Dear Bernard,
Thank you for your replies.
Let me provide more context.
Our research represents the social sciences component of a project seeking
to improve the monitoring and functioning of bioremediation of Acid Mine
Drainage and Metal Leachate at two sites in British Columbia, Canada. The
project is using the science of metagenomics to create a DNA microarray to
improve understanding of microbial processes involved in bioremediation.
As one of our objectives, the social sciences team is considering how this
project might influence mining companies' decisions to adopt bioremediation
technologies. As such, we need to understand the factors that influence
mining companies' decisions to adopt remediation technologies.
Beyond factors such as drainage characteristics and site conditions, we are
interested to know if there are any historical and sociological factors that
influence industry's clear preference for chemical treatment over biological
treatment (recognizing that treatment of AMD involves many variations within
the categories of source control, active treatment and passive treatment).
I have restricted our focus to the US and Canada since technologies to treat
AMD fist developed in the US and since our concern is how technologies are
adopted in Canada.
I have read many technical documents on remediation technologies for AMD,
but they say very little, if anything at all, about the historical
development of such technologies, let alone the social, institutional,
regulatory or economic context of such development.
If you or anyone else on the list can provide insight into this admittedly
broad question, we would be grateful.
Best,
Justin
|