reserves account for a meagre 0.5 % and
the balance is coking coal.
• The short-term increase in coal production
may negatively impact the long-term growth
due to finite nature of the coal resource and
depletion impact on environment.
• Therefore, there is a need to adopt and
practice sustainable mining.
• The power generation from various
sources indicates that coal is the major
source are:
– (i) Thermal power: 68.19% (Coal: 58%;
Gas: 8.9%; Oil: 0.52%);
– (ii) Hydro Power: 18%;
– (iii) Nuclear power: 2 %;
– (iv) Wind power: 12.32%
Coal Reserve & Exploration Needs
• Current inventory of Indian coal reserves strong
at 248 Bt., including only 93 Bt in Proved
category,
• The total potential coal-bearing area of the
country is about 22,400 sq.km.; out of which
10,200 sq.km. (45%) has been covered by
regional exploration as on 1.1.2002.
Exploration Needs
• As of now 10,200 sq. km. coal bearing areas have
been regionally explored by GSI and others. Another
12,200 sq. km. is yet to be regionally explored.
• There is urgent need to accelerate the pace of
exploration. India is maintaining balance between its
resource base and share in production contribution.
Currently India's per capita proved coal reserve is
79 tonnes as compared to world average of 154
tonnes.
• Out of this inventory, about 50% area
covered by Detailed Exploration.
• Out of the total Inventory of 248 Bt, 71 Bt
are in proved category within 300m depth.
• The rest 81.5 Bt are in Indicated and
Inferred categories.
• Additionally 56.7 Bt resources are available
in Indicated and Inferred categories
(excluding Jharia CF) within 300-600m
depth.
Quality of Indian Coal
• Indian coal has high ash content. The
average ash content in Indian coal is
35-38 per cent while imported coal ash
content 10-15%.
• Indian coal is characterized by:
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Lower to medium grade coal;
high ash content;
low moisture content; and
low Sulphur content.
Mining technology
• Avenues of harnessing alternatives
such as CBM and in-situ gasification of
coal from the inaccessible deposits also
need to be explored.
• India has been practicing mining by
opencast mining (87%) and
underground mining (23%).
Plausible Challenges
• Coal resource getting
more and more limited.
• Focus of mining
requires moving
– to higher depths,
– larger systems and
– processes to be
adopted which are
more efficient than
traditional truck and
haul.
The other plausible challenges
– shifting of mining from one mine to other
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by abandoning excavated coal mines
without proper reclamation;
improper implementation of mine closure
plans ;
practice of horizontal mining thereby
destroying forest and wild life;
possibility of extending vertical mining
beyond 300 meter depth; availability of
advanced technology;
change in mind set; etc.
Mining activities
• Unregulated mining has potential to harm air, water and
soil.
• Choice of actual mining method depends on various
factors, viz.
– Deposit characteristics,
– Percentage recovery, production, scheduling scope of
mechanization and automation, workforce requirements,
– Concerns over land and water resource use, health and
safety requirement
– Environmental concerns including pollutant emissions, waste
generation, public health and safety concerns,
– Land reclamation,
– Operating and capital cost estimates etc.
• Adequate environmental and safety safeguards required to
be established as mines are with varying levels of
environmental protection.
Environmental Damages:
i. Open Cast Mining
Distinct from other forms of mining, due to that fact that it does not
require extractive methods that include tunneling into the earth.
Occurs at the soil surface.
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Destruction of the topographical landscape
Degradation of ecological communities
Degradation of water quality
Destruction of agricultural and forest lands
Noise pollution
Air quality
Sedimentation and erosion
Land subsidence
Vibration from blasting and air blasts
Old mines often converted into landfills
Underground Mining
• Underground mining has the potential for tunnel collapses and
land subsidence .
• It involves large-scale movements of waste rock and
vegetation, similar to open pit mining.
• As water takes on harmful concentrations of minerals and
heavy metals, it becomes a contaminant. This contaminated
water can pollute the region surrounding the mine and
beyond.
• Most underground mining operations increase sedimentation
in nearby rivers through their use of hydraulic pumps and
suction dredges;
• Blasting with hydraulic pumps removes ecologically valuable
topsoil containing seed banks, making it difficult for vegetation
to recover.
• Deforestation due to mining leads to the disintegration of
biomes and contributes to the effects of erosion.
• Topography of the mining area should
be analyzed so as to address the
terrain viz. hill slopes, coastal and
inland topography.
• The water reservoirs, water flow pattern
of water bodies, Perennial streams, if
any should be identified and special
attention be attributed.
• Geology of the area is very important to
ascertain seismic sensitivity.
Dust
• Dust can release a variety of heavy metals commonly
associated with health problems. Can be absorbed into
lung tissue, causing problems like pneumoconiosis and
silicosis.
Carbon output
• Mining, like most heavy industries, is dependent on
fossil fuels, which generate the energy needed to
operate a mine. Environmental standards need to be
implemented.
Species habitat
• Mining is an inherently invasive process that can cause
damage to a landscape in an area much larger than the
mining site itself. The effects of this damage can
continue years after a mine has shut down, including
the addition to greenhouse gasses, death of flora and
fauna, and erosion of land and habitat.
