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Linking Physical, Biological, and Social Sciences in Natural Resources: An Ecosystem Service Framework for Monetary Valuation of Environmental Impacts Related to Mining in Central Colorado
Citation:
Gulley, A., R. Seal, II, C. Russell, AND T. Lyons. Linking Physical, Biological, and Social Sciences in Natural Resources: An Ecosystem Service Framework for Monetary Valuation of Environmental Impacts Related to Mining in Central Colorado. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-19/057, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
The purposes of this study are to evaluate approaches for the valuation of ecosystem services affected by mine remediation, and to explore approaches for predicting the growth of those post-remediation benefits.
Description:
Historical mining commonly left a legacy of environmental impairment that affected associated ecosystems. Remediation of legacy mine sites aims to restore water, soil, and sediment compositions to concentrations that are in compliance with relevant regulatory guide lines. A consequence of meeting compliance goals around legacy mine sites is the restoration of a variety of ecosystem services, such as improved water quality for drinking, improved water quality for fish populations that are attractive to anglers, and desirable vistas. The environmental and ecosystem service valuation literature was widely surveyed to assess the literature's ability to value impacts of mine site pollution through an ecosystem service framework. Catchable target fish populations are explicitly modeled while guidance for valuation of ecosystem services related to aquatic habitat, drinking water, groundwater, water supply reliability, lead contamination, mercury emissions, air particulate matter, residential views, and natural land cover are also provided to enable future research where site data prove to be more forthcoming.