Copper ore post-flotation settling tanks in Poland: social acceptance or objection?

Abstract

The issues concerning mining have been causing a wide variety of emotions. Objection to and disagreement with new investments, but also social acceptance for the operation of mining plants offering stable employment. Production in this sector is associated with the generation of waste. In the case of copper ore mining, the result of the entrepreneur's activity consists of waste treatment facilities in the form of post-flotation settling tanks. In addition to the inactive facilities in Lower Silesia, there is also the settling tank Zelazny Most, which is used and expanded. The large area and risk to the environment allow to suppose that the existence of settling tanks in social space generates conflicts or it is conducive to the emigration of the residents. In order to verify the above-mentioned hypothesis, the authors used geographic information systems to analyse the current population status and expansion of the road and rail network, the residents’ drinking water sources and soil permeability in five impact zones. The achieved results allow to conclude that the facilities belonging to KGHM PM S.A. coexist with their surroundings, thus gaining social acceptance. The proposed research methodology can be used by the entrepreneurs, but also local authorities to evaluate the acceptance of mining waste disposal facilities.