Mine Subsidence:
• Surface subsidence can cause
extensive damage/degradation affects.
• A thorough understanding of
subsistence patterns of underground
mining on the surface to be quantified.
• This ensures the safe, maximum
recovery of a coal resource, while
providing protection to other land uses.
Water Pollution
• Mine operations work to improve their water
management, aiming to reduce demand through
efficiency, technology and the use of lower quality
and recycled water.
• Water pollution is controlled by carefully separating
the water runoff from undisturbed areas from water
which contains sediments or salt from mine
workings.
• Clean runoff can be discharged into surrounding
water courses, while other water is treated and
can be reused such as for dust suppression and
in coal preparation plants.
Acid mine drainage
• Acid mine drainage (AMD) is metalrich water formed from the chemical
reaction between water and rocks
containing sulphur-bearing minerals
can be a challenge at coal mining
operations.
• AMD can be treated actively or
passively.
Methane (CH4)
• Methane (CH4) is a gas formed as part of the
process of coal formation and released from the coal
seam and the surrounding disturbed strata during
mining operations.
• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global
warming potential 23 times that of carbon dioxide.
•
While coal is not the only source of methane
emissions – agricultural activities are major emitters
– methane from coal seams can be utilised rather
than released to the atmosphere with a significant
environmental benefit.
Wildlife
• The baseline status of wildlife in the mining
area is one of the most important components.
• To be ideal wildlife habitations following data
on fauna should be collected.
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Distribution
Abundance
Rarity
Species diversity and critical habitat requirements
Migratory and travel routes
Predator – prey balance
Habitat residence
Public Utilities
• Vehicular traffic during mine development and operation
may result in excessive use of existing public
infrastructure like roads, railways, waterways etc. and
may cause congestion and pollution.
• An existing road, passing through habitation, may cause
air pollution problem due to increase in traffic volume.
Similarly public utilities such as water supply, drainage,
power grid may also be utilized.
• Baseline information / data on existing public utility
infrastructure and service should be reported.
Site Specific Features
• Any site-specific features such as nearness to
large water body, nearness to forest etc.
• Specific Study Required for nearness to water
body/reservoir Details of hydrogeology and
hydrology Nearness to forest.
• Detailed conservation plan w.r.t nearness to
township blasting vibration study groundwater
scarcity area.
• Details of ground water availability and
recharge of ground water
Environmentally friendly mining
• New mining technologies and regulations
would significantly improve mining
efficiency and reduce environmental
impact.
• Closing down illegal mines
• Choosing advanced mining technology
Improving Efficiencies
• Fluidised Bed Combustion
• Supercritical & Ultra-supercritical Boilers
• Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle
Coal Mining and Environmental Impact
Event
Change in land use, land –cover
and land form
Consequences
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Disturbance in natural water-sheds &
drainage pattern of the region
Disturbance in wind direction, flow and
temperature
Ultimately disturbance in rivers/stream flow,
agriculture patterns etc.
Floods and loss of bio-diversity
Release of greenhouse gases 
like
carbon
di-oxide
and
methane due to fracturing of
strata and in-situ combustion of
coal seams.
Global warming
consequences.
Waste
products
including 
uranium, thorium and other
radioactive and heavy metal
contaminations
Air/water/soil/food grain contamination or
direct exposure to flora/fauna
and
other
related
Event
Change in land use, land –
cover and land form
Consequences
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Disturbance in natural water-sheds &
drainage pattern of the region
Disturbance in wind direction, flow and
temperature
Ultimately disturbance in rivers/stream flow,
agriculture patterns etc.
Floods and loss of bio-diversity
Release of greenhouse 
gases like carbon di-oxide
and methane due to
fracturing of strata and insitu combustion of coal
seams.
Global
warming
consequences.
Waste products including 
uranium, thorium and other
radioactive and heavy metal
contaminations
Air/water/soil/food grain contamination or
direct exposure to flora/fauna
and
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other
related
Event
Acid rain
Acid mine drainage
Disturbing recharge area
Disturbances in the drainage and
water-sheds of surface water
bodies
Dust nuisance due to blasting,
drilling and digging
Subsidence above tunnels
Rendering land unfit for the other
use
Sizing of coal
Consequences
 Contamination
of
surface/ground
water, soil, agriculture
 Contamination
in
surface/ground
water, soil and agriculture
 Interference with groundwater and
water table level, surface water
 Causing change in flows
discharges of rivers and streams
and
 Air pollution health impact and visibility
hindrance.
 Damage to building and structure.
 Sometimes
damaging
the
infrastructure.
• Wastage of non-renewable resources
 Air pollution health impact and visibility
hindrance.
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Event
Consequences
Transportation /loading/unloading

Air pollution health impact and
visibility hindrance.
Beneficiation of coal

Contamination of surface/ground
water, soil, agriculture
Air pollution health impact and
visibility hindrance.

