Environmental Risks of Trump’s Mining Push Weigh on Benefits

The White House’s all-out push to build more hardrock mines is poised to wreak devastating impacts on the nation’s water, land, air, and wildlife in ways not generally acknowledged because of the sheer scope of the planned activity, environmentalists say.

“We are potentially looking at a real catastrophe,” said Aaron Mintzes, deputy policy director at environmental advocacy group Earthworks.

That’s because large mines have so many environmental impacts, such as mine drainage leaching into groundwater or the release of harmful particulate matter, which can linger for decades if not managed properly. Historically, about 40% of Western watersheds have been polluted ...