The increase in awareness of environmental issues and the desire for a cleaner environment by the public has caused mining companies to place greater emphasis on the continuous rehabilitation of harmful effects caused by mining operations. Ongoing rehabilitation is also a requirement of the government departments involved in mining in South Africa. The biggest concern for the relevant government departments is the possible uncontrolled pollution of water resources in the vicinity of mines, after they have closed.
In the compilation of this paper, the unique nature of the South African situation has been considered – this refers to a legally acceptable approach towards current legislation and policies. This study leads to the construction of a logical approach towards mine closure, specifically to understand issues around costs and financial liability. The final product of this approach should ultimately give more clarity on:
the principles followed to identify objectives for mine closure and groundwater assessment;
key steps to follow when assessing site hydrogeology and to determine related impacts, risks, closure costs and liabilities; and
an overview of methods that could be used for the mitigation of polluted aquifers and a brief site-specific application.