Environment and Sustainability

This chapter draws attention to all topics related to the environment and sustainable development in the aggregate mining world. It provides a general overview of the environmental issues associated with the design, development, operation, and closure of aggregate operations. The description starts with some comments about mining, the environment, and sustainability, including the definition of sustainable development and the importance of an environmental management system using ISO 14001 standard. The most important potential environmental impacts and their management are discussed: air emission of particulate matter, increased noise levels, vibrations associated with blasting, water affection, biodiversity loss, and visually (negative visual aesthetic) disturbed landscapes.