Strip Mining Is It Dangerous?

Strip mining, or rather surface mining, is a process where the vegetation, dirt, and sometimes bedrock are removed from the surface of the earth in order to mine materials lying close to the surface. Strip mining is generally used to remove tar sand or coal from the ground.

There are two forms of strip mining, area stripping and contour stripping. Area strip mining is usually done in areas that are fairly flat and can be worked on fairly quickly. Contour strip mining is when areas need to be dug out around the contour of something such as a mountain. In contour strip mining, care has to be taken to avoid collapse and injury. Both types of strip mining begin by removal of trees, shrubs, and structures that may be in the area being mined. This is generally accomplished by the use of heavy-duty bulldozers.

Strip mining comes at a very high cost, though. During strip mining precious top soil is removed and discarded. Even when the area mined is smoothed over and some of the top soil is replaced, the area that has been disturbed may take many, many years to develop regrowth of vegetation due to precious minerals and nutrients in the soil as well as the disruption of the earth in the area.

There are also serious environmental concerns pertaining to strip mining. Water contamination during strip mining is an issue due to the toxic materials mixed with the soil which then seeps into the water supply. Another concern for the environment during strip mining is the contamination of the air quality in the area. When vegetation is removed from the surface the ground becomes exposed to the elements, which causes airborne particles of toxins such as arsenic and lead. These toxins are harmless when in the ground, but once they become airborne they can cause respiratory issues or other health issues when inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

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The Environmental Impact of the Grasberg Mine

The largest gold mine in the world is the Grasberg mine in Indonesia. The Grasberg mine is also the highest open pit mine and the largest copper mine in the world. The area where mining, production activities, and exploration take place covers approximately a 24,700-acre area. An additional 500,000-acre area is also explored for the mining operation.

Mining in general is hazardous to the environment, but the vast size of this mine and the location has had some serious negative effects on the environment in Indonesia. The mine is located in an area that used to be a small equatorial mountain glacier. Due to the mining in this area, slopes have been steepened and there have been earthquakes and heavy rainfall, which have caused deadly landslides in the open pit mines.

Local citizens as well as environmental groups have concerns over the contamination of the groundwater as well as surrounding river systems and land. The concentrator’s tailings (the material left over after the process of separating the valuable fraction from the worthless fraction of ore) are being directly dumped into the Aikwa River and the Arafura Sea. This has led to the river being saturated with copper, sludge, and the fish are quickly disappearing. The runoff from the overburden from the mine, which includes acidic components, copper, and other materials, continues to contaminate the water as well by washing into the Wanagon River and settling along the river and then into the ocean.

Open pit mines, such as the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, are changing the environment as well by removing mountaintops and changing landscapes. Besides the impact that the contaminants reaching the water supplies have caused, there are additional issues related to the environmental impact of forest removal, landscape changes, loss of topsoil, and overburden being dumped into valleys. This issue does not only affect the local population in Indonesia. Rather, its environmental impact is quickly becoming a world-wide problem.

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Accessing Natural Resources While Preserving the Land in Indonesia

Indonesia is full of untapped resources, ready for mining companies to come in and profit from them. The government feels that everyone can benefit, from the businesses to the locals that reside in the areas. However, the country has an eye towards preserving its rich forest heritage while moving forward at the same time.

Forestry Minister Hasan has stated that certain sections of the country are rich in minerals, but will exercise caution when it comes to exploiting them. Laws are in place to prevent mining from destroying the forests while still allowing a specific amount of land to be accessed. However, there will be no open mining allowed in the protected areas. As long as the companies operate within the law, they will not be hindered by the government.

The country is looking to use a multi-pronged approach to the mining of resources. One is to preserve and protect forests, another is to manage the mining itself to allow for companies to profit, and one is to offer opportunities to the local residents. It’s all about balancing everyone’s desires. Mining companies want access to rich deposits, but they’re in forest preserves. Residents want to harvest trees for income, but again, the wood is in protected areas.

A solution is offered in the form of limited access. A mining company can gain access to 20 hectares of land in a specified area, and the locals can obtain a license to harvest lumber. Everyone wins under this mandate. Local economies develop, allowing them to expand and find other means of income, such as employment with mining companies. The mining companies can hire locals with their knowledge of the area to better exploit what they’re able to, thus increasing profits. And the forests and local climate benefit by not being stripped down to the earth.

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Taking Advantage of Geothermal Energy in Indonesia

Geothermal energy
Image by Peter Nijenhuis via Flickr

Natural resources continue to be the world’s primary source of supplying energy and Indonesia is on the cusp of exploiting theirs. Natural gas, coal and geothermal are its major resources with the government looking at geothermal for producing a large amount of power. However, going this route for industrial purposes requires a hefty investment.

Geothermal is quickly becoming the next darling of the renewable resources crowd. It provides power without having to tap into some form of fossil fuel or natural gas. While it does come with its own issues, it’s inevitable that a new energy resource is going to have hiccups until it’s as commonplace as burning coal.

It works by drilling wells in order to reach thermal springs that are deep underground. The hot water or steam that rises can be used to power generator turbines in the power plant. And when a well is not available, other options exist. Again, wells are drilled, only instead of water, it’s reaching rock. Water can be poured onto the hot rock which will turn into steam. The steam will then, once again, turn the turbines and generate electricity.

Indonesia estimates their geothermal reserves to be a minimum of 27,000 megawatts spread across 265 separate locations in the country. This is a substantial amount of energy that’s waiting to be tapped, and one that can greatly reduce reliance on other forms of energy such as fossil fuels.

So far the Energy agency estimates that 5000 megawatts of power fueled by geothermal energy will be online by 2014. Further construction of plants is currently restricted by lack of funds. The country is looking for international investment to assist with its goals. Taking into consideration that Indonesia is poised to see solid growth in the years to come, energy investment should be something to consider.

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Lowering the Carbon Footprint of Nike Shoes

The world’s largest seller of athletic footwear and apparel is Nike, employing over 33,000 people globally and selling products in more than 180 countries worldwide. Nike’s revenues of $19.2 billion were reported for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2009. A company of that size and influence must undoubtedly measure their climate and energy footprint across all operations, from design and manufacturing to delivery and travel.

Though the transport of products from Asian factories to retail stores make be an obvious focus for environmental impact, Nike has stated that its largest energy impact is found in their materials. According to Nike research, a typical running shoe possesses 59% of energy in its material; 22% of energy is used during the manufacturing process, and just 10% of the energy footprint is associated with shipping. Subsequently, Nike averages that a pair of running shoes has a CO2 footprint of roughly 40 pounds. Using this information, Nike has focused its efforts on finding materials with a lower footprint.

In order to research and implement energy-saving practices, Nike has partnered with other large corporations as founders of Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP). The collaboration pushes for U.S. energy and climate legislation and agrees on principles such as short-term and long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals, stimulating green jobs, and adopting a renewable energy standard. BICEP also aims to assist developing countries in reducing carbon emissions, limit the construction of new coal plants that capture and store CO2, and energy efficiency opportunities. Boosting investments in renewable energy and creating a cap-and-trade system with 100% auction of carbon allowances are other guiding principles that BICEP possesses.

From product creation to manufacturing to delivery, from retail stores and to work locations–Nike’s climate strategy’s mission is to reduce its consumers’ and businesses’ energy footprints so that both may thrive in a future low-carbon economy.

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