ANALYSIS OF MEASURES TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF UNDERGROUND COAL MINING ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Underground coal mines pose numerous risks of accidents and environmental hazards. The dangers to soil, surface water and groundwater are particularly noteworthy. For this reason, various measures must be taken to monitor, control and mitigate the environmental impact of mining activities. These measures ensure compliance with regulations, protect natural resources and promote sustainable mining practices. The paper discusses ten groups of key measures: air quality measures, water management measures, waste management measures, land reclamation and remediation measures, noise and vibration control measures, energy efficiency and carbon management measures, environmental monitoring and compliance measures, community and stakeholder engagement measures, health and safety measures, and innovative technologies and best practices. The AHP method was used for analysis. The ranking process was performed by workers and managers of different underground coal mines in Serbia using the group decision method. The findings reveal a clear differentiation among individual mitigation measures. Furthermore, the results underscore the significance of the analytical process in facilitating informed decision-making for both management and workers, enabling the identification of the most critical measures to minimize the environmental impact of underground coal mining.