Impacts of Dirty Gold on Communities
In the air, under the ground, across communities, gold mining is a pervasive threat to communities.
Issues
The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance
IRMA is a multi-sector initiative that offers independent, third-party auditing and transparency at mine sites using its 400+ page standard.
Impact of Metal Mining on Air Quality
Every stage of the mining process, including the ore extraction, generation of solid waste, and ore refining and processing, creates air pollution that has environmental and public health impacts.
Environmental Impacts of Gold Mining
Gold mining can contaminate drinking water and destroy pristine environments, endangering the health of people and ecosystems.
Protecting Communities from Tailings Disasters
Industrial-scale mine waste storage dams are collapsing more frequently and more severely, literally killing communities and ecosystems.
Air Pollutants
Both oil and gas well sites and processing and transmission infrastructure emit pollutants into the atmosphere from different equipment and …
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted a new rule in 2016, the oil and gas industry was allowed to dispose of wastewater at municipal wastewater treatment plants. But because municipal plants aren’t capable of handling toxic and radioactive substances, wastewater can contaminate rivers and streams when it is discharged after treatment.
