What is Mining?
• EPA has jurisdiction to regulate solid wastes from mining activities in the United States under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). However, the current program focuses primarily on hardrock mining (i.e. mining of metallic ores and phosphate rock) • There are approximately 1200 active extraction and beneficiation hardrock mining sites operating in the United States at this time • Mining practices have changed dramatically over the last 20 years (e.g., cyanide “heap leaching” of gold has become widespread), creating new environmental and human health challenges and leading to a resurgence of mining activities in many areas of the country. • Copper and gold mines comprise 80% of the facilities in the United States. Nevada is the most active with approximately 150 gold mines. • In a general sense, Extraction is the initial removal of ore from the earth. • In a general sense, Beneficiation is the initial attempt at liberating and concentrating the valuable mineral from the
