Heap LeachingHeap leaching is a most commonly used method for gold extraction. Heap leaching comes with many environmental concerns and considerations. To reduce these environmental concerns, regulations must be imposed on gold mining. Regulations may come from control acts, enforced by the Department of Energy and other similar agencies, or from simple regulations dealing with the equipment that companies must use in their daily excavations. The heap leach method used to extract gold uses cyanide as part of the process. . This can be “toxic to fish and wildlife” and is therefore an environmental concern related to gold mining (Bartlett 79). Other concerns considered during gold mining and heap leaching are "prevention of bird poisoning on wet piles and solution storage ponds [...] as well as quantities of ] windblown dust and other airborne contaminants [which] can be serious spreading problems.” throughout the environment (Bartlett 79). Contamination of surface and ground water is a major concern as a side effect of heap leaching (Bartlett 79). Steps have been taken to reduce the possibility of any of these environmental considerations occurring during and after the heap leach process. It is recommended that in order to regulate heap leaching of gold, companies use containment methods as well as close monitoring. in order to recognize problems before they arise (Bartlett 79-80). As I stated in my second essay, the ore and solution removed from the heap leach process are discharged onto leach pads. These buffers are “the most important elements of the solution containment system” (Bartlett 80). Leaching pads help prevent toxic solutions from flowing into surrounding areas and therefore decrease the risk of harming living organisms living in the area where mining is taking place. “Proper foundation preparation is necessary to prevent movement and tearing of the coating. » of the leaching platform (Bartlett 80). If this were to occur, the leaching zone would not constitute a sufficient means of environmental protection. Another way to protect the environment is to have a solution collection system..