Environmental impact of oil shale mining Environmental Earth Sciences August 2016, 75:1201 Vivika Väizene (1) Email author ([email protected])View author's OrcID profile (View OrcID profile) Ingo Valgma (1)  Veiko Karu (1)  Mall Orru (1)  1. Department of Mining, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia Original Article First Online: 25 August 2016 Received: 09 February 2016 Accepted: 09 August 2016 DOI (Digital Object Identifier): 10.1007/s12665­016­5996­4 Cite this article as: Väizene, V., Valgma, I., Karu, V. et al. Environ Earth Sci (2016) 75: 1201. doi:10.1007/s12665­016­5996­4 234 Downloads

Abstract Oil shale mining has impact on the environment. In Estonia, 100 years of oil shale mining history provides sufficient experience and acknowledgement for estimating environmental impact for the future. The mining depth is increasing, and mining activities are moving from surface to underground mines. Environmental impact of oil shale mining with and without backfilling for 20, 24 and 28 Mt/y production rate was evaluated for the future and compared with the past. Ground stability, landscape properties, mining waste management, usage of resources and mining losses, water management with water quality and depression cones, noise and dust were analysed on 7­point impact points scale. The aim of this study was to create criteria for estimating environmental impact of oil shale mining.

Keywords Oil shale  Mining technology  Environmental impact  Mining waste  Water  Landscape 

References Castilla­Gomez J, Herrera­Herbert J (2015) Environmental analysis of mining operations: dynamic tools for impact assessment. Miner Eng 76:87–96. doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2014.10.024 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2014.10.024) CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2014.10.024) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Environmental%20analysis%20of%20mining%20operations%3A%20dynamic% 20tools%20for%20impact%20assessment&author=J.%20Castilla­ Gomez&author=J.%20Herrera­ Herbert&journal=Miner%20Eng&volume=76&pages=87­ 96&publication_year=2015&doi=10.1016%2Fj.mineng.2014.10.024) Commission Directive 2009/90/EC. Laying down, pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, technical specifications for chemical analysis and monitoring of water status. Official Journal of the European Union. 1.8.2009 Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. On environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union. 24.12.2008 Erg K, Reinsalu E, Valgma I (2003) Geotechnical processes and soil­water movement with transport of pollutants in the estonian oil shale mining area. In: Proceedings of the 4th international scientific and practical conference on environment. Technology. Resources: 4th international scientific and practical conference on environment. Technology. Resources. 26–28, June 2003, Rezekene, 2003, pp 79–84 Estonian National Topographic Database. Estonian Land Board, 2007 Estonian Standard EVS­ISO 1996­1:2006 Acoustics. Description, measurement and assessment of environmental noise. Part 1: Basic quantities and assessment procedures. Estonian Centre for Standardisation Guidelines for Noise Control in Mines Quarries and Tunnels. MinEx Guideline—Noise, 2010. MinEx Health and Safety Council Karu V, Västrik A, Anepaio A, Väizene V, Adamson A, Valgma I (2008) Future of oil shale mining technology in Estonia. Oil Shale 25(2S):125–134 CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2008.2S.04) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Future%20of%20oil%20shale%20mining%20technology%20in%20Estonia&aut hor=V.%20Karu&author=A.%20V%C3%A4strik&author=A.%20Anepaio&author=V. %20V%C3%A4izene&author=A.%20Adamson&author=I.%20Valgma&journal=Oil% 20Shale&volume=25&issue=2S&pages=125­134&publication_year=2008) Karu V, Valgma I, Kolats M (2013) Mine water as a potential source of energy from underground mined areas in Estonian oil shale deposit. Oil Shale 30(2S):336–362 CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2013.2S.12)

Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Mine%20water%20as%20a%20potential%20source%20of%20energy%20from% 20underground%20mined%20areas%20in%20Estonian%20oil%20shale%20deposit& author=V.%20Karu&author=I.%20Valgma&author=M.%20Kolats&journal=Oil%20S hale&volume=30&issue=2S&pages=336­362&publication_year=2013) Kissell FN (2003) Handbook for dust control in mining, 2003 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA, p 131 Liblik V, Kundel H (1995) State of atmospheric air in Ida­Viru county: review of pollution sources, changes in emission volumes and air quality in 1991–1995. Institute of Ecology, Jõhvi Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=State%20of%20atmospheric%20air%20in%20Ida­ Viru%20county%3A%20review%20of%20pollution%20sources%2C%20changes%20i n%20emission%20volumes%20and%20air%20quality%20in%201991%E2%80%9319 95&author=V.%20Liblik&author=H.%20Kundel&publication_year=1995) Marnika E, Christodoulou E, Xenidis A (2015) Sustainable development indicators for mining sites in protected areas: tool development, ranking and scoring of potential environmental impacts and assessment of management scenarios. J Clean Prod 101:59–70. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.03.098 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.03.098) CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.03.098) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Sustainable%20development%20indicators%20for%20mining%20sites%20in% 20protected%20areas%3A%20tool%20development%2C%20ranking%20and%20scori ng%20of%20potential%20environmental%20impacts%20and%20assessment%20of %20management%20scenarios&author=E.%20Marnika&author=E.%20Christodoulo u&author=A.%20Xenidis&journal=J%20Clean%20Prod&volume=101&pages=59­ 70&publication_year=2015&doi=10.1016%2Fj.jclepro.2015.03.098) Orru M, Milvek H, Anepaio A, Vendla S, Valgma I (2013) Possibilities of mitigating negative effects of noise and dust caused by extraction of sand, gravel and peat. In: Aqioutantis Z (ed) Proceedings of the 6th international conference on Sustainable Development in Mineral Industry (SDIMI 2013) (577–580). Heliotopos, Milos Island, Greece Orru M, Väizene V, Pastarus JR, Sõstra Y, Valgma I (2013b) Possibilities of oil shale mining under the Selisoo mire of the Estonia oil shale deposit. Environ Earth Sci 70:3311–3321. doi:10.1007/s12665­013­2396­x  (http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12665­ 013­2396­x) CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12665­013­2396­x) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Possibilities%20of%20oil%20shale%20mining%20under%20the%20Selisoo%20 mire%20of%20the%20Estonia%20oil%20shale%20deposit&author=M.%20Orru&aut hor=V.%20V%C3%A4izene&author=JR.%20Pastarus&author=Y.%20S%C3%B5stra& author=I.%20Valgma&journal=Environ%20Earth%20Sci&volume=70&pages=3311­ 3321&publication_year=2013&doi=10.1007%2Fs12665­013­2396­x) Reinsalu E, Valgma I (2003) Geotechnical processes in closed oil shale mines. Oil Shale 20(3):398–403 Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Geotechnical%20processes%20in%20closed%20oil%20shale%20mines&author

=E.%20Reinsalu&author=I.%20Valgma&journal=Oil%20Shale&volume=20&issue=3 &pages=398­403&publication_year=2003) Rikhtegar N, Mansouri N, Oroumieh AA, Yazdani­Chamzini A, Zavadskas EK, Kildiene S (2014) Environmental impact assessment based on group decision­making methods in mining projects. Econ Res 27(1):378–392. doi:10.1080/1331677X.2014.966971 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2014.966971) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Environmental%20impact%20assessment%20based%20on%20group%20decisi on­ making%20methods%20in%20mining%20projects&author=N.%20Rikhtegar&author =N.%20Mansouri&author=AA.%20Oroumieh&author=A.%20Yazdani­ Chamzini&author=EK.%20Zavadskas&author=S.%20Kildiene&journal=Econ%20Res &volume=27&issue=1&pages=378­ 392&publication_year=2014&doi=10.1080%2F1331677X.2014.966971) Robam K, Valgma I, Iskül R (2011) Influence of water discharging on water balance and quality in the Toolse river in Ubja oil shale mining region. Oil Shale 28(3):447– 463 CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2011.3.07) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Influence%20of%20water%20discharging%20on%20water%20balance%20and %20quality%20in%20the%20Toolse%20river%20in%20Ubja%20oil%20shale%20min ing%20region&author=K.%20Robam&author=I.%20Valgma&author=R.%20Isk%C3 %BCl&journal=Oil%20Shale&volume=28&issue=3&pages=447­ 463&publication_year=2011) Sokman K, Kattai V, Vaher R, Systra Y (2008) Influence of tectonic dislocations on oil shale mining in the Estonian deposit. Oil Shale 25(2S):175–187 CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2008.2S.09) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Influence%20of%20tectonic%20dislocations%20on%20oil%20shale%20mining %20in%20the%20Estonian%20deposit&author=K.%20Sokman&author=V.%20Katta i&author=R.%20Vaher&author=Y.%20Systra&journal=Oil%20Shale&volume=25&iss ue=2S&pages=175­187&publication_year=2008) Toomik A, Tomberg T (1997) Blast vibrations in oil shale surface mining. Oil Shale 2:155–162 Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Blast%20vibrations%20in%20oil%20shale%20surface%20mining&author=A.% 20Toomik&author=T.%20Tomberg&journal=Oil%20Shale&volume=2&pages=155­ 162&publication_year=1997) Väizene V, Valgma I, Iskül R, Kolats M, Nurme M, Karu V (2013) High selective oil shale mining. Oil Shale 30(2S):305–325. doi:10.3176/oil.2013.2S.10 (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2013.2S.10) CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2013.2S.10) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=High%20selective%20oil%20shale%20mining&author=V.%20V%C3%A4izene& author=I.%20Valgma&author=R.%20Isk%C3%BCl&author=M.%20Kolats&author= M.%20Nurme&author=V.%20Karu&journal=Oil%20Shale&volume=30&issue=2S&pa ges=305­325&publication_year=2013&doi=10.3176%2Foil.2013.2S.10) Väizene V, Valgma I, Reinsalu E, Pastarus JR, Kaisla E (2015) Interdependence between point load index, compressive strength and crushing resistance of Jordan oil

