Laws of Chemical Manufacturing by the Coal Industry - Literature review Example

Name: Course: Lecturer: Date: Chemical Manufacturing Introduction Coal, is a chemical which has been a source of energy in the United States for hundreds of years. It has aided in provision of basic needs, from energy for cooking and domestic heating, to transport of raw, products and people, to basic energy for electricity generation and industrial application. In fact, the economy of America has progressed significantly due to the abundant of coal. This industry, however, is said to be the dirtiest fuel in the United States during the production of electricity. Coal releases toxic polluters into the waters, lands and air from mining, transport and generation of electricity. Despite this major hurdle, it will remain a mainstay, a fundament and foundation of the United States economy. Therefore, the use of coal needs more environmental safe-regulations in order to decrease the abuse of ecosystems and our health (Friedman, p.150). Mining of coal harms the ground water, surface water, air and land. This has caused drastic changes to the local area where mining is carried out. As a result, United States has enacted laws that need to be adhered to by the coal industry. The Surface and Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) cover the coal mining and production while other laws do cover transmission, transport and waste disposal. SMCRA ensures that mining operations are conducted in a way that protects the environment and that adequate measures are taken to make sure that the surface area is reclaimed (Friedman, p.152). For any industry therefore, undertaking coal mining has to obtain a state permit that has guidelines on mining standards. Compliance with environmental laws The coal industry needs to take measures to ensure that it is complying with the environmental laws. This because during mining and processing, various activities take places that lead to environmental pollution. The industry should take measures to ensure that environmental laws protecting the waters are complied to. For instance, acid drainage is one of the most serious impacts felt by the environment as a result of coal mining. This occurs when minerals bearing sulfide, such as pyrrhotite are exposed to water or oxygen thus producing sulfuric acid. The acidic water gradually leaches metals in some rocks resulting in further contamination of water. This should be countered by neutralizing the minerals that may be present and other preventative measures may be undertaken (Marinova, p.480). In the United States coal mining is also done on the wetlands. The industry can continue to develop the mangroves as they act as natural pollution filters. The employees should be trained on how to handle environment issues as operations in the industries are on. The employees will be well equipped on measures to be taken to maintain the environment laws. In order to decrease air pollution, the coal industry may opt for underground mining as compared to open cast mining method. This will trap the poisonous air in the underground. When open cast method is used the wastes tend to be left in the open resulting to pollution. It is in order that the coal industry comes up to ensure that the laws are adhered. Environmental control methods, procedures and programs Indeed mining and chemical manufacturing is here to stay and therefore, the company has to implement procedures and control methods to handle the environmental hazards. Various environmental measures have been laid and are categorized according to ways of pollution. In order to reduce of air pollution, several methods and procedures have been developed and include; spraying water on haul roads using fixed and mobile sprinklers, equipping all the drills and coal handling equipment used in excavation with dust extractors, black topping the road used as transport and avoiding overloading the trucks which may result to dusts generated by spillage and availing dust asks on the excavation equipment operators (Annual Energy Review, p.207). In water pollution, Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) will be constructed in the down flow drainage of the industries and the mine discharges to ensure that the pollution parameters are within the norm that is acceptable. To arrest silt from draining into water bodies, such as rivers, siltation ponds will continue to be constructed. Sewage Treatment Plants will have to be constructed to take great care of all the domestic effluents in the colonies of the mines, to replace the convectional safety tanks (Singh, p.44). Noise pollution as a result of the mining activities will be reduced by adopting various measures; applying controlled blasting techniques, use of green belts around mines and colonies regions, good and effective maintenance of the heavy Earth Moving Machinery and issuing earnuffs to the workmen or employees employed in the excavation areas. Various programs need to be put in place in ensuring environment hazards have been minimized. Rehabilitation Action Plan (RAP) programs include shifting and resetting the villagers who have been affected by the activities of the industry. This has been as a result of social challenges that have impacted by the mining activities. People living one kilometer fro the designated mining areas are considered. Re-planting the areas whereby mining has ceased is another program that will be adopted to ensure the region is not prone to water and wind pollution. In addition, it will avoid the alteration of availability of shelter and food for the wildlife. It is obvious that issues will certainly rise when the coal industry is operating alongside the government officials. However, the officials should take measures that ensure all the law related to environment issues are adhered to by the coal industry. This is significant to see to it that all the challenges accompanying mining, which also include the safety of the citizens, are dealt with accordingly (Marinova, p.481). Nonetheless, the government should access the work done by the company. The officials should ensure the company does submit an environmental report on its activities as well as visit the industry sites to confirm the written report. This will enhance the performance of the industry. As much as there may b issue in relating with the government officials, their positive effects cannot be ignored in accessing the performance of the industry and ensuring that the environmental laws are followed for the basic needs of the future generation. Challenges Personnel in the company involved in the environmental regulations are faced with various challenges that would affect their input in their work. Being a potential job creating industry, many employees have been continually been employed in coal industry. The number of employees in past years was steadily increasing. However in the