The Pit Closures: Pit closures could lead to pollution of rivers

The closure of many of Britain's remaining coal mines could kill hundreds of miles of streams and rivers, the National Rivers Authority has warned.

Earlier pit closures have already caused severe damage to aquatic life in Scotland, England and Wales, destroying valuable trout fisheries in some cases.

Once the pumps cease working mines begin to fill, and the water which has dissolved the exposed minerals within eventually finds its way into soil and streams feeding larger rivers. It is often acidic and has raised levels of toxic heavy metals like cadmium and zinc.

Some of the rivers under threat are only now returning to life after decades of heavy pollution by other industries. There is a loophole in the law which appears to allow mine owners to abandon pits without taking responsibility for the resulting pollution.

The irony is that pressure from evironmentalists bears much of the blame for British Coal's troubles. The new gas-fired power stations produce far less of the sulphur dioxide gas which causes acid rain or global-warming carbon dioxide than their coal-fired equivalents.

Yet while wanting less coal to be burnt, no environmental groups support the sudden wholesale cutbacks which were advocated last week. They want the Government to divert nuclear industry subsidies into technologies for burning coal more efficiently with less pollution.

A recent National Rivers Authority report sets out the extensive pollution caused by floodwater from abandoned mines. It says more than 30 miles of streams and rivers have been damaged in Wales and the problem is growing. Abandoned mines are also damaging rivers in the NRA's Northumbrian, North West, Yorkshire and Severn Trent regions.

Pollution which results from permitting water from an abandoned mine to enter a waterway is not an offence. And while the NRA has powers to stop the pollution, it is unable to charge the mineowner for the work.