ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN A FORMER MINING AREA FROM ROMANIA

In Romania, in the process of mining restructuring, that was initiated after 1990, many ineffective and unpromising excavations - mines and blow-hole - were closed. This action has led to layoffs of staff from mining field with negative consequences on socio-economic life in the area. A very delicate problem represents the mining waste such as tailings pond and waste dumps, their revegetation and reintegration into the local landscape in order to protect the environment and to achieve a local sustainable development. This paper presents the current socio-economic issues in the area and the results of laboratory analysis regarding the heavy metals content in contaminated soil samples. The studies conducted in this paper led to proposed measures for reducing the negative effects of the waste dumps and tailings pond on the environment and for improving the quality of life for the population from the studied area.