Thesis Proposal Abstract

Effective mine reclamation, particularly regarding water pollution, is a critical issue to which more policymaker attention is required. Although mining practices always carry some environmental risks, there are policies available to reduce these risks. In order to formulate and implement effective water remediation policies, mining companies and policymakers must collaborate to both improve mining practices during mine operation and to identify effective post-mine-closure strategies. In this thesis I investigate through meta-analysis and case studies how effective the current reclamation bond policies are at addressing the environmental concerns of mining. In particular, my research focuses on bonds as a tool for proactive environmental policy; efficient reclamation bond pricing is a key point of investigation. My research illustrates how risk analysis can be incorporated into policy formation, and the use of deposit-refund mechanisms to increase efficiency and mitigate environmental damages, thus lowering costs to society.