recent years, for example between 2003 and 2010, the figure has dropped drastically by about 6,000. This is a big challenge to the industry which does require manpower to run its activities. Less workmen indicates that the environmental regulations may not be fully be implemented. Reasons for the decrease of the employees may be attributed to the health effects which are associated with coal industry. This challenge can be countered by training the employees on the safety measures in the industry. The workmen should also be provided with safety gears while working in the coal industry. Political interference with the running of the coal industry has also been another significant challenge felt by the environmental regulations. In the quest of maintaining political scores, most government leaders are taking advantage of the environmental laws to belittle the companies that do not support them politically. As much as the company is operating within the recommended mandate, various leaders will always look out for the minute mistakes in making sure that the company does conform to their political agendas. The personnel will therefore, be reluctant in carrying out environmental regulations (Marinova, p.480). Ignorance is also a major challenge as well as obstacle in the following of environmental regulations. The employees may be some extent not aware of the environment regulations laid down by the government. This is major issue as the workmen may not operate according to the required rules. Failure to follow these laws leads to major consequences with the government and also leads to losses within the company. In addition, the environment pollution will be at higher rate and their health will be at a greater risks. The employees need to be trained on safety involving the coal industry and usage of equipment to minimize their ignorance effects on their health and the environment (Annual Energy Review, p.205). In countries where the environmental regulations are not fully implemented, the companies may tend to operate without observing their effects on the environment and health of the people living in the area. It is obvious that the companies will not take any measures to protect the environment as there no laws regulating their operations. This will therefore, undermine any effort in ensuring the laws are followed. The initiatives undertaken to reconstruct the wasted region as a result of mining have not been fully effective. This because the personnel involved are not well prepared and equipped to carry out the work effectively and efficiently. Resulting to incomplete work in the following the given environmental regulations. Dilemmas of a responsible environmental professional Environmental professionals are faced by many challenges in their efforts to ensure that environmental laws and regulations are adhered to. To begin with, there are persistent delays in formulation of environmental laws by policy makers. The developmental stages of studying drafts and approving them by various arms of government may be as lengthy as to causing the loss of the laws. In addition, conflicts and even stalemates may arise among the departments due to scramble for power interests and enforcement rights (Mingyuan p.232). The laws that are formulated also lack a clear definition of the division of duties for the various competent authorizes involved in environmental matters. This comes as a result of lack of organizational function and structures within the government. Another clear dilemma faced by environmentalists is loopholes in the environmental policies. It is a common scenario among many nations to find that environmental laws only cover certain industries leaving out others that play significant part in environmental destruction. For instance, many of these laws are designated for processing industries and rarely cover units such as transportation, construction, residential use, commerce and public services. It quite evident that activities involved in these units are becoming increasingly prominent and emphasis of environmental conservation should be directed towards them. However, due to lack of clear laws, environmentalists do not have a ground to defend misuse of the environment by such industries. Law enforcement mechanisms and supervisory systems are lacking. Supervisory systems are assigned the responsibility of monitoring prevailing situations regarding the environment but due to its lameness, there is frequent multiplicity of policies, coordination breakdown and overlapping functions. According to Mingyuan (p. 234) the roles of environmental professional are gradually being replaced by other inefficient agencies and government departments such as department of Labor, Agriculture, Building and Zoning. Budgetary money allocated to environmental conservation is given to these departments leaving little or no money to be given to environmentalists who in actual fact have the greatest impact in environmental conservation. Besides this, many state governments consider environmental protection a national obligation that is; every citizen is a party and not specific individuals. Consequently, contributions of professional environmentalists are undermined. Another challenge facing environmental professionals is lack of public awareness. Many industries are still unaware of the extreme importance of environmental conservation and lack a sense of urgency in implementing the laws involved. In other cases, they look into the financial benefits to be accrued after incorporating such policies into their companies rather than viewing it as an environmental investment. Public awareness can be enhanced through political and legal standards and guidelines. Technological constraint is another major drawback for professional environmentalists. Comprehensive technological support is a fundamental tool in the realization of environmental goals. Technology level in the environmental sector is generally low in terms of equipment and knowhow. Research institutes are quite few and consist of few research equipments curtailing the efforts of environmental researchers in developing new methods of environmental protection (Mingyuan p. 247). Works cited: Annual Energy Review 2004, DOE/EIA-0384(2004), Energy Information Administration: Washington, DC, 2005. Friedman, F., Practical guide to environmental management, Washington D.C.: Environmental Law Institute, p. 145-164, 2003. Marinova, D, The international handbook on environmental technology management, Elgar: Cheltenham, p. 475-498, 2006. Mingyuan, W, Issues Related to the Implementation of China's Energy Law: Analysis of the Energy Conservation Law and the Renewable Energy Law as Examples. Vermont Journal of Environmental Law Volume 8, p. 226-248, 2006-2007 Singh, Gurdeep and Gupta, R. K. Water Pollution from Coal Washeries and its Impact on Damodar River. The Indian Mining & Engg. J. 44 (3), 2005. Read More