Scholarly record
MANAGEMENT OF LEACH RESIDUES AND METALLIC WASTE EMISSIONS FROM TREPCA IN MITROVICA, KOSOVO
Abstract
According to an multidisciplinary approach based on survey, analysis and labor work, this study work attempts to tease out some valuable lessons, strategies and guidelines which should be connected to environmental management in Kosovo, a new born state with no effective environmental management in the past. The study focuses on the environmental impact that a huge dormant lead and zinc mining facility, named Trepca causes. The fact that Kosovo is very rich with sulphide minerals shows the potential for mine water pollution of the environment, especially with heavy metals. Mining areas are significantly degraded and contaminated. The pollution is the combined result of mining and natural leaching from ore bodies, and has a negative effect on health and the quality of life of local residents. The most difficult situation is in the vicinity of the Trepca mines, where most of the pollution is caused by ore processing plants and release of wastewater from flotation plants into nearby rivers and/or tailing lakes with inadequately constructed protection dams. The investigations have thus focused on to determine the extent of the heavy metal pollution of the nearby areas as well river and found that the mining waste is still a very significant source of heavy metal pollution to the river, where the levels of in particular lead and cadmium were found to many times higher than WHO standards. Based on the results of this it is argued that the heavy metal contamination of the area presents a significant health risk to the local population who lives there. The work analyses several possible solutions for better environmental management of Trepca and mining in general in the future. The work study also compare the situation in past with existing one and propose solution for future. Through a comparison of similar cases in other transition countries experiences it is argued that most important think is to focus on economical development issues such as economic growth, but always having in mind that has not to be at the expense of the environment. Bearing in mind the present situation Kosovo and the scope and complexity of steps needed to clean up the polluted areas and remediate the degraded land and having in mind that there is a lack of knowledge on advanced methods for mine waste treatment the research studies are crucial. Explicitly it means that if a clean up of Trepca is prioritized, despite its large financial costs, it is possible that it will present some win-win situations where both environmental objectives and economic objectives are fulfilled.
Publication details
References22
Adams,W.2001. Green Development Envi World. London: Routledge.
Baker, S. 2002 “Environmental politics and (eds.) Environmental Problems of East Central
1.3 Phase 1 report, Regional Environm
Baumgartl, B.
1997. Transition and Sustain European Environmental Policies. London. Klu
Beardsley, E. 2002 “Ministry aims for the b
Carter, W. 1993a. “Czechoslovakia” in Ca Problems in Eastern Europe. London: Routledg
Giller K.E. Witter E, McGrath S.P. Toxicity microbial processes in agricultural soils.
HDR, Kosovo 2002 Human Development R
Kelly JJ, Haggblom M, Tate RL. Changes resulting from one time applications of zinc. So
King, I. 2002 “ Developing north Mitrovic
2003) Kosovo State of The Environ Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning
Trepca Mines Complex, Mitrovica, Territo
Statistical Office of Kosovo 2003 “Kosovo
UNDP 2001 “Kosovo common assessment
Water frame directive: Directive 2000/60/E
World Bank 1999, ”Economic reform and Economies”. World Bank Technical Paper no. hat there is therefore a contamination of the ber River. This, on top of the other polluting rganic waste) makes it a very polluted river. It living in the area. Especially if they consume drinking purposes. Trans boundary pollution m an environmental point of view and from a on to be taken in order to curb this pollution se to the river are a constant source of heavy cease unless proactive action is taken. oject one way of solving this environmental it has also been discussed that it is extremely with the tailing problem constitutes a problem funds available to them. Furthermore, the y with great funds available to them either, t also use EU legislation as a way to improve rs in Kosovo. EU legislation in the form of the a tool for managing mining activity in Kosovo and enforced properly is likely to prevent pa site from occurring in the future. Yet these rds are not easy to implement from one day to inistration and monitoring program in place in red goals. And to ensure approach to the EU Environment and sustainability in the Third s and transition” in Carter, W. and Turnock, D. entral Europe. Second edition. London: vironmental Center, Hungary, 2003 ustainability
- Actors and Interests in Eastern n. Kluwer Law International Ltd. the big clean- up”. Focus Kosovo. (August). in Carter, W. and Turnock, D;Environmental utledge. oxicity of heavy metals to microorganisms and ent Research, UNDP, Pristina nges in soil microbial communities over time nc. Soil Biology and Biochemistry
31. rovica”. Fokus Kosovo, nvironment
Report, 2003, April 26 ning erritory of Kosovo, 2003 osovo and its Population” sment 2001”
0/60/EC: 2000 m and Environmental Performance in Transition r no.
446. World Bank: Washington D.C.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.