Search

Mining has been one of the main drivers of the economy in the Suceava County. However, both during and after the cessation of mining activities, in addition to incorrect or incomplete closure procedures, pollution events have been recorded, as mine waters continue to be discharged into the dense hydrographic network around the Bistrița River. The Bistrița River, the most important watercourse along the mining perimeters analysed, collects all the waters that cross the contaminated sites and carry along pollutants that not only affect the water quality, but also the aquatic ecosystems and, indirectly, human health. The present paper sets out to analyse the influence of the polluted waters carried by the Puciosu, Crucea, Isipoaia and Neagra Șarului creeks based on a quantitative evaluation of specific indicators and a qualitative risk evaluation matrix.

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a useful tool in decision-making for most businesses that opt for sustainability and offers the possibility to compare different products, processes, and value chain scenarios, both real and hypothetical. Coupled with S-ROI (Sustainable Return on Investment), the LCA has a great potential in using available data for existing mining sites in the North-East Region of Romania to assess the economic, social and environmental benefits of certain sustainability measures on a local and regional level. The article will explore this approach of combining the two methodologies: LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and S-ROI (Sustainable Return on Investment), with necessary adjustments according to the characteristics of the local mining activities, to show key investment areas that can improve the value chain of copper exploitation and preparation in the mining perimeter Mănăila. The case of the copper mine in Mănăila offers a great opportunity to apply the current LICYMIN (Life Cycle of Mining) research and to use available Ecoinvent data for the copper ore by comparing the current value chain scenario with a proposed scenario that includes a different location for a mining ore preparation unit, closer to the quarry. The results will give an insight into the potential social and economic impact (the measure can translate into a higher local employment rate, better social stability, lower transportation costs, etc.) as well as the environmental impact (reduction of GHG emission, pollution, and energy efficiency) of the suggested changes.

The social, economic and environmental effects of the mining activities on the surrounding human communities, specifically after the cessation of such profile units without undertaking the necessary safety and greening measures, are rarely analysed in our country.

In Romania there is a legislation that regulates different aspects of the protection and administration of natural areas- from the way they are being established to the way permissible activities in and around these areas are being regulated. Nevertheless, based on studies released by different interested forums, the core issue has been identified to be the poor informing of the population concerning the importance of protecting the biodiversity and its role in ensuring a support system of life and in developing socio-economical systems.