Pavlychenko А. Ecological Danger of Coal Mines Operation and Liquidation: Methodology of Assessment, Ways and Means or Reduction

The thesis is aimed at solving the urgent scientific problem of methodology improvement for complex assessment of ecological danger level caused by long-term operation and liquidation of coal mines, as well as development and finding the best forms of ecological safety management of coal industry. The ecological and anthropogenic consequences of underground coal mining were systematized; the mechanisms of transformation of environmental objects, rock mass, and earth surface on the stable and final stages of coal mines functioning were generalized. The means of localization of dust emissions from coal mine shaft into atmosphere; dust trapping by electrostatic filter of low air-flow resistance; as well as technological frameworks of mine workings liquidation considering the level of ecological danger were developed. The methodology for assessment of ecological danger level on different stages of coal mine operation (using 4-grade scale) according to the influence of 16 major anthropogenic factors caused by operation and liquidation of coal mines was developed. "High" levels of ecological danger for the environment were determined in case of operation and "wet" liquidation of a coal mine. "Dry" liquidation of a coal mine is characterized by "mild" level of ecological danger. Implementation of developed nature protective measures on coal mines enables reduction of ecological danger from "high" to "mild" level.