Law Commons^™

Preventing Perpetuity: Ensuring Clean Mine Closure Without Water Treatment Into Infinity, Nicholas Clabbers

Nicholas Clabbers

Mine closure is a pressing environmental problem. Done improperly, mine closure can leave behind an ugly legacy of water and soil pollution from heavy metals and mining byproducts. Many scientific studies that attempt to quantify and explain the impacts of mine closure, both the formal legal and policy analysis, are sparse, especially with regards to proposed solutions. This article fills that gap – it provides an overview of the legal barriers to clean mine closure, a survey of existing law, and a thorough analysis of a possible framework for improved mine remediation. It advances practical solutions and works through the …