Handwerk, B. (2015, August 13). Why tens of thousands of toxic mines litter the us : Smithsonian : science : U.S. Retrieved Aug 23, 2015, from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-tens-thousands-toxic-mines-litter-us-west-180956265/?no-ist
The EPA has estimated that mining has contaminated over forty percent of the watersheds in the west and the situation that occurred recently on the animas has come as no surprise to many environmentalists. There are tens of thousands of abandoned mining sites that were not regulated and not sealed properly. When contaminated water builds up in mines and absorbs heavy metals at a low Ph the water will eventually find its way out of the mine and into local water systems. It can take hundreds of years to clean spills like these and left over metals that settle in water ways can damage local ecosystems over time.
Improperly closed mines pose a threat all over the nation and the latest spill is an example of what happens when only one mine is breached. The fact that the problem is as widespread as it is seems to call for immediate action in the safe handling of abandoned mines. It is important to be proactive as opposed to being reactive and these mines should be properly secured with concrete bulkheads and piping. However these solutions are far from permanent and either new technology or an examination of mining practices is necessary.
I think this is a very important issue that should be receiving a lot of attention. However, the abundance of other pressing problems in the US has led to a general ignorance to the problem. I wonder if there is a way to increase publicity on this issue without making the other issues seem less important.
I believe the people in charge of closing the mines should do a better job on making sure none of the toxins go into our watershed. I also believe people should aware of this situation and what they are drinking.
It’s pretty scary that there’s such widespread contamination because of improperly closed mines and it seems like this is no new problem and obviously not an isolated event- who faces the consequences for this contamination, if any? And how do the leftover metals damage ecosystems specifically?