LEG Milestone Two

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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350

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Geology

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Apr 3, 2024

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1 3-2 Final Project Milestone Two: Balancing Human Needs and Environmental Factors Emily Donahue Southern New Hampshire University SCI 350: Leadership and Ethics in Geosciences Professor Kimberly Howell March 24, 2024

2 The case study I have chosen to analyze is the Manganese Mines of the Keonjhar District of India. Keonjhar is an important region for manganese ore production due to the Iron Ore Series sedimentary formation in the area. The locations of mines are decided by the presence of mineral deposits regardless of the preference of the public. Odisha’s rich wealth of mineral resources makes it the prime location for the development of large mines. The environment in the mining region is affected by these practices in terms of deforestation, soil degradation, air pollution, and water pollution. (Wyss & Peppoloni, 2015.) Project managers can mitigate the environmental risks associated with mining operations by implementing environmentally conscious procedures, laws, and regulations. A practice that would limit water pollution is treating water with proper filtration systems. Air quality is controlled under the air act and environmental protection act, which state that operations should keep emissions within permissible limits. Other environmental action plans mentioned that would limit impact are tree plantation, reuse of mine wastes, rehabilitation of mined land, and topsoil spreading. These proposed mitigation strategies would benefit the environment and people living in the mining regions of Keonjhar. (Wyss & Peppoloni, 2015.) The environmental risks and health risks associated with mining operations are directly related. The physical risks on the mining community are ever present. Mining causes widespread environmental damage from mine collapse, sinkholes, resource contamination, biodiversity loss, and more. Overall, it affects the physical, mental, and social health of the mining community that must deal with these geohazards. Health issues in mining towns are the norm with common complications being osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, liver disease, pneumonia, and birth defects. Mining communities are not receiving the medical attention needed to prevent the adverse effects

3 of manganese. A shift towards environmentally conscious practices would be the first step to addressing the health risks of manganese mining. (Wyss & Peppoloni, 2015.) This case study describes the steps that project managers need to take to balance human needs and environmental needs. The mining sector is vital for the development and growth of the Keonjhar district, which is the driving need behind these projects. Addressing the environmental and health challenges in manganese mining would require a level of sustainable development that many mining companies are not willing to take on. The trade-off for proactive management would be time, resources, and money to implement an action plan. It is likely that the environmental and health benefits would outweigh the initial costs, but it would take government intervention to get all manganese mining companies to that point. (Wyss & Peppoloni, 2015.) The ethical resolution to these trade-offs would be incentivizing mining companies to encourage sustainable action. The mining industry is all about generating resources and money, which leaves little room for ethical considerations. Incentivizing proper health and safety practices while implementing fines for improper practices would be a reliable way to ensure project managers address the risks associated with manganese mining. (Wyss & Peppoloni, 2015.)

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4 References Wyss, M., & Peppoloni, S. (2015.) Geoethics: Ethical Challenges and Case Studies in Earth Sciences. Elsevier.

LEG Milestone Two

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