Abandoned Mines in the Western United States
See a list of abandoned mines by state.
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.
Acid Mine Drainage
Acid mine drainage is one of mining’s most serious threats to water. A mine draining acid can devastate rivers, streams, and aquatic life for hundreds, and under the “right” conditions, thousands of years.
Acidizing
Acidizing is used in aging wells that are in the final stages of production. It primarily uses hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids, which companies have been increasingly using higher concentrations of, putting communities at risk.
Air Pollutants
Both oil and gas well sites and processing and transmission infrastructure emit pollutants into the atmosphere from different equipment and …
Alternatives to Pipelines
Since pipeline development has lagged behind the shale and tar sands oil production booms, industry has increasingly turned to trains, trucks and barges to transport oil to refineries and markets.
Alternatives to Pits
More environmentally friendly alternatives to using pits include closed containment systems (tanks) and closed-loop drilling systems.