Western Balkans Environment Programe

Trepca, a major lead-zinc mining area located in UN ATSCR 1244 Kosovo - Trepca conglomerate has had a long history of environmental problems: toxic/acidic effluents, uncontained waste rock, dust emissions and unsecured workings, poorly contained and/unstable tailings wastes. Trepca poses significant public health problems and immediate investments are required in cleaning up and rehabilitation.

The proposed intervention will follow-on from the EnvSec project “Environmental Assessment and Remediation Action Plan (EARAP)”, which is undertaking a comprehensive investigation and sampling program, including: hydro-geological and hydro-chemical analyses of the surface and underground waters; geochemical analyses of the soil; analyses of the impact of the mining dust to the air quality; and analyses of the physical and chemical composition of the deposited mine tailings and the mining dust. As such this project will result in the implementation of mechanisms/equipment to treat acidic mine waters at two Trepca sites incorporating the utilization of the monitoring plan outlined in the EARAP project.