NEWS ARCHIVE

HOT SPOT IN BATTLE OVER MINING - INTERIOR SECRETARY ROLLS BACK CLINTON-ERA PROTECTIONS ON FEDERAL LAND HELD SACRED BY INDIANS

Los Angeles Times - 31 October 2001 - This isolated and rocky section of desert in the Imperial Valley is suddenly center stage in a national political fight over the Bush administration's effort to make it easier for mining companies to operate on federal land. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MMSD PROJECT NEWS BULLETIN No. 17

MMSD 24 October 2001 - This issue is dedicated to giving the reader an update on the Project's participatory activities as well as its process of consultation. Visit http://www.iied.org/mmsd/Bulletin/latest_bulletin.html for the html version or download the PDF version (75 KB).

ANOTHER CYANIDE SPILLAGE DETECTED IN WESTERN REGION

myJoyOnline.com - 31 October 2001 - There has been yet another cyanide spillage at Satellite Goldfields near Akyempim in the Western Region. A statement issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the spillage affected a marshy area near Kubekro. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

WORLD TIN PRODUCERS TARGET ILLEGAL MINING

Planet Ark - 30 October 2001 - The world's top five producers of tin urged miners and independent smelters yesterday to refuse to buy ore suspected of coming from illegal mining operations. Further information can be obtained from the news

HARDROCK MINING RULE REVISIONS WEAKEN PROTECTIONS

Lycos News (ENS) - 29 October 2001 - The Bush administration is reversing several hardrock mining rules issued in the final days of the previous administration, which will make it easier for companies to mine gold, silver, copper and other minerals on federal property. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

FORTY-SIX OFFICIALS PUNISHED FOR TWO COAL MINE ACCIDENTS

EnviroLink Services - 29 October 2001 - A total of 46 officials found responsible for gas explosion accidents in two coal mines have been punished, sources with the state coal mine safety supervisionbureau said Friday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

BLM UNVEILS NEW MINING REGULATIONS

EnviroLink Services - 29 October 2001 - The Bureau of Land Management will not have the ability to veto mining projects for environmental reasons under new regulations to be published next week, the agency announced Thursday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES OFFER METALS ENVIRONMENTAL BOOST

Planet Ark - 29 October 2001 - Metals companies are investigating new cost-effective ways of processing ores that might also polish up the industry's tarnished environmental credentials. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINGO MAN KILLED IN MINE ROOF COLLAPSE

EnviroLink Services - 28 October 2001 - A Mingo County coal miner was killed Friday in a roof fall at an underground mine near the Boone-Lincoln county line, state and federal officials said. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT (EnTA) WORKSHOP REPORT HAS BECOME AVAILABLE from the MRF-Environment.

UNEP DTIE - 25 October 2001 - Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) Workshop Report (1.6 MB) (Manila, Republic of the Philippines, 22 - 25 February 2000) has become available from UNEP. Further information can be obtained from the EnTA Workshop Report site.

NEW MINING RULES REVERSE PROVISIONS

EnviroLink Services - 25 October 2001 - New hard rock mining regulations from the Interior Department will reverse some Clinton-era provisions but keep a requirement that mining operators post bonds to assure they will clean up after themselves, senior department officials said. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

UPDATE - US TO EASE HARD-ROCK MINING RULES - GREENGROUPS

Planet Ark - 25 October 2001 - The Bush administration is set to abandon Clinton-era environmental restrictions on mining for gold, silver, copper and other metals on federal lands, green groups said yesterday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

CYANIDE SPILL GHANA'S WORST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

Lycos News (ENS) - 24 October 2001 - Villages in the Wassa West District of Ghana's western region have been hit by the spillage of thousands of cubic metres of mine wastewater contaminated with cyanide and heavy metals. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINERS TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY - NORANDA CEO

Planet Ark - 24 - October 2001 - Mining companies need to work in tandem with governments and NGOs to produce a viable sustainable development model for the industry, David Kerr, president of Canadian miner Noranda, said this week. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

FEATURE - EASTERN EUROPE COUNTRIES BATTLE LEGACY OF THE PAST

Planet Ark - 24 - October 2001 - More than 10 years after the 1989 collapse of communism, the rusting remains of smelters and mines are a legacy eastern Europe is finding hard to get rid of. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS, BUSINESS DEBATE WHAT TO DO ABOUT CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT AND THE DAM HOLDING IT BACK

Environmental News Network (ENN) - 23 October 2001 - Behind a dam that's pushing a century in age and below a calm surface where locals canoe and fish for pike lies enough mud contaminated with toxic metals to cover an NFL stadium and some of its parking lot. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINING INDUSTRY BLACK GOLD

EnviroLink Services - 23 October 2001 - The mining industry in China is still an important sector of the national economy and its further development depends on solutions based around the following three key issues: developing mining in western China, making full use of overseas minerals resources while relying on domestic resources, and protecting mineral resources during exploration. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

FEATURE - MINING CLEANS UP, EMBRACES CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

Planet Ark - 23 October 2001 - In the 21st century, the toolbag has been transformed as mining companies investigate new ways to mine and process metal to tackle rising costs and flak from environmentalist groups. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

FEATURE - MINING WORLD SEEKS NATURAL REMEDY FOR TOXIC WASTE

Planet Ark - 23 October 2001 - Using materials such as bonemeal or seaweed, scientists hope natural waste will one day serve to combat dangerous mining waste that can cause serious illness in humans and kill plant and animal life. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

