Mine the metal or do without the tech that uses it. You have to choose. Years of environmental review do not help.
replyThe environmental review WILL help if it is used to adjust the mining techniques so they don't destroy everything nearby to do the work, or even if it jist creates a reclamation / restoration plan (and yes, factor that into the price, it's trivial). Taking too long is a problem.
replyThat pit also happens to be a great place to do rare earths extraction since there is zero chance of it ever being cleaned up.
replyThe acid is natural btw just from things leeching out of the rock walls.