BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering, Architecture, Fine Arts

Gov. Pablo Borbon Campus II, Alangilan, Batangas City, Philippines 4200
www.batstate-u.edu.ph Telefax: (043) 300-4404 locs. 106-118

CHEMICAL AND FOOD ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Final Examination
EnE 301 – Environmental Engineering
First Semester, AY 2017 – 2018

Members:
Anorico, Joselle Techie P.
Balitaan, Jeamnard D.
Benitez, Joshua Allan L.
Butardo, Brenda Hazel D.
Cabral, Shaina Micah M.

C A S E S T U D Y

I. Identify the primary and secondary problems raised in the scenario.

 PRIMARY

1.) There was a big mining push in Palawan by the Philippine government.
2.) The Philippine president called for a revitalization of mining across the
nation.
3.) Mining in Palawan has already ravaged the forests, generated flooding and
caused the siltation of rivers and farmland.
4.) Mining companies had been criss-crossing the forest, drilling the soil,
stripping the trees away, destroying watersheds, and polluting the drinking
water of some indigenous people living in Palawan.
5.) Mining companies had built roads for the ease of access to certain isolated
places which in turn posed serious damages such as landslides.
6.) Oil palm plantations had a devastating effect on the biodiversity of the
island.
7.) Pollution due to intense and illegal mining and logging had brought serious
risk to all of the Palawan communities.

 SECONDARY

1.) Palawan communities were greatly affected of the intense mining in their
land.
2.) Roads were built on isolated areas which in turn forced many Palawan
further inland.
3.) Due to nickel mining projects, miles of forest were destroyed depriving the
most vulnerable Palawan of their livelihoods.
4.) Mining companies had greatly affected the Palawan indigenous people’s
ancestral lands including their burial and sacred sites.
 II. Discuss what your team would need to take into consideration to begin to address the
problem.

The following are the factors that would need to be taken into consideration in order to
address the problem more effectively:

 Public opinion prior to the implementation of mining in Palawan.

 Neglected environmental laws and regulations prior to such activities happening in
Palawan i.e. mining and oil palm plantation
 The intensity of the damage caused by the said projects and acts in the current state and
in the long run.
 Movements against the projects conducted by other local and non-governmental units.
 Latest updates with regards to the occurrence.
 Consideration of environmental advocacies related to the problem.

III. Who are the major stockholders and what are their perspectives?

 MACRO ASIA
- We are confident that our mining practice indeed followed environmental rules and
regulations thus, not violating any of the environmental laws present. Let’s us look on
the positive side and opportunities that our company gives to the Filipino people.

 RIO TUBA NICKEL MINING CORPORATION

- Palawan is indeed a bulk of natural resource. Everything in its perimeter is fruitful
and full of grace. Our mining project promises numerous benefits and advantages that
lead to more opportunities for Filipino people in the long run.

 LONDON-BASED TOLEDO MINING CORPORATION

- Philippines is indeed rich in mineral resources that needed to be engaged into. Our
international mining corporation strictly follows the nation’s environmental laws and
regulations so as not to adversely affect our mining practice.

 GOVERNMENT
- Truly, mining is indeed a great investment, and Palawan is the land wherein mining
projects have a great future. Every corporation that showed their interest in putting up
their mining projects in Palawan had been tested and well-oriented about the rules,
regulations, and laws they need to prioritize. Regards to this, we assure the people in
Palawan that these mining corporations and projects doesn’t pose threats and risks to
our fellow people and to Palawan itself, and if there are any of the violations proved
by any of the mining corporations, we promise that these will be dealt with by law.

IV. What are the potential impacts of ways to address the problems raised in the
scenario?

 Increasing the efficiency of manufacturing processes to reduce the demand for new
minerals.

 Reduce mineral consumption. Over 80 tons of natural resources are require d annually
per person, including resources from mining. It is anticipated that by 2050 this
consumption will rise by a factor of three.

 Improving environmental performance at mines. Mining reportedly erodes more of the

Earth’s surface each year than natural river erosion. For example, in excess of 220 tons of
land are being excavated to produce just one ton of copper.
 Cleaning up abandoned mine sites. In particular abandoned hard rock mine sites can
impact on public health and the environment. When mines fill with water, this becomes
highly acidic. In the USA, acid mine drainage has a significant impact on the
environment. Around 10,500 miles of streams have been affected and half a million acres
of land remain unrestored.

 Renewable energy will inevitably play a key role to reduce the impact of mining on the
environment.

