During his 30 minute televised address to the nation yesterday evening, Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to pursue "clean coal" technology. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he means to require carbon sequestration as part of the process in order to avoid the myriad of problems associated with greenhouse gases and climate change.

We can't forget the the other environmental impact of mining, including coal, minerals and metals -- the excavation process. A looming environmental disaster in Peru serves as an important reminder of the dangers inherent to all mining operations.

A Canadian mining company, Gold Hawk Resources, stopped production at its Coricancha facility in May, as geological evidence suggested several of mine's tailing ponds were unstable, and could collapse or overflow into the nearby watershed. Tailing ponds, which are used to allow metals and other waste materials extracted from a mine to settle out of the water used in mining. Due to the combination and concentration of chemicals in them, they're often some of the most toxic bodies of water in the world.

Farmers near the Peruvian mine site have already been ordered to stop irrigation efforts, but many officials fear the coming rainy season will flood the ponds, resulting in environmental catastrophe.