What are some ways a new mining project will impact the area in which it is located

The mining in any area always comes with big impact on the area. Unfortunately, the impact is always negative.

The mining needs lot of space, so lot of area needs to be cleared out. By clearing the area, lot of vegetation is destroyed, and stripping of the area of the vegetation results in loss of habitat for the animals, so the animals will either die out or migrate from there.

Also, having no vegetation on the land results in large scale erosion, which is causing long term damage to the area.

Through the mining, lot of toxic chemicals are released, usually in the nearest water bodies, so the waters get heavily polluted, and the aquatic organisms are heavily affected, often dying out totally.

The mining creates lot of solid waste as well, and that waste is usually deposited in the surrounding area, causing enormous pollution on the soil, making it unusable for very long time.

the answer would be b).