Arctic Mining: Environmental issues, mitigation and pollution control for marine and coastal mining
New publication by Anders Mosbech, Janne Fritt-Rasmussen, Kasper Lambert Johansen, Maureen Copley, Libby Chunyk, Filip Petrevic, Gwen Marty, David Blockley, Soile Nieminen, Siri Anne Haugland Strand, Kari Kjønigsen, Dennis Thurston
Abstract:
The idea for this project originated within the Arctic Council’s Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group, where a concern was raised about the disposal of tailings from onshore mining operations onto the seafloor. This led to a broader reflection on the impacts of mining operations on the marine environment. Many Arctic governments support the development of a mineral extraction industry, provided it operates in an environmentally responsible manner and considers socio-economic impacts to local communities. However, the environmental impact of existing and future mining operations is often debated. This report summarizes the results of the multi-year Existing Waste Management Practices and Pollution Control for Marine and Coastal Mining project, developed under the auspices of the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group.