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SYNTHESIS REPORT OF BASELINE STUDY REPORTS OF SARMa MODEL SITES

Activity 3.1

(Environmentally friendly extraction practices))

Final Version 12 April 2011

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DELIVERABLE SUMMARY

PROJECT INFORMATION Project acronym: SARMa Project title: Sustainable Aggregates Resource Management Contract number: SEE/A/151/2.4/X Starting date: 01.05.2009 Ending date: 31.12.2011 Project website address: www.sarmaproject.eu Lead partner organisation: Geological Survey of Slovenia Address: Dimičeva ulica 14, SI-1000 Ljubljana Project manager: Slavko V. Šolar E-mail: [email protected]

DELIVERABLE INFORMATION

Title of the deliverable: Activity 3.1 (Environmentally friendly extraction practices) Synthesis Report

WP/activity related to the deliverable: WP3 / Activity 3.1

Type (internal or restricted or public): Public

Location (if relevant): - WP leader: Institute of Geology & Mineral Exploration (IGME), Greece Activity leader: Technical University of Crete, Greece (TUC) Participating partner(s): All partners Authors: Zach Agioutantis, Stelios Maurigiannakis, Andriani Athousaki (TUC) E-mail: [email protected]

DELIVERY DEADLINES Contractual date of delivery to the JTS:

Actual date of delivery to the JTS:

DISCLAIMER

The present report was prepared in the framework of the project SARMa – Sustainable Aggregates Resource Management, which is co-financed by the EU within the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme.

The information reported is accurate according to the best knowledge of the authors and is the sole responsibility of the authors of this report.

The publication reflects the views only of the authors; and therefore the rest of project partnership and the South East Europe Programme Managing Authority cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

http://www.sarmaproject.eu/

mailto:[email protected]

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Table of Contents Table of Contents ..............................................................................iii List of Figures...................................................................................iv List of Tables....................................................................................iv Executive Summary ............................................................................ 1 Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................... 2 Chapter 2: Background and Methodology .................................................. 6

2.1 Background .............................................................................. 6 2.2 Data Collection.......................................................................... 6 2.3 Methodology of Analysis ............................................................... 7

Chapter 3: Brief Descriptions of Case Studies ............................................ 13 3.1 The Araxos Case Study ................................................................ 14 3.2 The Kovilovaca Case study ........................................................... 17 3.3 The Lanca Dei Francesi case study.................................................. 20 3.4 The Revarsarea case study ........................................................... 23 3.5 The Šljunčara Trsenik case study ................................................... 26

Chapter 4: Best Practices .................................................................... 29 4.1 Air Pollution ............................................................................ 29 4.2 Blasting .................................................................................. 30 4.3 Ecology and Biodiversity .............................................................. 31 4.4 Nature Conservation................................................................... 32 4.5 Noise ..................................................................................... 34 4.6 Planning ................................................................................. 34 4.7 Quarry Fines and Waste............................................................... 36 4.8 Restoration and Rehabilitation ...................................................... 37 4.9 Social Issues and Community......................................................... 39 4.10 Transport .............................................................................. 40 4.11 Visual Disturbance and Landscape................................................. 41 4.12 Water................................................................................... 42

Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations........................................... 44 References ..................................................................................... 51 Appendix A: Abbreviations................................................................... 53

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List of Figures Figure 1: Case studies analyzed.............................................................. 7 Figure 2: Data Collection ..................................................................... 8 Figure 3: Data Processing .................................................................... 10 Figure 4: Issues and categories of best practice analysis (1/2)........................ 11 Figure 5: Issues and categories of best practice analysis (2/2)........................ 12 Figure 6: The Araxos quarry ................................................................. 14 Figure 7: Araxos quarry facilities ........................................................... 14 Figure 8: Aerial view of the Kovilovača deposit and quarry............................ 17 Figure 9: Settling ponds at the Kovilovača operation ................................... 17 Figure 10: The “Lanca Dei Francesi” case study ......................................... 20 Figure 11: Other views of the “Lanca dei Francesi” quarry............................. 20 Figure 12: The Revarsarea quarry and town .............................................. 23 Figure 13: Satellite image of the pilot site dark brown the natural landscape along the Sava river flood plain. ................................................................... 26 Figure 14: Equipment used for excavation in different parts of the Šljunčara Trsenik quarry ................................................................................. 26 Figure 15: Quarry operation ................................................................. 45 Figure 16: Quarry restoration ............................................................... 45

List of Tables Table 1: Summary of case studies .......................................................... 13 Table 2: The Araxos case study ............................................................. 15 Table 3: The Kovilovaca case study ........................................................ 18 Table 4: The Lanca Dei Francesi case study .............................................. 20 Table 5: The Revarsarea case study........................................................ 23 Table 6: The Šljunčara Trsenik case study ................................................ 26 Table 7: Air pollution- EFQ + SI + SD ....................................................... 29 Table 8: Blasting-EFQ + SI + SD ............................................................. 30 Table 9: Ecology + Biodiversity-EFQ + SI + SD + REST ................................... 31 Table 10: Nature Conservation-EFQ + SI + SD + REST.................................... 33 Table 11: Noise-EFQ + SI + SD ............................................................... 34 Table 12: Planning-EFQ + REST + SI + SD ................................................. 35 Table 13: Quarry Fines + Waste-EFQ + SI + SD + REST................................... 36 Table 14: Restoration + Rehabilitation -REST + SI + SD ................................. 38 Table 15: Social Issues and Community-SI + SD .......................................... 39 Table 16: Transport + Traffic- EFQ + SD................................................... 41 Table 17: Visual + landscape- EFQ + SI + SD .............................................. 41 Table 18: Water- EFQ + SI + SD ............................................................. 42 Table 19: Summary of Do’s and Dont’s .................................................... 47 Table 20: Summary of short messages ..................................................... 51

Executive Summary This synthesis report summarizes, compares and analyzes the information obtained from case studies, questionnaires, as well as material collected for WP3.1, regarding best practices in quarrying. This report will form the basis for the joint manual, which is an output of WP3 and will also include information on illegal quarrying and recycling.

This synthesis report, as well as the manual, targets the stakeholders at the local level, i.e. the quarry operator (industry) as well as the society / community and the local authorities. This is an important consideration since the recommendations and the messages would have been different if the report was compiled solely for the operator, or solely for the community or the public authority / government or for any other stakeholder. When operators lose the social license to operate the dispute is between them and the community, not them and the public authority.

A Social License to Operate exists when a mineral exploration or mining project is seen as having the approval and the broad acceptance of the immediate and wider community to conduct its activities. It is a license which can not be provided by civil authorities, by political structures, or even by the legal system. Most importantly it can not be claimed as a product of an internal corporate process such as an audit of company practices. It can only come from the acceptance granted by your neighbors. Such acceptability must be achieved on many levels, but it must begin with, and be firmly grounded in, the social acceptance of the resource development by local communities.

Best practice issues were identified both from the literature and from the case studies and 12 issues were selected as representative of best practices in the quarrying industry. Then, the information obtained from the case studies pertaining to best practices was summarized vertically (i.e. per case study and per best practice issue). Afterwards, best practices were analyzed in a horizontal fashion, i.e. per issue and per case study. The focus of each best practice issue was given in a brief introduction in the horizontal analysis

For each best practice issue a number of items to avoid, a number of actions to take (recommendations), as well as important short messages were developed. Short messages encapsulate each best practice issue and were developed to be appropriate for all stakeholders. Recommendations were generated based on the horizontal analysis.

To further summarize these messages in a few simple phrases, a grouping of the individual best practice issues into four best practice categories was developed. Graphs show how each best practice category relates to each individual best practice issue.

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Chapter 1: Introduction The main objectives of the SARMa project are to develop a common approach to sustainable aggregate resource management (SARM)1 and sustainable supply mix (SSM)2 planning at three scales (local, regional/national, transnational), and to ensure efficient and secure supply in the SEE. The specific objectives include capacity building, information infrastructure creation, and planning for a Regional Centre on SARM and SSM. Local, site-level activities will focus on environmentally friendly extraction through best practices, reducing illegal quarrying, and recycling to reduce use of primary aggregates.

Work package 3 (WP3) aims to fulfill project objectives on the local scale through three activities focused on improving resource efficiency: (1) decreasing environmental and social impacts of quarrying and improving reclamation, (2) reducing illegal quarrying, and (3) increasing recycling, which will decrease the use of primary aggregates. Activities will enhance information available at regional and national levels. WP3 starts at the beginning of the project as it provides technical information for WP4 and WP5.

This synthesis report summarizes, compares and analyzes the information obtained from case studies, questionnaires, as well as material collected for WP3.1, regarding best practices in quarrying. This report will form the basis for the joint manual, which is an output of WP3 and will also include information on illegal quarrying and recycling.

For ease of reference, the broader definition of Sustainable Development (SD) is repeated here: According to the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987), SD is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainable development implies economic growth together with the protection of environmental quality, each reinforcing the other. The essence of this form of development is a stable relationship between human activities and the natural world; a relationship which does not diminish the prospects for future generations to enjoy a quality of life at least as good as our own.

In essence, the term “Sustainable Development” refers to achieving economic and social development in ways that do not exhaust a country's natural resources. To achieve sustainable development certain changes need to take place both in the way exploitation is perceived as well as in the exploitation itself. This, for example, includes both institutional changes by the authorities as well as application of novel exploitation techniques by the operator, which should be consistent with the future as well as the present needs. The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability.

1 Sustainable aggregates resource management (SARM) is efficient, low socio-environmental impact quarrying and waste management. 2 Sustainable supply mix (SSM) uses multiple sources, including recycled wastes and industrial by-products (slag) that together maximize net benefits of aggregate supply across generations.

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Best practices in quarrying are usually discussed according to sustainable development principles (SD). SD principles include but are not limited to the following: Stewardship of the Economy and the Environment, Shared Responsibility, Integration of Environmental and Economic Decisions, Economic Enhancement, Efficient Use of Resources, Prevention and Remedy, Conservation, Waste Minimization, Access to Adequate Information, Public Participation, Understanding and Respect, Scientific and Technological Innovation, Global Responsibility, etc.

Sustainable development as applied to mining and quarrying does not refer to sustainability of the industry, a company or a quarry, clearly an oxymoron if used in that fashion. It is a culture that addresses in very clear and practical terms how mining and quarrying can contribute to sustainable development. It is a concept of needs, an idea of limitations, a future oriented paradigm, and a process of change. The goal of sustainability with respect to minerals is to maintain the stream of benefits that minerals provide in such a manner that the net contribution of the resource is positive over the life cycle of mine or quarry, and product.

Quarrying is a type of mining that should be treated differently from metal mining due to its unique characteristics and a precise, unified definition of what quarrying is contributes to its proper treatment. Quarrying is in most cases defined as surface mining of construction materials - aggregates, and in many cases, crushed stone. Quarrying differs from other types of mining in many respects, including the potential for alternate extraction sites which can lead to the existence of numerous individual mine sites, large production quantities and regional importance (Šolar et al, 2009).

Aggregate transportation can add significantly to the cost of aggregates since aggregates are heavy and bulky. For example, transporting aggregate 30 to 50 km can double the price of the aggregate. As a result, aggregates typically have a narrow economic transportation radius and a high volume to value ratio, which can lead to the presence of extraction near urban areas (Šolar et al, 2009).

Since aggregates are primary resources needed for infrastructure, ensuring the application of “best practices” in the exploitation of aggregates is definitely in line with SD. As discussed by Šolar et al (2009), developing aggregate resources impacts the environment. Most environmental impacts are not serious and can be controlled by employing careful mining practices using available technology. One of the most serious environmental problems is the dereliction of abandoned pits or quarries. The reclamation of mined-out land contributes in the reduction of environmental impacts of aggregate extraction.

Quarrying affects communities as well as the environment. As noted by Langer (2009), the infrastructure necessary to build and maintain the social system of developing and developed countries cannot be created or sustained without aggregates. Although the aggregate industry has (a) a positive regional importance since it is a source of employment and (b) the benefits of aggregate utilization are dispersed over very large areas, it is common for the community where extraction occurs, to suffer most of the adverse consequences of resource development. Clearly a balance is needed and a balance should be sought.

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According to Langer (2002), there are potential environmental impacts associated with aggregate extraction including the conversion of land use, changes to the landscape, loss of habitat, noise, dust, blasting effects, erosion, and sedimentation. Most of the environmental impacts associated with aggregate mining are relatively benign. However, extracting aggregate from some areas may alter the geologic conditions, which, in turn, may alter the dynamic equilibrium of the area, resulting in cascading environmental impacts. By employing best management practices, most environmental impacts can be controlled, mitigated, or kept at tolerable levels and can be restricted to the immediate vicinity of the aggregate operation. Nevertheless, some otherwise high quality aggregate resources may not be developed because of environmental reasons.

This report is based on information collected on best practices for a number of case studies. The purpose of this report, which serves as a synthesis of activity WP3.1 outputs to date, is to compare and discuss in a horizontal manner (i.e. across case-studies) the issues that pertain to best practices in quarrying and to set the basis for developing recommendations based on best practices on issues such as quarry restoration, nature conservation, etc. The proposed recommendations can be used by both the industry and local or central authorities in order to encourage the application of such procedures. The content of this report will be combined with that of reports on activities 3.2 (Illegal quarrying) and 3.3 (Recycling), as well as other information, to produce a Manual on SARM at the local scale. The Manual can serve as a capacity building tool for all stakeholders, as can this synthesis report.

Although a fixed set of “best practices” or a manual of best practices in quarry operations is not available, most operators try to implement best practices by targeting and planning for individual issues (either when applying for environmental permits or when applying for the operation itself), by consulting specialized consultants and/or by following Best Available Technologies when available. In 2008 the US National Stone Council prepared a report titled “Best Practices of the Natural Stone Industry”. The report stresses the impact of Site Maintenance and Closure and details a) issues that create need for good site maintenance b) the benefits of site maintenance and quarry closure best practices and then suggests a) guidelines for best site maintenance practices, b) guidelines for safe and environmentally conscious quarry closure. The report includes technical information as well as hints on how to achieve best practices on individual unit operations in quarrying.

Best practices consist of “effective” or sustainable management of a number of quarry unit operations that apply to operation, closure and post-closure. In many cases “best practices” are set by laws or other regulations, with an overall target of protecting the environment, and promoting a healthier and safer work area. Also a number of issues included in best practices are based on experience and scientific work and although not covered by regulation, they are most effective in achieving the above results. In many cases the application of “best practices” has also a positive economic effect since cleanup operations or additional restoration operations are avoided.

Following the environmental and social best practices will reduce opposition by local communities expressed either as NIMBY (Not in my back yard), BANANA

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(Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything (or Anyone)) and increase the likelihood of gaining the social license to operate.

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Chapter 2: Background and Methodology

2.1 Background TUC leads activity 3.1 and the mainly involved partners are IGME-Greece, RGF-Serbia, ER and Parma-Italy, FGG-Romania and MINGORP-Serbia. This report was reviewed by the QMB members of the SARMa project (GeoZS, MUL, IGME, MBFH, ER). Partner abbreviations are shown in Appendix A.

The case studies that demonstrate best practices in the SEE area were carefully selected during the application phase and were confirmed during the initial months of the project. They cover areas from all over the SEE region. In order to cover a variety of produced aggregates either from quarries or rivers representative of such practices in the SEE area.

2.2 Data Collection In order to facilitate data collection and cross-referencing three templates were developed and verified by consortium members and put into effect after much discussion during meetings (consortium meetings, private meetings, QMB meetings, e-mail discussions, skype discussions, etc).

The SARMa database model (SDB) was developed in order to easily categorize all items pertaining to the identification and characterization of aggregate producing sites. The SDB template includes 37 items that could be easily collected by consortium partners after contacting the quarry or through their own knowledge of the operations in the study area.

As a second step, a baseline study report template was created. This template included some of the information that was requested in the SDB template but with a different focus. The focus was to distinguish operational, management, environmental, sustainable development, other issues, characteristics and practices for each model site. The baseline study reports that were developed by the consortium partners were quite extensive in descriptive terms, since they tried to encapsulate all available knowledge of the particular sites.

Initially, a third type report was proposed termed pilot site report (PSR) or preparatory report, that would be based on the baseline study report and would form from the basis for the synthesis repost of each activity. The PSR files were similar in nature to the BSR files and in some cases partners selected to go directly to the PSR file instead of developing both BSR files and PSR files. As a result of this effort a number of case studies were developed and extensively documented using the above templates in order to form the basic material for this synthesis report. The case studies that were developed are explained below.

IGME provided a case study for an active, legal, calcitic limestone quarry in Araxos, Peloponnese, Greece. RGF provided a case study of an active, legal, limestone area in Kovilovaca, Despotovac Municipality, Serbia. ER and Parma provided data on Lanca dei Francesi, an area in Italy where active and abandoned quarries have produced and are still producing silt, clay and sandy clay in the River Po floodplain. FGG provided data from a quarry in the Reversarea locality in Romania. The Revarsarea quarry is active, legal and produces rock, stones, crushed

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stone, chippings and grinder sand. Finally, MINGORP provided information on the Šljunčara Trsenik quarry, which is placed in floodplain of the river Sava, in the Zagreb region, Croatia. In that area both legal and illegal quarries are active and are producing silt, clay gravel, sand and peat. The case studies on which this report was based were geographically located in the whole SEE area as shown in Figure 1.

The available information is diagrammatically depicted in Figure 2.

2.3 Methodology of Analysis Since definite guidelines for the application of best practices do not exist, each quarry may apply different procedures that can be termed “Best Practices” or “Sustainable Environmental Management”. Usually operators apply Best Available Technologies (BATs) for one or several specific issues that need to be managed in that area. Activity 3.1 aims to gather these best practices from selected quarries that are in the SEE area. By consulting several sources in the literature (goodquarry.com; NSC (2008); www.quarryacademy.com; http://www.sustainableaggregates.com/, etc, a number of technical and non-technical issues where identified that contribute the sustainable environmental management. These issues are listed below:

Figure 1: Case studies analyzed

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SDB templates

BSR templates

PSR templates

WP3.1 Data Collection

KOVILOVACA_SR

ARAXOS_GR

LANCA_DEI_FRANCESI_IT

IACOBDEAL_RO

REVARSAREA_RO

IACOBDEAL_RO


REVARSAREA_RO

TRSTENIK_HR

ARAXOS_GR


KOVILOVACA_SR

Figure 2: Data Collection

Air Pollution Blasting Ecology and Biodiversity Nature Conservation Noise Planning Quarry Fines and Waste Restoration and Rehabilitation Social Issues and Community Transport and Traffic Visual Issues and Landscape Water

For each case study a summary is developed (Chapter 3) where data are

presented in tabular form (vertical analysis). Chapter 4 includes the horizontal analysis of the material presented in Chapter 3. The horizontal analysis is initially based on the 12 individual issues given above, where the common approaches in the different case studies for the same item can be easily identified. The vertical and horizontal analysis is diagrammatically presented in Figure 3.

Although there are overlaps between these issues (see below) handling of each issue by the operator (either internally or by external experts) is easier if they are managed and/or addressed individually. The same is true when the

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regulating authorities, monitor and/or address these issues. An example of the overlapping between these issues is as follows: blasting generates air pollution and may also have an adverse effect on natural habitats due to the noise. Also, blasting may generate negative feelings in the community due to the vibration and the noise. Thus, blasting may affect air pollution, noise, and the community. Thus these issues (although individually recorded for each case study – chapter 4) have been grouped into the following four broader categories:

Environmentally Friendly Quarrying Restoration Social Impacts Sustainable Development

This grouping of best practices into broader categories will help

stakeholders to easily identify the critical sustainability issues in an operation. However, not all categories are as dependent to the individual issues. The “Social Impacts” categories is (as expected) the most dependent since it touches on all issues. The “Restoration” category has the least links since it is a post-operation phase with the least disturbance to the surrounding area.

It is evident that when categorizing best practices, there is a significant overlap between the majority of the above mentioned issues or categories. For example, sustainable development may in the broader sense encompass all of the 12 separate issues mentioned. A schematic representation of the separate best practice issues and the more general best practice categories is represented in Figure 4 and Figure 5.

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Case Studies

WP3.1 Data Processing

Synthesis Report

KOVILOVACA_SR

ARAXOS_GR


TRSTENIK_HR

REVARSAREA_RO

Vertical Analysis

Horizontal Analysis

Other Best Practices issues

from the Literature

Grouping per Best Practice

Issue

Data Comparison and Analysis

Figure 3: Data Processing

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Figure 4: Issues and categories of best practice analysis (1/2)

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Figure 5: Issues and categories of best practice analysis (2/2)

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Chapter 3: Brief Descriptions of Case Studies This chapter includes in tabular (vertical) format a brief description of each case study as outlined in Table 1. Such descriptions are included in Table 1 for the Araxos Quarry in Greece, in Table 2 for the Kovilovaca Quarry in Serbia, in Table 3 for the Lanca dei Francesi Quarry in Italy, in Table 4 for the Revarsarea Quarry in Romania and in Table 5 for the Šljunčara Trsenik Quarry in Croatia. Table 1: Summary of case studies

SARMa Partner Case Study Extracted Material

Legal Status

Status of Activity

IGME-Greece Araxos Calcitic

limestone Legal Active

RGF-Serbia Kovilovaca Limestone Legal Active

ER and Parma-Italy

Lanca dei Francesi

Silt, sand, sandy clay Legal

Active and abandoned

quarries

FGG-Romania Revarsarea

Rock, stones, crushed stone,

chippings, grinder sand legal Active

MINGORP-Croatia Šljunčara Trsenik

Silt, clay, gravel, sand,

peat

Legal and illegal

quarries Active Two of the quarries used in this analysis are sand and gravel operations while the remaining three are hard rock operations. The unique contribution of each case study used in this analysis is as follows. The Araxos Quarry is successfully operating within a Natura 2000 area. The Lanca dei Francesi is operating in the Po River flood plains bordering a Natura 2000 area. The Kovilovaca quarry is operating near the Gorge of the Resava River which is a Special Nature reserve called Vinatovača. The Revarsarea quarry is in the middle of the migration path of wild birds. In Dobrogea, wild birds come in the months from April to May from Central Africa, Western and Mediterranean basin. In September, the birds leave for the African wild. Winter migration begins in November and ends in March. During this period, birds from Arctic Circle area winter in the Danube Delta. The Šljunčara Trsenik quarry operates in an area with a number of other legal as well as illegal operations.

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3.1 The Araxos Case Study The Araxos case study is briefly described below:

Figure 6: The Araxos quarry

Figure 7: Araxos quarry facilities

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Table 2: The Araxos case study Parameter Description Demographic issues The municipality of Larissos covers an area of 55.822 ha

(226 km2). The population is 8.683 inhabitants. Human activities include arable agriculture, stock-raising, fishing, hunting, recreation.

Infrastructure The quarry is close to the Patras-Pyrgos highway. A network of asphalt secondary roads connect the quarry site with the highway and major cities, facilitating the transportation of the products up to a distance of 50-55 km.

Land use planning The quarry site is surrounded by areas (wetlands, Pappas and Prokopos lagoons, Strofilia pine forest, Kotihi lagoon, etc) which, due to their significant ecological value, are protected at regional, national and international level (National Park, Natura 2000 network, Ramsar convention).

Presence of integrated land-planning framework seeking to balance competing interests between national and local levels, and between quarrying and conservation

Spatial planning is regulated by Law 2742/1999 on “Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development and other provisions” in direct relation with Law 2508/1997 for "Sustainable Urban Development of Cities and Villages of the country" and Law 1650/1988 for "Protection of the Environment”.

Biodiversity features

This is an area of high biodiversity, including three lagoons, aquatic birds, vallonea oak forests, low perennial and wide keafed shrubs, many predators, the forest of Strofylia.

Operational status The quarry is active. Around 80 ha (0, 32 km2) are still available for future exploitation in the Araxos quarrying area, excluding the already granted permits to three quarry operators.

Type of aggregates: Crushed rock aggregates composed of calcitic limestone. Structural geology conditions

Estimated reserves and ore resource potential

Around 8.000.000 tons

Quarry infrastructure

The National highway between Patras and Pyrgos and the secondary paved roads. The road network that serves the quarry operation is temporary and has a total length of

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approximately 1350m. Extraction methods and processing techniques

‘Open pit mining”. The exploitation involves the following stages:1) Construction of external and internal access roads, 2) Development of quarry faces, 3) Extraction of rock, 4) Loading and transportation of extracted material to the processing plant, 5) Processing - production of aggregates, 6) Transportation of quarry products to final users

Existence of codes of practice to achieve technical excellence

EN ISO 9001:2008 and has an EC Certificate of Factory Production Control (EN 12620:2002, EN 13043:2002+AC:2004, EN 13242:2002+AC:2004, EN 13450:2002+AC:2004)

Providing an overview of production figures

The Araxos quarry produces 650.000 tons annually. All three companies operating in the Araxos quarrying area produce around 2.500.000 tons annually

Uses and present market destinations

The aggregates produced are of very good quality and are mainly consumed in construction.

Operating system for remote monitoring of illegal quarrying

There is no operating system in place for remote monitoring of illegal quarrying apart from aerial photographs on special occasions.

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3.2 The Kovilovaca Case study The Kovilovaca case study is briefly described below:

Figure 8: Aerial view of the Kovilovača deposit and quarry.

Figure 9: Settling ponds at the Kovilovača operation

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Table 3: The Kovilovaca case study Parameter Description Demographic issues The population of Despotovac Municipality (2002 census) is

33,177, out of which 5034 in the town of Despotovac and 2571 in Resavica. The total number of households (the same census) is 9249 of which some 6000 are in agriculture.

Infrastructure The roads connecting the quarry are Despotovac-Svilajnac-Markovac (35 km), Despotovac-Ćuprija (22 km), Despotovac-Jagodina (35 km), all connecting Despotovac with the Belgrade-Niš highway. The total length of the regional roads is 112.5 km and of the local roads is 87.5 km. Despotovac is located near Corridor 10. There are 42 km of railway connecting the town with the Belgrade-Niš-Skoplje railway line. The nearest airports are in Niš and Belgrade.

Land use planning Local General Use Plan: area for quarrying. Protected area is the gorge of the Resava River, many protected areas in the Despotovac municipality and adjacent areas


There is no integrated land-planning framework Integrated land-planning framework will be prepared in the future most probably at the regional level, and for municipalities only in special cases or if it is directly financed by the local financial resources.


Plant life in highlands is complex and diverse. Beech forests are extensive. Oak woods, other tree species prevail in the fields, meadows and orchards. Gorge of the Resava River is a Special Nature reserve called Vinatovača

Operational status Kovilovača is in operation for almost 50 years, with a completely legal status

Type of aggregates: The quarry is in a large Ravanica limestone zone (upper Jurassic to lower Cretaceous - Tithonian-Valanginian)

Structural geology conditions

The wider area of the deposit is characterized by intensive tectonic activity which controlled geology, structural relationships and the recent surface land configuration.


50,000,000 tons (excavated reserves are excluded). Potential reserves of the nearby area are around 200 Mt

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Parameter Description Quarry infrastructure

Good roads, a high voltage line in the town. Low voltage lines at the quarry, transformer station is under reconstruction. There is a telephone wire at the quarry and mobile phone network. Technical and drinking water supply system was installed previously. Railway station is in the Despotovac town, 1 km away from the quarry.

Extraction methods and processing techniques

Quarrying originally began with slicing-down a limestone hill, but has now continued to benches below the surface of the surrounding land. The standard bench height is 15 m and the blast holes are around 17 m, including 1 m of subdrillng. Washing system is well organized


There is collecting, monitoring and analyzing data in all sectors of production and the drilling aspect of the operation is no exception, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications


Production increased since its privatization in 2003, when the potential of the site had been fully realized. 1999-2009 4,346,524t


Aggregate rock: road and construction industry (~ 80% of total production), for metallurgy (~ 10%) at US Steel factory in Smederevo, and as filler in food industry (~ 10%).Present market destinations are mostly northern parts of Serbia, which are without much of the good natural aggregate rocks.


There is no remote system for monitoring of illegal quarrying in Serbia.

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3.3 The Lanca Dei Francesi case study

Figure 10: The “Lanca Dei Francesi” case study

Figure 11: Other views of the “Lanca dei Francesi” quarry Table 4: The Lanca Dei Francesi case study Parameter Description Demographic issues The River Po floodplain, within which the “Lanca dei

Francesi” quarry is located, is totally uninhabited, as it is periodically flooded by river floods and for this reason is entirely intended for agronomic activities

Infrastructure The River Po floodplain is little affected by anthropic infrastructure, (high risk of flooding). Floodplain

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Parameter Description embankments, roads, (provincial roads have been used as cycling and walking paths, environmental enhancement, touristic enhancement) Infrastructures for mobility have also included the River Po line, whose waterway has been subject of numerous and onerous channeling works designed to make it navigable.

Land use planning The “Lanca dei Francesi” quarry is subject to periodic and relevant floods “Strip A” of the Hydro geological Arrangement Plan extract, located in “Protection zones of watercourse environmental features”


PTCP: implement and specify the constraints resulting from superordinate plans of super-regional importance (the River Po basin Authority PAI) and regional (PTR, PTPR, PTA, PRIT, Natura 2000 Network, etc.) Therefore, the final layouts of the quarrying Pole within which the “Lanca dei Francesi” site is located, are oriented to provide renaturalisation and environmental enhancement of the entire sector.


The current land use shows little evidence of the original environment of the river perimeter. The site boundary has some areas of environmental interest belonging to Natura 2000 Network.

Operational status The “Lanca dei Francesi” quarry is active. In general along the Parma floodplains there are several quarries. No illegal quarries have been reported in the area. Instead, the river bed excavations regulated since 1904 through the issuing of specific licenses led to major illegal activities in the past years and to significant damages to the bottom. There are some abandoned quarries.

Type of aggregates: One meter thick silty-to-silty/clayish surface cover, sandy bank, (3 and 5 m thick), of fine and very fine sand interspersed with silt (sometimes with organics), a level of hazel medium and coarse sands.


The geological structure of the study area appears to be closely related to and influenced by the evolutionary history of the Po complex basin can be defined as the progressive evolution of a Foreland Basin bounded by the progress limits of buried overthrusts of the Southern Alps south-verging layer and the Northern Apennines north-verging layer. This compression, that generates a progressive shortening and deformation in the north-east direction of the basin crystalline basement, was reduced

22

Parameter Description significantly in the Quaternary, allowing Apennines and Alps streams to fill the Po basin, giving the current lithostratigraphic and morphological structure.


The River Po siliceous sands represent a potentially unlimited quarrying resource in the Po basin, and particularly large in the floodplain area in question (estimated at several million cubic meters).however: physical limits (embankments and river defenses), the presence of environmental and landscape constraints, etc.


Mobile crusher for sand primary treatment (screening and washing); Transportation is mainly by road


Topsoil and outcrop removal (50cm) through the use of hydraulic excavators and wheel loaders. Resource quarrying above the water table, by subsequent lots, using hydraulic excavators and wheel loaders, to a depth of about 6 m from the ground level. Resource quarrying under the aquifer level, through a dredger directly mounted into the quarry lake, proceeding by subsequent lots to a maximum depth of 12 m from ground level.


ISO and UNI certifications


The current “Lanca dei Francesi” quarry has so far extracted 1,200,000 cubic meters of sand, while the new extractive potential (from PIAE) will be 1,250,000 cubic meters of siliceous sands and 250,000 cubic meters of silt and sandy clay.


Sands: building industry (cement mortars and concrete production) for the construction of road foundations (binders), and a small part is used in the glass industry (separation of non-quartz components is required). Clayey and sandy silts: brick industry (both as corrective products and mixed with river clay) and used for road embankments and to produce road foundations stabilizers, besides, obviously, for the embankment reconstruction or raising.


An annual topographic survey verifies the effective enforcement of design guidelines for authorized quarries (surface and excavation methods, final layout methods, road network, etc.). A GPS tracking system is currently in force only in the Emilia-Romagna Region.

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3.4 The Revarsarea case study

Figure 12: The Revarsarea quarry and town Table 5: The Revarsarea case study Parameter Description Demographic issues The quarry is located in the territorial area of Isaccea

town, Revarsarea locality Infrastructure The quarry is situated in Tulcea county, in the territorial

area of Isaccea town, Revarsarea locality, at 7 km west from Isaccea and 1.5 km south from national road DN 22 (km 132+960). Access in the area is provided by the national road DN 22 Macin – Tulcea.

Lad use planning The Revarsarea quarry is situated inside SCI Podisul Nord Dobrogean and SPA Macin Niculitel

Presence of integrated land-planning framework seeking

No data

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Parameter Description to balance competing interests between national and local levels, and between quarrying and conservation Biodiversity features

Romania is a migration path. In Dobrogea, wild birds come in the months from April to May from Central Africa, Western and Mediterranean basin. In September, the birds leave for the African wild. Winter migration begins in November and ends in March. During this period, birds from Arctic Circle area winter in the Danube Delta.

Operational status Active

Type of aggregates: Brute rock, for: "pereuri", stones - suitable for all technical classes of roadslarge stone and crushed stone, chippings, Grinder sand


Part of the North Dobrogean Orogen through. Three major structural units stand out from the North Dobrogea Orogen: Macin Nape, Niculiţel Nape and Tulcea Nape.


On approval of the perimeter, the geological deposit reserve, until the base altitude of +120 meters, on the 25.09 m ha area contained total reserves of 11 723 thousands tons (cat. B+C1)


Exploitation perimeter access road is provided from the national road DN 22 Tulcea - Macin - Braila, km. 132.00, hence a distance of 1.5 km to the south along a local road arranged on the right side Rece stream. Access on the Danube is possible through Isaccea harbor at approximately 10 km from the site. Access by railway station is made through x Cataloi station at approximately 50 km from the site


method of quarrying, in downward fans, with explosives placed in boreholes and with external dumping of the sterile material


ISO 9001, SR EN 14001 and OHSAS 18001


In year 2009, there were 818000 tones extracted and about 6260 thousand tones remained.

Uses and present market

Building dams, road infrastructure works, railway ballast works

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Parameter Description destinations Operating system for remote monitoring of illegal quarrying

None

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3.5 The Šljunčara Trsenik case study

Figure 13: Satellite image of the pilot site dark brown the natural landscape along the Sava river flood plain.

Figure 14: Equipment used for excavation in different parts of the Šljunčara Trsenik quarry Table 6: The Šljunčara Trsenik case study Parameter Description Demographic issues Produces approximately 1/3 of sand and gravel in the

Zagreb region, The Zagreb region consists of the city of Zagreb (capital of Croatia) with an area of 640 km2 and a population of 777,826 and the Zagrebačka County which encircles the City with a population of 283.298

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Parameter Description and an area of 3,078 km2

Infrastructure The main road infrastructure: dirt road (200 m) and then some 600 m of asphalt road (connects to the County road Reka-Otok-Rugvica (Ž1036) in the settlement Otok Svibovski), north of the quarries (6 km) the main railway Zagreb-Belgrade passes through Dugo selo, the quarries have access to rail transport, some 2 km to south a river port is planned on the river Sava which would also allow transport by barges.

Lad use planning Quarry location: floodplain of the river Sava, protection from flooding by an embankment along the river. The original pre-quarrying landscape was a mixture of arable fields, meadows and scattered forest. The present landscape consists of several lakes. (Prostorni plan Zagrebačke županije, PPŽ 2001) treats the area partly as very valuable arable land and as arable land in general.


The Urbanistic plan of the Rugvica municipality (2005) proposes the protection of the area in accordance with the Nature Protection Act. It is designated as an Ornithological Reserve which is from 2007 designated as a part of the national ecological network (based on the Ordinance on the Croatian Ecological Network (Official Gazette 109/09). The Ecological Network is the basis for designation of future Natura 2000 areas.


Tree communities. Also, through the LIFE III project CRO-NEN it was determined that the area of the quarries is a habitat to 5 bird species

Operational status 17 legal operating quarries. About 36 locations where illegal activities related to quarrying of sand and gravel within the Sava floodplain are occurring at present, 25% of aggregates present on the market in Zagreb come from illegal quarrying

Type of aggregates: The first horizon consists of soil, silt and clays of low plasticity and is 2 to 5 m deep. The second horizon consists of gravel and sand partly saturated with water the thickness is 5 to 10 m. The third horizon consists of clay, peat and silt. In the upper part of the horizon trunks of Qercus robur can be found which are presumed to be about 2000 years old and are used for sculpturing in the Rugvica Art Colony. The fourth horizon consists of gravel and sand approximately 20 m thick

Structural geology x

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Parameter Description conditions Estimated reserves and ore resource potential

The total amount of gravel and sand to be produced is 8.1 million m3 of gravel and sand. The amount of gravel and sand to be produced from the first horizon is about 1 million m3 and the rest from the second horizon (below the clay-silt peat layer), the annual production is 500.000 m3 (840.000 t). Approximately 80% of the production is sold in the Zagreb city region and the rest within a radius of 80 km. The IGM Šljunčara Trsenik supplies about 30% of gravel and sand in the region for both housing and infrastructural (transport) facilities.


A zone of high voltage electric power lines


Excavation of the clay-peat inter layer, extraction of the gravel and sand to the depth of 35 m and transport of the material, extraction of shallow and marginal parts of the deposits, excavation in the zone of high voltage electric power lines, deposition and classification of the excavated gravel and sand in the zone where the treatment facilities are located, development of a waste disposal depot


The working process is integrated and IGM Trstenik has an ISO 9001 for quality control.


x


x


MINGROP’s Mining Department controls quarrying through annual geodetic surveys which have to be reported and verified by April the next year. The Mining Inspectorate controls the validity of data from the geodetic survey and the shown amounts of raw material excavated while the finance office controls the shown profits and payments of royalties

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Chapter 4: Best Practices Following Chapter 3 where the available data was presented per case study (vertical analysis) in this chapter the available data is presented per best practice issue (horizontal analysis). These 12 issues were proposed in Chapter 2 as a means to better discuss best practices implementation. The detailed information was collected by the respective partner for each quarry and was tabulated in this chapter.

For each of the 12 best practice issues analyzed below, best practice recommendations are given based on both the recorded information from the case studies as well as the literature. It should be noted that there are some instances where the information reported in the case studies analyzed is not exactly a practice, good or bad, but rather context setting.

It should be noted that the best practice list presented below is not exhaustive. Additional best practice issues may be introduced and evaluated if needed. Furthermore, it should be repeated here that best practices in quarrying are usually discussed according to sustainable development principles (SD).

4.1 Air Pollution Air pollution consists of both particulate matter emissions (dust) and gas emissions. Best practices should include measures for both groups of pollutants, i.e. de-dusting systems that can be installed to collect fine waste materials (Araxos), dust exhausting systems can be used at the mills (Kovilovaca). Also the conveyor / crushing system can be hooded (Revarsarea), the road or pit areas that generate dust should be moistened (Revarsarea). Internal transportation of material should be done with hooded conveyors or slightly moistened material. External transportation of the raw materials should be in hooded vehicles or with other dust suppressing systems. Systematic monitoring and evaluation of gas emissions should done and if exceeded the corresponding equipment units should be checked and maintained.

Table 7 presents a horizontal summary of the Air Pollution issue among the collected case studies. Table 7: Air pollution- EFQ + SI + SD Araxos quarry Two de-dusting systems are installed to collect the fine waste

material. Also dust monitoring systems where installed. Kovilovača Air quality conditions are checked regularly according to the

instructions imposed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The following hazardous components has to be controlled: SO2, NO2, total settling components, Cd, Pb, Zn, SO4

2-, Cl, Ca. There are no special codes of practice to achieve environmental excellence, but the company is introducing new equipment, new dust exhausting system for the mills, and more efficient washing system. The expected impact on air is rather small, but it is already systematically monitored.

Revarsarea The maximum values of air pollution are not exceeded. All

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measures to reduce the operating machine gas emissions are taken. Dust emissions are also evaluated annually. The values are lower than the maximum permissible limits. SC SOROCAM SRL in order to reduce dust emissions of the installation have hooded the conveyor crushing / sorting and moisten regularly the area of the industrial processing.

Lanca dei Francesi

The matrix environmental air quality is exposed to risk factors only in the presence of anthropic activities, which are currently not directly present in the area under study. In relation to the quarrying location and to the recovery procedure planned, the impacts that it will bring to the existing environment, both in ecological-natural and anthropic infrastructure terms, are demonstrated through an environmental study in three phases. (current environmental status of the area, expected impacts, environmental status of the area at the end of the intervention). The gradual progress of quarrying interventions, the use of a suction dredge, the treatment in site of the extracted aggregates using a mobile crusher plant for the extracted sand sorting and washing. Emissions are usually contained in the close surroundings of the quarry, and they are regulated by EU and national laws.

Šljunčara Trstenik

The amount of dust in the air is produced during the ”wet” production is small since there is no crushing in the process only wet separation of grain fractions. Internal transport is by conveyer belts and the raw material is wet. The truck transport is by an asphalt road 600 m long. The emissions fuel combustion of the excavation and transport equipment is controlled

4.2 Blasting Blasting is a major unit operation in most quarry exploitations. Blasting may produce noise, vibration as well as flyrock. Best practices should include application of sequential blasting to reduce vibrations as well as utilization of newer technology (i.e. NONEL caps) to avoid noise. In any case monitoring records of vibration and noise should be kept by the operator. Good blasting plans allow for uniform overburden that will reduce flyrock and reduce the cost of blasting and / or loading.

Table 8 presents a horizontal summary of the Blasting issue among the collected case studies. Table 8: Blasting-EFQ + SI + SD Araxos Application of a blasting technique that reduces blasting effects

and vibration impacts (sequential blasting), Use of new generation explosives

Kovilovača No data Revarsarea Noise blasting activity is assessed annually and the noise is

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assessed every semester. The values fall within the legislated maximum values.

Lanca dei Francesi

Explosives are not used due to the type of quarry activity.


Explosives are not used due to the type of quarry activity.

4.3 Ecology and Biodiversity Ecology is the branch of science that studies the distribution and abundance of living organisms, and the interactions between organisms and their environment. The environment of an organism includes both its physical habitat, which can be described as the sum of local abiotic factors like climate and geology, as well as the other organisms which share its habitat. The term was coined in 1866 by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel from the Greek oikos meaning "household" and logos meaning "science:" the "study of the household of nature” (Wordiq.com).

According to Jones and Stokes Associates (1987) "Natural diversity, is synonymous with biological diversity... To the scientist, natural diversity has a variety of meanings. These include: 1) the number of different native species and individuals in a habitat or geographical area; 2) the variety of different habitats within an area; 3) the variety of interactions that occur between different species in a habitat; and 4) the range of genetic variation among individuals within a species."

Ecology and biodiversity may be affected by quarry operations. Nevertheless quarries can operate with Natura 2000 areas and other protected areas provided they respect the eco-system. Best practices should include the development and application of detailed and state-of-the-art environmental plans in order to protect Ecology and Biodiversity. For example, oils must be collected and delivered to the supplier for treatment, leakage avoidance measures should be taken, noise avoidance measures should be taken, etc.

Table 9 presents a horizontal summary of the Ecology and Biodiversity issue among the collected case studies. Table 9: Ecology + Biodiversity-EFQ + SI + SD + REST Araxos Engine oils: Around 10000L/year engine oils are collected and

delivered to the supplier for treatment. Leakage avoidance measures during the car and machinery repair and maintenance work, Interventions towards wildlife protection and elimination of noise and dust disturbances to the Araxos village e.g construction of bridges to protect Lutra lutra threatened from truck transport and of a road bypassing the village.

Kovilovača The area surrounding the quarry site is a National Park. It is also protected by the Ramsar convention since 1982 and included in the Natura 2000 network as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and as a Site of Community Importance. Quarries do not produce any toxic pollution, or any direct negative impact on

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environment. The Kovilovača quarry, is close to the urban area, there are no special animal species that has to be protected.

Revarsarea The site is located in Asan hill and is situated at the extreme north of Bird Protection Area: ROSPA0073 Macin - Niculiţel, and extreme northern limit of the protected area of sites of Community importance: ROSCI0201 - Northern Dobrogea Plateau.

Lanca dei Francesi

The current land use shows little evidence of the original environment of the river perimeter. The site boundary has some areas of environmental interest belonging to Natura 2000 Network. Furthermore, around the “Lanca dei Francesi”, the Parma lowlands area is involved in the Life 2009-2012 project.


The Urbanistic plan of the Rugvica municipality (2005) proposes the protection of the area in accordance with the Nature Protection Act. it is designate as an Ornithological Reserve which is from 2007 designated as a part of the national ecological network (based on the Ordinance on the Croatian Ecological Network (Official Gazette 109/09). The Ecological Network is the basis for designation of future Natura 2000 areas. tree communities, small mammals, the area of the quarries is a habitat to 5 bird species.

4.4 Nature Conservation Nature conservation is the active management of the Earth’s natural resources, plants, animals and environment, to ensure that they survive or are appropriately used (http://www.agriculturedictionary.com/definition/nature-conservation.html)

Nature conservation is a general term that encompasses both issues related to Ecology and Biodiversity (as discussed previously). Best practices should include the development of an Environmental Impact Assessment Study performed by the operator and the Environmental Conditions as set out by the regulating authorities. These should constitute a global overview of all issues pertaining to nature conservation, taking into account local natural systems. Also, systematic monitoring should be performed of air quality, water, soil, noise and vibration. This issue overlaps considerably with the Ecology and Biodiversity issue.

According to NSC (2008), the following can be considered as best practices: To keep disturbed area as small as possible, and ensure vehicles keep to the

designated paths. This minimizes the future labor and finances required during quarry reclamation.

To research local wildlife populations to understand any issues with threatened or endangered species in the region.

If surface water diversion is necessary, take care to ensure that downstream ecosystems, residential areas, and water supplies are not impaired.

To minimize removal of native vegetation since plant life aids in soil stability and overall ecosystem health

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To maintain topsoil in any areas not in use and to maintain maximum existing vegetation coverage, and replant any areas not in use, especially to either side of haul roads.

To slow stormwater runoff with contoured, low-gradient drains and channels, as well as retention ponds. A series of ponds may also be used to remove sediment and other contaminants from water before reuse or reintroduction into natural waterways (Kovilovača).

Table 10 presents a horizontal summary of the Nature Conservation issue among

the collected case studies. Table 10: Nature Conservation-EFQ + SI + SD + REST Araxos Extraction activities in the study area are carried out according to

approved Environmental Impact Assessment Study and around 50 Environmental Conditions.

Kovilovača The area surrounding the quarry site is a National Park. It is also protected by the Ramsar convention since 1982 and included in the Natura 2000 network as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and as a Site of Community Importance. Also, the operating company will take steps to ensure the absence of residual contamination of the affected area with an obligation to restore degraded land.

Revarsarea SC SOROCAM SRL complies with all provisions of Romanian legislation on the environment. It monitors quarterly and annually the air quality, soil, water, noise and vibration from the operating process to ensure that maximum values of these parameters are not exceeded and takes all measures to reduce the gas emissions of the operating equipment.

Lanca dei Francesi

The quarry is subject to periodic and relevant floods “Strip A” of the Hydro geological Arrangement Plan extract, located in “Protection zones of watercourse environmental features”, annual topographic survey, verify the effective enforcement of design guidelines for authorized quarries (surface and excavation methods, final layout methods, road network, etc.) A GPS tracking system is currently in force only in the Emilia-Romagna Region, "Guidelines for environmental restoration of sites involved in quarrying activities within the Po floodplains trench that covers the provinces of Piacenza, Parma and Reggio Emilia, in agreement with the contents and purposes of the Po Area Program, river of Europe”. The Guidelines were approved by the Emilia-Romagna Region with deliberation of the Regional Council No 2171 of 27th December 2007.


The Mining Act (Official Gazette 75/09), (Environmental Protection Act, Waters Act, Concession Act) in total some 26 Act and Ordinances are related to both exploration and exploitation of mineral raw materials. To reduce amounts of peat, experiments are being performed to make it a market product. During the extraction recultivation in the western part of the deposit which

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will have a sport-recreational function is going to be seeded as a vegetation transition zone towards the Natura 2000 ornithological reserve “Sava at Hrušćica” along the Sava river floodplain. The excavation will be performed in this part of the deposit and the waste from the third layer will be used to create two islands which will separate this area from exploitation in the northeastern part of the deposit which is planned to be a fish farm.

4.5 Noise Noise in quarrying usually comes from two major sources: Machinery (stationary, i.e. crushers, or moving i.e. trucks) and blasting. Suggested best practices include regular monitoring of noise and comparison to current legislation terms or site environmental terms, installation of noise suppression systems, use of appropriate blasting technique and blasting material, consideration for the construction of new roads to bypass residential areas.

Table 11 presents a horizontal summary of the Nature Conservation issue among the collected case studies. Table 11: Noise-EFQ + SI + SD Araxos Noise sources: machinery, blasting. To control the noise,

specific and very strict Environmental Conditions were set that includes the blasting technique and type of explosives. Also a new access road bypassing the Araxos village was constructed.

Kovilovača Equipment produce noise during day-time operations (6 am till 22 pm), but within limitations imposed by the State regulations. A new exhausting system was installed at end of April 2010 that will more effectively reduce noise. Negative potential impacts include noise production which is inevitable due to the crushing and milling facilities.

Revarsarea The maximum values of noise are not exceeded. All measures are taken to reduce the operating machine gas emissions. Noise blasting activity is assessed annually and the noise is assessed every semester - values falling within the legislated maximum values

Lanca dei Francesi

Noise is usually contained in the close surroundings of the quarry. Noise levels are regulated by EU and national laws.


No data

4.6 Planning Planning usually refers to two major phases: Planning for operations and planning for close and post-closure conditions. Planning for operations involves a detailed plan for both extraction of the aggregate as well as for the execution of the environmental controls during the operation phase. At the same time planning for

35

closure and post-closure addresses both the operation phase and the post-operation phase.

The recommended best practice is that planning should be integral for operations and closure and should identify the critical stages for land management, and a continuous interaction between the economic component and the environmental component. Plans should be adequately discussed with local stakeholders prior to implementation and once approved should be followed in detail. This is especially true for closure and restoration plans.

Table 12 presents a horizontal summary of the Planning issue among the collected case studies. Table 12: Planning-EFQ + REST + SI + SD Araxos The final aim of the restoration plan scheduled is to deliver the

site after closure in an aesthetic balance with the surrounding area and to minimize the environmental impact from the extraction activities. It is expected that the remediation practices applied will restore and maintain the vegetation cover to a satisfactory degree and help avoid soil erosion. The remediation and maintenance work plan during operation and three (3) years after quarry closure.

Kovilovača Integrated land-planning framework will be prepared in the future most probably at the regional level, obligation to restore degraded land. Engineering recultivation includes modelling the land degraded by mining works and preparing it for biological recultivation by forming final benches, slopes, filling, top soiling. Biological recultivation involves planting of suitable species on bench flats. The first phase will explore the current environmental status of the area; the second phase will come up with the expected impacts; and the third phase will address the environmental status of the area at the end of the intervention.

Revarsarea The Revarsarea quarry is situated inside the SCI Podisul Nord Dobrogean and SPA Macin Niculitel.

Lanca dei Francesi

The planning of the quarry was conducted by a team of technical experts in environmental disciplines because a sustainable quarry operation must be based on the continuous interaction between the economic component and the environmental component. In this way, recovery of the area will be best in terms of environmental performance at the end of the quarrying activity.


The company has prepared a closure program together with the local authorities, the spatial planning authorities and is preparing recultivation measures to have a transition from quarrying activities towards an ornithological reserve which will be a part of the Natura2000 network. To reduce amounts of peat, experiments are being performed to make it a market product. During the extraction recultivation in the western part of the deposit which will have a sport-recreational function is going to be seeded as a vegetation transition zone towards the

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Natura2000 ornithological reserve “Sava at Hrušćica” along the Sava river floodplain. The excavation is planned to be performed in this part of the deposit and the waste from the third layer will be used to create two islands which will separate this area from exploitation in the northeastern part of the deposit which is planned to be a fish farm.

4.7 Quarry Fines and Waste All industrial, mining and quarrying operations produce waste. In the case of quarrying operations waste belongs to two major categories: a) waste rock which is usually inert material but may be produced in very large quantities and b) other waste which are mostly petroleum based (fuels, lubricants, tires, plastics, containers, etc).

The recommended best practices for quarry waste and fines should include a plan to a) try and re-use quarry fines for remediation, or as backfill material b) try to develop mixtures and by-products with or without commercial value c) return silts to water bodies (if appropriate). In addition, best practices for handling of other waste should include procedures to collect discharged oils and deliver for treatment, to recycle wrapping materials, containers and tires, and in general to take waste management measures. Such measures are well known from their development and application in other (heavy) industries.

In any case upon closure, the quarry site should be cleared of any materials that would not naturally be found in the area. This should not be difficult if best practices are maintained throughout the life of the quarry. Scrap stone can be sold, used as refill or landscaping, crushed for other applications (such as concrete production), or otherwise dealt with responsibly (NSC, 2008).

Table 13 presents a horizontal summary of the Quarry Fines and Waste issue among the collected case studies. Table 13: Quarry Fines + Waste-EFQ + SI + SD + REST Araxos It is a zero-waste operation. The overburden after removal is

re-used either for remediation or as a backfill material, discharged engine oils (around 10000lt/year) are collected and delivered to the supplier for treatment. The other category of wastes produced is the wrapping material from the consumables used and the worn out tires.-recycle, Waste management measures

Kovilovača The total annual amount of the waste/byproduct material (washing the limestone) is 7-8%, a mixture of dominant fine-grained limestone sand and dust, and clay minerals with small amount of free silica and iron oxy-hydroxides, not possible to use in ceramic industry. Promising fields is a cheap inert and fine-grained material to be used instead of sand to fill the anti-flood bags for emergency cases, studies performed in order to characterize the waste, but the results were negative

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Revarsarea The technological waste that is subsequently utilized is stored in waste dumps located on the crushing / sorting platform. Also waste is stored in landfills (external dumps). Mining waste includes the fines from crushing and soil from the overburden. The latter is initially deposited, but will subsequently used for the recultivation of the exploitation benches. All waste from mining will be fully used.

Lanca dei Francesi

No production of waste, no cultivation scraps, soil surface and the outcrop are stored in special areas to be reused in the final layout process. After the sand washing, the silts produced by the crusher are settled in suitable tanks and then they are returned to the quarry lake (after permission from the Province authority).


Quarrying waste, the marsh (silt-clay peat) deposits. It is calculated that this waste would amount to 1.3 million m3 and that about 1.7 million m3 will be produced from excavation, this material is stored and will be used for shaping of the shore lines and creation of two islands, tests have been performed to purify the silt fraction (industrial mineral-chemical industry), the clay fraction (barrier layers in municipal waste disposal). The peat is being tested to see if it could find application for purification purposes and in agriculture.

4.8 Restoration and Rehabilitation The restoration of the affected area and its rehabilitation is a procedure that starts even before closure and extends to post-closure. This is a very important phase since public perception of the quarry operation usually focuses on the restoration plans. There are many examples of abandoned quarries that present a scar to the landscape.

Best practices in restoration includes but is not limited to the plantation of suitable species (Araxos), disallowing for any residual contamination, restoration of the degraded land by utilizing either the topsoil removed during the initial development of the quarry or even topsoil from other areas, restoration of natural features (i.e. streams, etc). Also, on many occasions, restoration is related to change in land utilization by creating new facilities, such as a lake (in case of deep quarries with impermeable bottoms) or sports facilities (Šljunčara Trstenik) or recreational parks or wetlands (Lanca dei Francesi) or a combination of the above. Alternatively the recovered quarry can be re-established as an area of cultural and educational value. Also, it is important to consider the planted species should be as close as possible to the original species. The recovery of a quarry is a way to restore the environmental quality and counter the loss of biodiversity. Best practice is also considered the development of plant nurseries during the life time of the quarry to facilitate the restoration phase with local species.

It should be noted that planning for closure and restoration from the beginning of an operation makes the process easier; waste can be removed as it is

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created, excavation can be planned so that topography restoration is less complicated, new soil can be composted, and existing plant species can be documented for more successful replanting. Site rehabilitation can make the land more valuable and attractive for resale. In any case the restoration plan should ensure that all trash and recycling is removed as well as any machine parts and packaging material. Stored overburden and other stone waste should not be left in piles, and—ideally—none should be sent to a landfill (NSC, 2008).

Table 14 presents a horizontal summary of the Restoration and Rehabilitation issue among the collected case studies. Table 14: Restoration + Rehabilitation -REST + SI + SD Araxos There is plantation work on the mined out quarry faces. Extra soil

has been transported to cover the floor of the benches. Up to now more that 3.000 trees and herbaceous shrubs have been planted. Trees have also been planted along the external access roads in front of the main entrance to the quarry. Application of a restoration plan is aiming to deliver the site after closure in an aesthetic and ecological balance with the surrounding area.

Kovilovača Engineering recultivation includes modelling the land degraded by mining works and preparing it for biological recultivation by forming final benches, slopes, filling, top soiling. Biological recultivation involves planting of suitable species on bench flats. The first phase will explore the current environmental status of the area; the second phase will come up with the expected impacts; and the third phase will address the environmental status of the area at the end of the intervention. It is very hard to give an early evaluation of the future quarry restoration, as it will need numerous years of excavation before the significant technical restoration starts.

Revarsarea The overburden material (loess) will be used for covering the former operating benches, which will subsequently revegetated.

Lanca dei Francesi

The quarrying was set to obtain a contextual and integrated recovery. In this way the recovery shows the quarry as an opportunity to keep together different synergic actions, i.e. the subsequent reuse, in order to counteract the loss of biodiversity and the natural aspect of it. In particular, the recovered quarry as wetlands is a key point for the creation of a network of interconnected areas of environmental and landscape importance of the fluvial area (the ecological network). Finally, the recovery represents an economic opportunity, for tourism, cultural and educational time, a way to read the land, its history and its use through the creation of bike paths and places for the observation of the avifauna.


In 2025 the site (lake) shall be shaped to be used as a recreational and sport facility. The final landscape will be cultivated, Also it is planned to plant various water plants in the coastal area, The SRC “Rugvica” as a post closure and

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rehabilitation area will consist of three general groups of facilities: R1- sports’ fields; R2 –recreation in nature; R3- other activities.

4.9 Social Issues and Community Identifying stakeholders’ values, interests, goals and the scale at which they apply is the first step in resolving the complex situations that impact a country’s ability to maintain a secure material supply and achieve other policy goals. The scale of interest is a consideration in such situations due to fact that benefits and costs accrue to different parties in different regions (Šolar et al., 2009).

A good communication practice between stakeholders is always desirable not only during the permitting, but also during the operation phase of a quarry. In recent years there has been an increased involvement of the local communities in the decision process for new and / or existing quarries. There is a lot to be discussed in this issue as Sustainable Development practices are applied in many sectors of industry and administration. Corporate social responsibility can strengthen ties and support better relationships with the local community; generate a corporate culture that promotes and instills a good environmental policy among employees; and develop a safety-conscious workplace.

The recommended best practice is the increased and sustained communication between stakeholders (i.e. operators, local community and authorities) (Araxos). This can be implemented through a series of meetings, workshops, public reports, leaflets, posters, and other events such as school excursions (Šljunčara Trstenik).

Table 15 presents a horizontal summary of the Social and Community Issues issue among the collected case studies. Table 15: Social Issues and Community-SI + SD Araxos Good communication practices are established between the

quarry operator and the local communities. Meetings, media and personalized communication practices are some of the available mechanisms to increase communication and discussion between stakeholders on local and regional level.

Kovilovača The local community is entitled by the Environmental Laws to be engaged and involved in decision making in the process of preparing environmental acceptance of the Study of Impact of Quarrying and Processing of Stone on the Environment. Mechanisms to increase communication and discussion between stakeholders in Serbia are at low level. There is a good communication between Ministries and quarry management, between Municipality authorities and quarry management, but the discussion between local community and company should be improved. The main problem relates to improving the knowledge base at a local level, since most of the people living nearby has, generally, low education level.

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Revarsarea SC SOROCAM SRL respects the local community. The community is always consulted through public debates on the projects the company intends to implement.

Lanca dei Francesi

The identification of the PIAE quarrying areas was subjected to the vision and assessment of the main social interest holders (citizens, public agencies and environmental groups) and economic (firms and entrepreneurs in the sector).The “Lanca dei Francesi” quarry is also an Emilia-Romagna Region reference project, which is shared with all the concerned holders. Both the PIAE and the regional pilot project from which it derives, have been previously shared with local interest and institutional holders. Once completed, it is also planned to give high public spreading to the final layout plan, meetings and brochures will be organized, the regional Guidelines are available.


The company (IGM Šljučara Trstenik d.d.) informs both the local and wider community about its activities, plans and economic issues. It publishes its annual report on profits and losses as well as the minutes of meetings of management stakeholders. It publishes news about its activities related to improvement of quarrying in various professional magazines (Mineral, Graditelj, Ekonomist, Ports and Dredging) also it gives reports to the local radio stations and television. Regular meetings and communication with local authorities especially spatial planning, environmental and economy departments, The company sponsors various cultural actives. Workshops are organized related to mining and quarrying problems in Croatia and the Zagrebačka County region, The company also organizes visits of both local school children and pre-school children to familiarize them with the processes of quarrying, of the uses of aggregates and the benefits of these activities to society. The company, therefore, communicates both with the academic society, but also with professional associations of producers but mostly it is focused on the local community. The government doesn’t actively encourage restoration and most gravel and sand quarries are just left to become uncontrolled waste deposal sites.

4.10 Transport As already mentioned, transporting aggregate 30 to 50 kilometers can double the price of the aggregate. As a result, aggregates have a narrow economic transportation radius, which can lead to the presence of extraction near urban areas (Šolar et al, 2009). This is desirable, but may also raise social issues in terms of disturbance, etc. Also, transportation may affect the fauna and flora in sensitive areas (i.e. Natura 2000 or protected areas).

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The recommended best practices are to make sure that a) impacts to wildlife are minimized (i.e. by using alternate routes and/or by implementing noise suppression and dust protection schemes) b) impacts to residential areas are minimized (i.e. by using alternate routes and / or by transporting aggregated at off-peak or specific hours of the day).

Table 16 presents a horizontal summary of the Social and Community Issues issue among the collected case studies. Table 16: Transport + Traffic- EFQ + SD Araxos Interventions towards wildlife protection and elimination of

noise and dust disturbances to the Araxos village e.g. construction of bridges to protect Lutra lutra threatened from truck transport and of a road bypassing the village.

Kovilovača No data Revarsarea No data Lanca dei Francesi

No data


No data

4.11 Visual Disturbance and Landscape Quarry visibility is usually an issue when the quarry is close to an urban area or when it is close to a major transport route. Abandoned quarries have a negative impact to the image of quarry operators to the public.

The recommended best practices are a) avoid visual impacts during operations if possible (Kovilovača), b) restore quarried areas during operations to minimize impact c) progressively exploit the quarry so as not to expose all open faces at once. Plantation of endemic or other species during and after operations could lessen the visual impacts.

Table 17 presents a horizontal summary of the Social and Community Issues issue among the collected case studies. Table 17: Visual + landscape- EFQ + SI + SD Araxos The quarry is not visible from the archeological site of Dymeon

wall, and only partly visible from a few houses of Araxos village, only partly visible from Lakopetra village. There are no visibility issues concerning the protected area of Strofilia forest. Planting of endemic species in order to facilitate restoration and the ecosystem’s functionality for the reestablishment of indigenous biodiversity features.

Kovilovača The quarry is easily visible from both large and small distances. The exploitation is carried out on a smaller area to the final bench level of 190m a.s.l., which will reduce visibility, and reduce related negative potential impacts.

Revarsarea Visual impact is very low.

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Lanca dei Francesi

Visual impact is low.


No data

4.12 Water Water is a major component in all surface operations. Water interacts with quarrying either as surface runoff or as part of water body near the operation or even in the operation such as in the case of dredging (Lanca dei Francesi, Šljunčara Trstenik). Water quality can be degraded due to spills (related to the operation) and to gradual leakage (i.e. petroleum products). The recommended best practice is to avoid water contamination and to control the quality of both the surface and the ground water related to the operation. For this appropriate water quality (permanent) measurement stations should be setup and continuous measurements should be taken. Also, water protective structures should be put in place (i.e. impermeable barriers to the ground water, impermeable geotextiles that cover the equipment maintenance area, etc). Hydrogeological studies can check the changes in water quality based on the station measurements. Table 18 presents a horizontal summary of the Water Issues issue among the collected case studies. Table 18: Water- EFQ + SI + SD Araxos No connection of any kind is about to take place between the

groundwater flow and the exploitation. The groundwater aquifer has been already degraded due to sea water intrusion. A hydrological study on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the water resources of the quarry and surrounding area has been completed.

Kovilovača Water and soil conditions in the area are good and are not affected by the quarrying and processing of rock. The expected impact on water is rather small, but it is already systematically monitored.

Revarsarea The maximum values for water parameters are not exceeded. Lanca dei Francesi

The surface hydrological system is a smaller network of artificial canals and ditches, and includes two drainage systems: a natural drainage network, and an anthropic drainage network. There are no drinking water captations for private use or for public use. In relation to the quarrying location and to the recovery procedure planned, the impacts that it will bring to the existing environment, both in ecological-natural and anthropic infrastructure terms, are demonstrated through an environmental study in three phases: the current environmental

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status of the area, the expected impacts, and the environmental status of the area at the end of the intervention. Quarrying modalities (dredge and crusher) help to reduce water consumption: the sand washing waters are extracted in loco (by means of a phreatic shaft) and returned to the quarry lake. The subterranean water system is representative for the hydrogeological configuration of the Po river system. Sandy beds, typical of fluvial deposits of Po river and tributaries, contain aquifers that are relevant for their dimensions and their hydrological features. The litho-stratigraphic system of the Po river is conceived as a multi-stratum potential reservoir.


The existing surface of approximately 55 ha will not change, but the depth will increase from the present average of 5.5 m to 32 m. The lake water in the quarry is more vulnerable to surface contamination (spills) so measures to avoid accidents have been proposed and the procedures have been implemented during excavation.

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Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations This chapter summarizes the information presented in previous chapters with emphasis on the main aspect of each best practice category. These best practices were identified (a) after analyzing the information in each case study using a number of criteria, and (b) by utilizing information available in the literature regarding surface mining and quarrying.

There are several ways to synthesize the information presented above. As already noted, identifying individual best practice issues and then grouping into categories was a very difficult task. There are many schemes and options available in the literature, which categorize best practices in different ways. As already mentioned the four broad categories discussed here are: (a) Environmentally Friendly Quarrying, (b) Restoration (c) Social Impacts and (d) Sustainable Development. These include individual issues such as: Air Pollution, Blasting, Ecology and Biodiversity, Nature Conservation, Noise, Waste, Restoration and Rehabilitation, Social Issues and Community etc.

However, even the four broad categories are overlapping since the reference to “sustainable development” is equivalent to the reference to the following components: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability. Environmentally Friendly Quarrying and Restoration may be included in the environmental and economic component while the social impacts are included in the sociopolitical component.

Figure 15 and Figure 16 present a grouping by mode of operation (i.e. during the operations phase and during the restoration phase). All data in the case studies show that if the proposed plan is sound and if the plan is followed, the restoration phase can be easily implemented. The individual best practice issues are grouped in four categories as identified in Chapter 2.

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Good Planning &

Good Plan Execution

Follow the plan

Best practices during quarry operation

Environmentally Friendly Quarrying

Plan Execute

Restoration

PlanExecute

Social Impacts Sustainable Development

Figure 15: Quarry operation

Successful Restoration

Plan Correctly and

Follow the Plan

Plan & Apply Environmental

Management during Quarrying

Plan and Apply Restoration during

quarrying

Plan and Apply Social Policy during quarrying

Plan and Apply Sustainable

Development Principles during quarrying

Best practices that lead to quarry restoration

Figure 16: Quarry restoration

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The grouping in Figure 15 definitely shows is that all individual components should be successful both at the planning phase and at the execution phase in order to achieve best practices during operations.

Best practices can also be viewed by product, by location and/or transport facilities, by carbon or environmental footprint, etc.

Table 19 presents the individual issues with a few bullets of what to avoid, a few bullets of recommendations as well as with one short message that should be respected by the stakeholders at the local level, i.e. operator and/or local authorities.

In summary the information presented in Table 19 suggests up to 4 practices to avoid per best practice issue and presents up to 11 recommendations per issue. These recommendations are either extracted directly from the case studies or are based on both the case studies and the related literature. This information is not exhaustive and may be complemented or amended.

Short messages that can help this type of communication have also been developed for each best practice category by appropriate grouping. A single message per best practice issue was generated, instead of multiple messages. It is thought that a single short message carries more strength than multiple messages, and that single short message may serve as a slogan as well.

Thus, Table 20 summarizes the messages for the four main best practice categories as discussed above. In essence four of the ten single short messages as shown in Table 19 where selected as representative of the broader best practice category which encompasses more than on best practice issue.

These messages can help all stakeholders (operator, local government, individual citizens, as well as others like the central government) realize what is involved to make a quarry operation a sustainable quarry operation. A sustainable quarry operation is not the responsibility of the operator only, but rather it is the responsibility of all stakeholders involved.

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Table 19: Summary of Do’s and Dont’s Best Practice Avoid Recommended Messages 1. Air Pollution

1. Transportation of aggregates through cities or villages

1. Take measures for particulate matter emissions (dust) and gas emissions, 2. Install de-dusting systems to collect fine waste materials, 3. Use dust exhausting systems at the mills, 4. Keep the conveyor / crushing systems hooded, 5. Keep the road or pit areas that generate dust moistened, 6. Take care that internal transportation of material is done with hooded conveyors or slightly moistened material, 7. Ensure that external transportation of the raw materials is done in hooded vehicles or with other dust suppressing systems, 8. Make sure that systematic monitoring and evaluation of gas emissions is done and if exceeded check the corresponding equipment

Keep clean air standards to protect human health and the environment

2. Blasting 1. Apply sequential blasting to reduce vibrations

2. Use modern technology (i.e. NONEL caps) to avoid noise, 3. Keep monitoring records of vibration and noise, 4. Ensure that a good blasting plan is developed in order to reduce flyrock and reduce the cost of blasting and / or loading.

Blasting can be done safely!

3. