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Major potential environmental effects that may occur during potash mining activities:
  • Mine Development Phase

    Exploration, assessment, planning and construction:

    • Land surface disturbance
    • Air emissions
    • Water contamination
    • Noise and vibration
  • Extraction Phase

    Overburden removal or ore body access and ore extraction:

    • Land surface disturbance
    • Water contamination
    • Water table lowering
    • Air emissions
    • Topsoil degradation
    • Vegetation and wildlife disruption
    • Noise and vibration
  • Ore Handling and Transport Phase

    Storage and reclamation:

    • Air emissions
    • Water contamination
    • Noise
  • Benification (Refining) Phase

    Size reduction (crushing, grinding, screens, cyclones); separation, concentration and contaminant removal; drying, compaction, granulation, etc.:

    • Waste generation
    • Water consumption
    • Water contamination
    • Air emissions, including CO2
    • Noise and vibration
  • Waste Disposal Phase

    Wastes to surface, storage impoundments and piles, underground backfilling, deep well injection, or release to the environment:

    • Land surface disturbance
    • Water contamination
    • Air emissions
    • Aesthetic changes
    • Waste
  • Closure Phase (Decommissioning)

    Removal of equipment and plant, shaft sealing, stabilization, and monitoring:

    • Long term stability issues
    • Safety issues
    • Future land use issues
    • Air emissions
    • Hazardous waste disposal
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