 Closing illegal and unregulated mines-In context with enforcing regulations and
maintaining steadfast legislation regarding a mine’s behavior and processes, the strict and
swift closing of illegal or unregulated mining activity will set an environmental precedent
within the industry.

 Scrap mining and recycling-On a global scale, mining corporations around the world are
discovering efficient ways to capitalize fully on materials in order to provide the goods
and services people want using much less wood, metal, stone, plastic and other materials.
By reducing the amount of wasteful use on a public and private level, and by steering
production towards the sole use of durable goods that can be easily reusable, re-
manufactured, or recycled, the mining industry can begin to reduce its impact on an
international scale.

 Better legislation and regulations - Standard legislation concerning the efficiency of

mining is a long way off from being the most productive and most strict government
mandates that exists today. Obviously these regulations differ between nations, with
some countries more advanced in terms of their legislation than others, however the need
for improvement is always there in this industry, which inevitably causes some
environmental damage.

 Improving environmental performance - Mining impacts the environment in unnatural

ways, which not only disrupts its natural decaying process, but also does more damage
long-term than natural erosion processes. With exorbitant numbers of materials excavated
and used daily, it is important to see that this destruction is actually going towards
productive use.

 Accurate tallying of toxic mining waste - Another problem with the whole sustainable
mining debate has to do with secrecy in reporting toxic mining waste. Mining companies
have not been accurately reporting the amounts being dumped into the environment and
in doing so, have kept the public in the dark. Most notably this has been occurring with
the Canadian people as of late, with a huge public backlash being the center of much of
the mining industry controversy being targeted on accurate waste tallying lately. While
sustainable mining looks good on paper and seems easy enough to follow provincial or
federal guidelines, the industry has a way to go before it can be considered even remotely
green.

 Building from reusable waste - Not only can mining present a hazard to the environment,
but it can also be seen as a toll on public health if appropriate measures are not taken to
ensure that the mining process is being done as safely and efficiently as possible. Case
studies from mines around the world have provided numerous success stories of
corporations and private mines alike being able to build new construction and
infrastructure from the reusable materials that a mine site presents. For example,
aluminum can be substituted as a recyclable material rather than using bauxite ore, which
is a rarer and less reusable item.
  Closing and reclaiming sites of shut-down mines - The main objective in the reclaiming
process is to return the sire and the land which surrounds it back to reusable standards,
ensuring that any landforms and structures are stable, and why watercourses need to be
evaluated in order to regain water quality within the affected area.

 Investing in research and development of Green Mining Technology - The mining

industry is one that is always in need of proper research and development in order to
make sure the industry to ever-changing with today’s commitment to sustainability and
turning the world into a more “green friendly’ place. Through either state of federal
agencies, collecting funding and allowing that funding to be dispersed into ROD funds
for Green Mining can be one way to positively impact the environment before and after
mining projects. By pushing the envelope and never letting the future slip too far from
reach, staying ahead can prevent unnecessary waste in the sense of less reusable
materials, better efficiency and a better understood industry.

 Replenishing the environment - A seemingly simple but rarely prioritized activity,

replenishing mine sites and mine environments is one of the key factors to not only
earning the respect and cooperation of those living near the mine, but will ultimately
protect the mine’s impact on the environment. Simple solutions like replenishing native
soils and grasses, cleaning excess waste, proper waste removal, site inspections and
replanting trees and natural forestry can rejuvenate a long-term ecosystem repair and
sustain the environment for years beyond when the mine is no longer operating. The
entire reclamation process should include: removing hazardous materials, reshaping land,
restoring topsoil, and planting native grasses, trees or ground cover natural to the site.

 Improving the efficiency of manufacturing processes - By targeting the goal of closely

monitoring the standard mining supply chain, mining industry giants will be forced to
confront the ways in which a company can improve its efficiency by seeing exactly
where the organization is lacking in terms of sustainability and green mining initiatives.
This supervision of the manufacturing process is essential in order to develop new ways
of thinking, new metrics, and new management.

V. What would be the team’s course of action to learn more about the primary and
secondary problems?

 Check the mining area and the place that surrounds the area.
 Ask the residents nearby the area about their condition after mining has started.
 Study or research the laws about mining.
 List all the mining companies in Palawan that violated the laws related to mining.

VI. What are some important unknowns that seem critical to address this problem? You
do not need to suggest specific technical solutions-just agree on what factors are
most important and identify one or more viable ways to address the problem.

 Released chemicals in this mining activity

 Laws related to mining
 Companies that violated the laws related to mining in Palawan
 Other risks of mining to the residents near the mining area.
 Specific ecosystem damage caused by mining
 Listed resources that depleted due to mining