NORMANDY FINED $60,000 OVER BRONZEWING ACCIDENT

MiningNews.net - 22 October 2001 - Yandal Operations was fined $60,000 in the Perth Magistrate's Court on Friday after pleading guilty to failing to comply with its duty of care in relation to an accident at its Bronzewing mine last year. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

Related Sites:

• Normandy boss: Coroner's criticisms have merit (17 August 2001)

• Coroner critical of Normandy over Bronzewing deaths (02 August 2001)

• Bronzewing deaths an accident, coroner finds (31 July 2001)

OLYMPIC DAM OUTPUT MINIMALLY AFFECTED BY FIRE

MiningNews.net - 22 October 2001 - Copper and uranium production will continue at WMC's Olympic Dam mine in South Australia despite a weekend fire which destroyed the facility's SX area, according to ABC Radio. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

TRIBES SEEK TOUGH RECLAMATION PLANS

EnviroLink Services - 22 October 2001 - A final decision on how best to clean up damage done by the twin open-pit Zortman and Landusky gold mines in northcentral Montana is due out by December, but controversy still looms over reclamation plans. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

EPA TO EXPAND IDAHO SUPERFUND SITE

EnviroLink Services - 22 October 2001 - A proposal to dramatically expand a Superfund site here would bring more money to clean up the area, but opponents contend it would hurt efforts to build on a budding tourist economy. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

U.S. AGENCY SAYS WEST VIRGINIA MINE IGNORED WARNING SIGNS OF DAM FAILURE

EnviroLink Services - 19 October 2001 - A Massey Energy coal waste impoundment showed clear signs of failing at least a year before it spilled millions of gallons of slurry, according to a federal investigation report issued Wednesday. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

TRAPPED INDIAN MINERS 'RESCUED'

BBC News - 16 October 2001 - Rescue workers in the Indian state of West Bengal say they have pulled out five people from a collapsed coal mine in Asansol. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

COLORADO MINING COMPANY SETTLES LAWSUIT WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Environmental News Network (ENN) - 16 October 2001 - The federal government and the state of Colorado have reached a settlement with one of the mining contractors of the Summitville mine in southern Colorado, although the contractor has declared bankruptcy. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

UNEP - October 2001 - As a contribution to the preparation process for next year's World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, representatives of some fifty industry associations from different parts of the world met in Paris last week. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

NGO REJECTS OPENING FORESTS TO MINING, JAKARTA

EnviroLink Services - 12 October 2001 - A non-governmental environment group said on Thursday it would reject any plans to allow mining operations in protected forests. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDS INDIAN MINE COLLAPSE

BBC News - 12 October 2001 - Hundreds of people have gathered at the site of a collapsed mine in the Indian state of West Bengal after reports that 100 miners may be trapped inside. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

INDIAN MINERS TRAPPED BY COLLAPSE

BBC News - 11 October 2001 - More than 100 miners are feared trapped in an abandoned coal mine which has collapsed in the Indian state of West Bengal. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

FAILED COAL DAM TOO CLOSE TO MINE, STUDY SAYS

EnviroLink Services - 10 October 2001 - A Massey Energy coal dam that failed last year and spilled more than 300 million gallons of slurry was built far too close to underground mine workings, according to an engineering study. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

ANACONDA GETS ENVIRONMENTAL NOD TO EXPAND

Planet Ark - 09 October 2001 - Anaconda Nickel Ltd said yesterday it had received government environmental approvals to expand nickel mining and refining in the Australian outback. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

HUNGARY FACES SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

EnviroLink Services - 08 October 2001 - More than 1,000 local residents sued the former Metalloglobus battery disposal factory nearly 10 years ago, claiming it was responsible for tainting 200,000 square metres of nearby land with lead, copper and other heavy metals that leaked deep into the soil. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

NEW GREEN TARGETS MAY HIT UK ALUMINIUM RECYCLING

Planet Ark - 05 October 2001 - Britain is becoming a conscientious recycler of aluminium soft drinks and beer cans, but a new government strategy could shift the emphasis towards heavier waste materials. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINE SHAFT DISCOVERY AT SCHOOL

BBC News - 05 October 2001 - There was extensive mining in the school's area Children at a school in Cornwall have been moved from their classrooms as a mine shaft has opened up under their playground. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

WORKFORCE: ASSAULT ON PREVENTING COSTLY ACCIDENTS

EnviroLink Services - 04 October 2001 - Birmingham companies and the British Safety Council are launching an assault on some of the health risks that force 70 people to leave work every day in the UK. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINE SAFETY DIRECTOR PROMOTES HEIGHTENED SAFETY; MINE DEATH SHOW SHORT-TERM INCREASE

EnviroLink Services - 03 October 2001 - Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Dave D. Lauriski is asking mines to have their employees take a brief time-out, or "stand down for safety," in the wake of a recent upturn in mine accidents. Further information can be obtained from the news article.

MINE DISASTER THREATENS PUBLIC-RELATIONS MELTDOWN FOR TAMPA, FLA.-BASED FIRM

EnviroLink Services - 03 October 2001 - Now, the coal business has become a matter of crisis management for the Tampa company. A tragic accident last week at one of the mines, the deepest in the United States, killed 13 employees. Further information can be obtained from the news article.