An impact evaluation of the pollutive effect of mine waters from two abandoned mining sites in the Suceava County, Romania

Abstract

The communist mining industry has been one of the main pillars of Romania’s state economy. The problems resulted from what was at the time a highly unsustainable state program constitutes the main motivation to investigate the possible consequences of Romania’s economic past. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that without serious measures, pollution continues to persist in abandoned mining areas. In order to achieve this, the quality of the environment around two mining sites with similar characteristics has been evaluated. The difference between the two sites consists of a mine water treatment plant at the Mestecăniș unit, as opposed to the mine water being directly discharged into the main stem watercourse in Isipoaia—the Isipoaia Creek. In evaluating the impact, data from the Environmental Protection Agency, SC CARTEL BAU SA Cluj Napoca, S.C. CONVERSMIN SA, was used. Two impact evaluation methods were used: a quantitative method by calculating the global pollution index (GPI) and a qualitative method with the help of the Leopold matrix, adapted to the specificities of the mining activity. This comparative impact assessment is the first of its kind for the mining area and emphasizes the urgent need for a re-evaluation of the other 39 similar mining perimeters by prioritizing and speeding up the ecological rehabilitation measures. This raises the question of what solutions are best fitted to capitalize on and to further utilize the slurry resulted from the treatment of mine waters performed for the closing of the life cycle of the mining product.