| A fundamental conflict between the mining industry and society exists today in the United States over growing concerns about the environmental impact of mining and the allocation of land for mineral extraction. Rising living standards and greater demands for mineral aggregates at reasonable costs and minimum ecological impact challenge the existing system. This dilemma may only be solved by an understanding and analysis of the relevant factors which include spatial diffusion, economic implications, environmental considerations and legal issues that foster a decisionmaking process that provides for mineral extraction and development.;Most mines producing sand, gravel or crushed stone are located in or near urbanized areas. Selection of producing sites has been influenced by closeness to markets. As distance from the consumer increases, the cost of moving the aggregate to the point of consumption increases. At the present time, the traditional economic decision to mine local material to avoid high transportation costs is being increasingly challenged. The challenges come from a growing public concern over the impact of mining on the landscape, water and air pollution, noise and vehicle traffic. The mining industry is concerned about constraints emanating from zoning ordinances and legislative regulations, escalations in costs to ameliorate conflicts with adjoining land users, and the availability of land for mineral extraction. The savings in transportation costs due to closeness to markets may be offset by costs not currently recognized by land planners and the public as associated with the production of mineral aggregates.;Traditionally, governmental bodies have used controls, such as zoning ordinances and environmental regulations as a tool to restrict mining. Too often, potential production sites have been preempted by other land uses and active operations constrained by stricter environmental regulations and zoning ordinances. Such controls are largely devoid of sound land use planning and efficient allocation of land.;Land use planning which recognizes the importance of mining mineral aggregates is needed. By creating mineral resource zones, maybe a means for reducing future environmental/social conflicts resulting from mining in urban areas and preserve sites for future extraction of mineral aggregates. An important segment of managing mineral lands would involve preplanning for the sequential use of the mined land.;Analysis of the sand, gravel and crushed stone industry in three metropolitan areas has been made to illustrate the locational problems of today and the future. |
