Since 2015, a large heap of improperly disposed coal‐mine waste in Ban Chaung, Dawei district, Myanmar, has repeatedly spontaneously combusted, affecting an indigenous community. Recently, the regional Myanmar government has compelled the mine to properly manage the mine waste heap, but there is no opportunity for affected villagers to participate. This study empowers the affected villagers to make risk management decisions via a community citizen science approach. First, field investigations were performed with the affected community to identify hot spots at the waste heap releasing gaseous pollutants that may exceed acceptable levels. Next, existing monitoring data previously collected by the community were interpreted as clear evidence of past poor waste management. Information about suppression of existing fire and mine waste storage options was presented to the community for them to make an informed decision about the most appropriate corrective action that should be taken by the mine. The mining company chose to use surface sealing for both suppression of existing fire and on‐site storage of the mine waste but did not install any long‐term monitoring system. Nevertheless, the community's choice was surface sealing with preventive monitoring together with emergency response, which is the more scientifically appropriate option. This outcome of a science‐based risk management decision by the community will be forwarded to the regional government for enforcement. This process of community citizen science is in line with the normative rationale of public participation, which is meant to influence decisions, elevate democratic capacity, and empower marginalized individuals and communities.

中文翻译：

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缅甸大围区班上自燃煤矿废料堆风险管理的社区公民科学。

自2015年以来，缅甸大围区班上的大量不当处置的煤矿废物屡屡自燃，影响了土著社区。最近，缅甸地方政府已强迫该矿山妥善管理矿山废料堆，但受影响村民没有机会参加。这项研究使受影响的村民能够通过社区公民科学方法做出风险管理决策。首先，与受影响的社区进行了实地调查，以确定废物堆中的热点释放出可能超过可接受水平的气态污染物。其次，社区先前收集的现有监测数据被解释为过去废物管理不善的明确证据。向社区提供了有关抑制现有火场和矿山废物存储方案的信息，以便他们就矿山应采取的最适当纠正措施做出明智的决定。采矿公司选择使用表面密封技术来抑制现有的火灾和现场存储矿山废物，但未安装任何长期监控系统。但是，社区的选择是表面密封，同时进行预防性监测和应急响应，这是更科学的选择。社区基于科学的风险管理决策的结果将转发给地区政府以执行。社区公民科学的这一过程符合公众参与的规范性理论，该理论旨在影响决策，