A court in Strasbourg authorised the permanent containment of toxic waste from a former mine in eastern France, siding with the state against appeals lodged by local officials and residents concerned about the environmental impact.
The former potash mine at Wittelsheim in Alsace entombs about 42,000 tonnes of toxic industrial waste, and scientists warn that, over time, contaminants could seep upward into the Alsace aquifer, which in turn feeds the transboundary Upper Rhine groundwater system supplying drinking water to millions in France, Germany and Switzerland. The aquifer sits 5 metres below the surface. Down another 500 metres through striped pink and white rock is the old potash mine, containing 125km of tunnels. A space the size of seven football pitches contains mercury, arsenic and other heavy metals as well as cyanide and residues from household waste incinerators. Other reports suggest additional illegal waste may be hidden down there too.
Officials reportedly reassured the public that the waste would only be stored down there for 30 years.
However, the court has now ruled that the removal of the toxic waste stored at Stocamine can no longer be carried out safely, mainly due to the deterioration of the site’s infrastructure. The government has chosen to inject tonnes of concrete into the galleries and backfill shafts to make them watertight, leaving the waste down there permanently However, campaigners argue that leaving the waste underground instead of removing it creates a long-term ‘time-bomb’ for people and wildlife, especially given the uncertainty over shifting rock. The rock is in motion, subsiding under pressure from neighbouring mines, corroding in 30°C heat. Ceilings are sagging and walls are caving in at a rate of 2cm a year. There are concerns some of the containers of waste are not accessible, or will not be for much longer.
Catastrophic for people and wildlife
The Guardian shares that projections vary, but research suggests that over the next 300 years water will gradually flood the mine. Some scientists say it could be possible to seal the pits and delay the release of contamination, or even stop it altogether. However, other scientists argue that the only thing to ensure the safety of future generations is to remove the waste, which could cost about €65m (£55m).
Even in low quantities, heavy metals in water have been linked to a series of health problems such as cancer, neurological conditions and kidney damage, and can accumulate in the body over time.
A leak would also have significant consequences for wildlife living in rivers and wetlands fed by the aquifer. In aquatic life similar impacts including neurological issues and developmental deformities have been documented, with researchers saying waste leakage globally poses an “enormous threat” to biodiversity. Cyanide, one of the most toxic substances present in Stocamine, is extremely dangerous to river ecosystems, and has been linked to mass fish deaths and dead zones.
You can read the full case study in the Guardian.