Significant impacts and environmental risks generated by coal extraction in Romania

The paper presents a sequential approach regarding the environmental management in the coal basin of the Jiu Valley. Mining activity in the Jiu Valley has an important impact both in environmental and socio‐economic terms. The main problem these days is identifying the correct and significant impacts of the mining activity, defining also the ways to mitigate and monitor the process associated with coal extraction. Romania, a country experiencing a lack of tradition regarding very strict environmental legislation, has made important efforts in focusing, identifying and possibly resolving the environmental problems associated with mining activity, particularly coal mining in the Jiu Valley. The paper also presents some western European regulations adapted to the specific conditions in a country with a transitory state of the economy.