A PROBLEM IN LAND-USE PLANNING ABOUT THE STRIP MINING AND Term Paper

A PROBLEM IN LAND-USE PLANNING ABOUT THE STRIP MINING AND POWER-RELATED USE OF LIGNITE - Term Paper Example With the potential of generating acidic waters, because of exposure to oxidizing atmospheric conditions, it is therefore understandable on the part of environmentalists being cautious. In addition, is the ever-present nature of human health impacts and effects; especially based on their sources of drinking water. It is generally pre-supposed that aquifers and other water systems are inter-connected. Hence, in the case of such mining activities, there is a potential of such delicate systems being polluted. Drinking water (for human consumption as well as animal feeding) would be impacted upon. In addition would be the greater negative effect on the pre-present bio-diversity; affecting negatively on the existing flora and fauna. Air pollution would also be present, especially from the dust spewed and waste materials exposed in such mining processes. Fundamentally so is the fact that while reclamation is possible, it is the long-duration of time that is of concern; further worsened by t he fact that such land is never as fertile and productive as before the mining process itself. Great reasoning is essential before making such a decision that is likely to influence a greater population, as well as surrounding environmental eco-systems. Lignite, as a mineral resource, is also referred to as brown coal, a soft brown sedimentary rock which being combustible, is naturally formed from peat, which has undergone gradual compression. While considered the lowest in rank amongst the fossil fuel types because of its somewhat low heat content, it continues to enjoy considerable attention given the various regional areas in which it is mined. Mined in Europe and North America, as well as Australia and India, as Ghassemi (2001) portrays, lignite is exclusively utilized as a fossil fuel especially in various steam-electric power