shale and relation to calorific value. Oil Shale 32(2):252–268. doi:10.3176/oil.2015.3.05  (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2015.3.05) CrossRef  (http://dx.doi.org/10.3176/oil.2015.3.05) Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Interdependence%20between%20point%20load%20index%2C%20compressive %20strength%20and%20crushing%20resistance%20of%20Jordan%20oil%20shale%2 0and%20relation%20to%20calorific%20value&author=V.%20V%C3%A4izene&autho r=I.%20Valgma&author=E.%20Reinsalu&author=JR.%20Pastarus&author=E.%20K aisla&journal=Oil%20Shale&volume=32&issue=2&pages=252­ 268&publication_year=2015&doi=10.3176%2Foil.2015.3.05) Valgma I (2000) Post­stripping processes and the landscape of mined areas in Estonian oil shale open casts. Oil Shale 17(2):201–212 Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Post­ stripping%20processes%20and%20the%20landscape%20of%20mined%20areas%20i n%20Estonian%20oil%20shale%20open%20casts&author=I.%20Valgma&journal=O il%20Shale&volume=17&issue=2&pages=201­212&publication_year=2000) Valgma I, Torn H, Erg K (2006) The impact of infiltration dam on the groundwater regime in the Kurtna landscape reserve area. Oil Shale 23(1):3–14 Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=The%20impact%20of%20infiltration%20dam%20on%20the%20groundwater% 20regime%20in%20the%20Kurtna%20landscape%20reserve%20area&author=I.%20 Valgma&author=H.%20Torn&author=K.%20Erg&journal=Oil%20Shale&volume=23 &issue=1&pages=3­14&publication_year=2006) Valgma I, Kolats M, Anepaio A, Väizene V, Saarnak M, Pastarus JR (2013) Backfilling technologies for Estonian oil shale mines. Agioutantis Z (ed) Proceedings of the 6th international conference on Sustainable Development in the Minerals Industry (SDIMI 2013) (374–378). Heliotopos, Milos island, Greece Valgma I, Väizene V, Kolats M, Saarnak M (2013b) Technologies for decreasing mining losses. Environ Clim Technol 11(1):41–47 Google Scholar  (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup? title=Technologies%20for%20decreasing%20mining%20losses&author=I.%20Valgm a&author=V.%20V%C3%A4izene&author=M.%20Kolats&author=M.%20Saarnak&jo urnal=Environ%20Clim%20Technol&volume=11&issue=1&pages=41­ 47&publication_year=2013)

Copyright information © Springer­Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016

About this article Publisher Name Springer Berlin Heidelberg Print ISSN 1866­6280 Online ISSN 1866­6299 About this journal Reprints and Permissions

Personalised recommendations

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG. Part of Springer Nature. Not logged in Not affiliated 90.191.124.226