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Objectives of sampling
Environmental
sample
Objective
Parameters to be
analyzed
Ground water
quality
To study the impacts due
to leaching of acidic &
metal contaminated water
generated from tailing and
waste rock.
pH, Sulphate, Acidity,
Alkalinity, TDS, TSS,
Elemental metals,
COD, Chloride,
Fluoride, Conductance
Surface water
quality
pH, Sulphate, Acidity,
To study the impact due to Alkalinity, TDS, TSS,
leaching of acetic & metal Elemental metals,
contaminated water
COD, Chloride,
generated from tailing and Fluoride,
waste rocks
Conductance, COD
and BOD
Mitigation Measures
• Top soil be stacked properly with proper slope & grassing.
• External overburden dump be not more than prescribed height and
OB should be stacked at earmarked dump sites only. Monitoring
and management of rehabilitated area should continue until the
vegetation becomes self sustaining.
• Catch drains, siltation ponds, Garland drains and settling pond.
• Development of green belt for suppression of dust around the
mine
• Quarterly monitoring of Data water level and quality and
submission of data to concerned department
• Providing recharge measures for meeting water requirement.
• Providing rain water harvesting system.
• Provision of high efficiency dust suppression system in coal
handling plant
• Treatment plant for sewage, workshop and CHP wastewater
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Mitigation measures
• Monitoring of vehicular emission and construction
of metal top road
• Establishment of ambient air quality station for
RPM,SO2,NOX and CO and submission of data
to concerned departments
• Adequate measure for control of noise levels
below 85dB(A)
• Treatment of industrial waste water to confirm the
prescribed standard
• Treatment and disposal of acidic mine water as
per prescribed standards
• Establishment of Environmental laboratory and
environmental management cell.
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• Provision of Environmental cell with
ecologist & social scientist
• All internal roads be black topped and good
house keeping
• Coal transport in duly covered conveying
system/vehicles to present fugitive emission
during transportation
• Development of green belt around the area.
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Sustainable mining vis-à-vis
environmental protection:
• Self-regulation should be put in practice
• Board of the Company should own responsibility for any
non-compliance.
• Need to amalgamate smaller mines into bigger units with
fewer openings.
• Small scale mining should be avoided so that improved
heavy machinery can be put to use for enhance coal
production so also pollution and other environmental
issues are kept to minimum. E.g., use of In-Pit Crushing
and Conveyor (IPCC) which will reduce no of small
dumpers, its transportation, emission of pollutants etc.
• Coal mining in India has been carried out to an
average 100 meters depth except in Jharia
Coal field where the mining is beyond this
depth.
• Keeping in view the pristine forest and
principles of sustainable development in view, it
would be prudent go for mining vertically down
(may be upto 800 meters) rather than
horizontally.
• Vertical mining shall delay in forest diversion
and will help in climate change mitigation.
• Cluster approach for mining so as to minimize
small scale mining.
• Cumulative Impact Assessment for cluster be
carried out for environmental management and
mitigation.
• Sequential mining need to be put in practice so
that coal from a coal field is exhausted
completely and the Over Burden (OB) and voids
are rehandled completely and the land is
returned back to its near original status for
agriculture purposes.
• Large numbers of voids which are created due
to mining are left out without following any
scientifically mine closure plan. The mine voids
should be used recharging of ground water
and also for supply of treated water to
villagers.
• Adequate green belts should be provided for
air pollution control.
• Rain water harvesting and water
conservation should be a part of the
environmental management of the
project.
• Transformation from conventional coal
transportation by road to conveyor belt
and rail transportation.
• Washeries need to be installed at the pit
head so as to prevent long
transportation and disposal of rejects.
Role of MoEFCC
• In order to ensure integration of environmental,
forestry and wildlife concerns into developmental
project, the Ministry examines/appraises projects
essentially under the framework of
– Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
– Forest(Conservation) Act, 1980 and
– Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972.
• EIA Notification, 2006 issued under Section 3, subsection(2), clause (v) of the Environment(Protection)
Act, 1986 read with clause (d) of sub-rule(3) of rule 5
of Environment (protection) Rules, 1986.
• EC is required for any developmental projects under
EIA Notification, 2006.
• To formulate a transparent, decentralized
and efficient regulatory mechanism to:
 Incorporate
necessary
environmental
safeguards at
planning stage
 Involve stakeholders in the public
consultation
process
 Identify developmental projects based on
impact potential instead of the investment
criteria
Transparency
Certainty
EIA
Costeffectiveness
Participation
Credibility
Accountability
Practicability
Flexibility
EIA Benefits/Flipsides
Benefits
Flip sides
Provides systematic methods of Impact assessment
Time -consuming
Estimates the cost/benefits trade-off of alternative
actions
Costly
Facilitates the Public participation
Title public participation in actual implementation
Provides an effective mechanism for
 Coordination
 Environmental integration
 Negotiations
 Feed back
Unavailability for reliable data (mostly in
developing countries
Top-level decision making
focused on scientific analysis
Triggers an institutional building
Presentation of EIA report(bulky volumes, scientific
explanation, sometimes difficult to understand)
Achieve a balance between the impact of
Developmental and environmental concern
Compliance monitoring after EIA is seldom carried
out
Compliance to EC Conditions
Judicial process and NGO activism
Thank You