02/2020 - cover

Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie Number 02/2020

SMA'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Krzysztof MARKOWICZ, Grzegorz WRZASK

This article presents regulations and standards determining rules on the location of mining plants extracting hydrocarbon through drilling in relation to the structures not related to the mining plants as well as the changes to those regulations over the years, and also concerns related to using them. It should be noted that the regulations on concerning "safe distances" from structures and facilities of oil and natural gas extraction, such as wells, refineries, equipment and installations for dehydration and desulphurisation of natural gas as well as crude oil and natural gas pressing permit certain structures to be built in the vicinity of the above-mentioned structures which, especially in the case of wells, may affect their safe operation. In relation to the controlled areas of gas pipelines, the current regulations were quoted and the rules concerning pipelines built before 12 December 2001 were explained, pointing to the need to clarify them. In relation to other  pipelines of mining plant (not regulated by legislation), regulations and standards used for determining safety zones (strips) were quoted.

Holger HEYMANN

The use of lignite in Germany was particularly intensive in the GDR, where it had a significant adverse environmental impact. The landscape of approx. 120,000 ha was destroyed; hydrographic conditions were changed significantly and lots of waste was deposited in post-mining excavations. After German reunification, however, the lignite mines were unable to keep up with the requirements of a market economy. Hence, the agreements based on the Unification Treaty also covered the tasks related to the lignite post-mining land reclamation in lignite coalfields located in Lusatia and Central Germany. Their scope included: reclamation of 224 post-mining excavations, securing of approx. 1,200 km of slopes and demolition of 110 industrial plants, as well as restoration of proper hydrographic conditions and environmental remediation of more than 1,230 contaminated sites. Those tasks were initially financed by the Trust Agency. Already in 1992, the federal government and the governments of Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia concluded an agreement on the joint financing of the lignite post-mining land reclamation. The coordination of public- and private-sector institutions involved in that task required the development of a three-tier organisational structure. The first tier includes management of the reclamation process by the Steering and Budget Committee for the Reclamation of Lignite Mining. The second tier is provided by Lusatian and Central German Mining Administration Company (LMBV), which is responsible for reclamation under the mining law. The third tier involves implementation of reclamation activities by private companies. As a result of those activities, there has been a clearly visible change in the landscape in central Germany and Lusatia. Almost all demolition work was done there. The displacement of the earth masses and their densification has reached a high level of advancement. The only work remaining to be done are the tasks which are demanding in terms of geotechnical engineering. Over 75% of activities related to land reclamation have already been completed. Remediation of contaminated land and restoration of the water balance is yet to be performed.

Magdalena BIAŁEK-GRZECHNIK, Małgorzata KAMIŃSKA-WAWRYSZUK

This article discusses reclamation of the subsidence basin created as a result of hard coal mining activity by Lubelski Węgiel „Bogdanka” S.A. Meeting their obligations arising from the environmental protection regulations, the entrepreneur performed reclamation works based on relevant decisions of the environmental protection bodies. The reclamation was performed with the aim to create recreational space with trees. This included water reservoir (fish pond), pedestrian and bicycle paths, drainage ditches and "green" management by grazing and tree planting in the reclamation site. The reclamation was performed with the use of mining waste which was then covered by reclamation embankment with the thickness of 1,0 m of soil masses. The reclamation carried out shows how the areas changed by mining activities can gain new environmental and landscape values and become attractive to the local community.

A dove always knows where its home is
Leszek SOBIERAJ

Clerics-miners: the future priest becomes a miner
Teresa SEMIK

Mining rescue history of Jaworzno “in a nutshell"
Michał WROŃSKI

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