Bingham Canyon Mine - Enviromental imapcts of a major mineal extraction scheme and accosiated distribution networks

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

• The Bingham Canyon mine is an open pit, copper, gold, silver and molybdenum mine located 28 miles southwest of Salt Lake City Utah.
  -. It is considered the largest open pit mine in North America, covering roughly 27,000 acres of land. Approximately 6 billion tons of rock have been removed from the pit, which is 3/4 mile deep and 2 3/4 miles across.
• The TNC is Rio Tino and they operate through a subsidary Kennecott copper corp.

Question 2

Damage to fish and wildlife

Answer 2

• Located in great proximity to Great Salt Lake one of the western hemispheres most significant bird habitats, In February 2008, the United States
  Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service took legal action against Kennecott for the release
  of hazardous substances from the mine’s facilities, including selenium, copper, arsenic, lead, zinc
  and cadmium.
• At least 1/4 of delenium flowing into the lake comes from the mine and the release of such pollutants has harmed natural resources, furthermore ground water pollution released from the site has damaged fish.

Question 3

South Zone groundwater contamination plume

Answer 3

• Over its years mining has caused extensive groundwater pollution, wastewater from the mine has escaped the mines collection system and contaiminated ground water with metals, acids and sulfates.
• The plume covers more than 72 square miles.

Question 4

North Zone groundwater contamination plume

Answer 4

• Toxic waste was released from the mine’s refinery and smelter facilities into the groundwater,
  creating plumes of contaminated water containing high concentrations of selenium and arsenic.
• Selenium is particularly toxic to birds, fish and amphibians.

Question 5

Transportation and distribution links

Answer 5

Building of infrastructure – impacts on bird habitats
Lorries and CO2 emissions – global impact

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

Envriomental imapcts of extraction can be mitigated and managed

Restoration and rehabilitation plans – replanting and reintegration of species
Use of limestone filters to neutralize acid waters from mines. This can also immobilize some toxic metals
Proposal for a Green Trade Alliance between producers and importers, enforcing protectionist trade to encourage non-GTA countries to comply with environmental standards