ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF COAL-MINE CLOSURE

The recent announcement by the British Government to close 31 of 50 of the nation's pits provoked an outcry from the People of Britain. The government quickly took heed of public opinion and announced a review of their plans. This 'stay of execution' has allowed time for the furt her-reaching effects of pit closure to be examined. The water which ma y discharge from an abandoned mine, as a consequence of groundwater re bound, is commonly acidic and may contain high concentrations of disso lved minerals and metals. This water can cause gross pollution of the receiving watercourse. Working mines, discharging water to maintain sa fe mining operations, must adhere to strict environmental legislation. However, at present, it is not clear if there is any applicable legis lation, or if responsibility can be apportioned to a discharge of wate r from an abandoned mine. With the proposed pit closures there is, jus tifiably, great concern over the potential environmental effects. It i s difficult to predict where, when and the toxicity of an uncontrolled mine discharge. Where uncontrolled discharges have occurred from aban doned mines and flowed into nearby streams the effects, nearly without exception, have been to severely diminish the amenity of the receivin g watercourse.