Digging Gold

Digging Gold

1. Using the classification system presented in the chapter section, "Major areas of Environmental Regulation" what type of pollution is generated by the Gold mining? Which, and why of these do you think is (are) most damaging to the environment and why?

Answer: Major areas of environmental regulation acts are:

 Clean Air Act

 Clean Water Act

 Safe Drinking Water Act

 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act

 Oil Pollution Act

 Pollution Prevention Act

 Toxic Substances Control Act

 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Roadenticide Act

Pollutions generated by gold mining are as follows:

Deforestation: Mining operations require the clearing of an area around the mine for extraction operations in addition to the space required for the mine itself.

Water Contamination: Gold are removed from the earth and crushed. Then miners commence gold extraction processes. Substances are added to the ore that react with gold but not with surrounding rocks.

Air Pollution: Air pollution is created from several processes associated with gold mining. Open air mining, sometimes called open pit mining, involves digging in vertical levels to prevent danger from falling rocks. Haul roads are placed near the mines to collect waste and ore.

Soil Pollution: Because a small amount of gold is extracted from large areas of land, large piles of toxic tailings and waste are the result of gold mines. These piles can cause heavy metals and other toxins to penetrate the soil, preventing plant life or creating high levels of toxins in plants

2. Using the classification system presented in the chapter section" Alternative policy approaches" what type of government regulation do you think would most effectively address the concerns you have identified?

Answer: Alternative policy approaches the government to take more initiative to make rigid decision to stop the contamination .For the mining companies' government should put more tax and some other new rules and regulations. Every individual also take responsibility to make our environment improved.

3. In your view what role should nongovernment (NGOs) and citizen movements play in reducing the adverse environmental impacts of gold mining?

Answer: There are rules