While we were destroying the greatest run of salmon on earth, we were also beginning a frenzied search for precious metals. That search left great scars on the land, turned streambeds inside out, and polluted waterways that are still a mess today. In fairness, I doubt the scientists of the day even pretended to know what to expect from large-scale mining. By the mid-20th century we knew better, though, and began implementing controls on older, existing methods. Unfortunately, those controls didn't help us deal with new technology.
Heap-leach mines use a cyanide or sulfuric acid solution to extract gold, copper and nickel from crushed ore. The pregnant solution then drifts down to an impermeable layer where it is collected so the metals can be removed. The scientists, planners and mine owners knew the layer was impermeable … until it wasn't. They knew there was no risk … until there was. Unfortunately, leaks weren't typically discovered until the nearby groundwater was poisoned.
Nowadays, with increased environmental awareness and media coverage, it is more difficult for corporations to damage the environment, but only slightly. Because even if they can't prove their activity is benign, corporations can still say, “If you don't like what I'm doing, prove it's harmful. Until you can provide incontrovertible proof, I'm going to continue, because, based on our best available science, I'm doing no harm. And you're just an hysterical homeowner, environmentalist, troublemaker.”
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20130110/COLUMNS/130109809/1078&ParentProfile=1055
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