For what it’s worth you don’t need a mining expert to know that establishing a large scale mining operation will fuck up the local region somewhat.

At the very least, all the demolition and vehicles, fuel, explosives, chemicals.

Shits going to leak into the rivers one way or the other. In addition, they would likely use up a ton of local water supply.

It’s a no-brainer. Maine is not in the middle of some desert.

For what's it worth, I live in a area that has done extensive mining for over 1000 years with no big natural disaster caused by it. Today it is only operational by small scale in comparison, (and it never experienced the big chemical industious mining), but you absolutely can mine the earth without creating havoc.

It is just a lot more expensive then.

Which is why most mining is done in remote, or poor areas, with laughable regulations, where no one dares complain for the jobs.

For what it’s worth, people mined rocks to build the pyramids multiple thousands of years ago. They don’t mine using an army of slaves wielding chisels anymore.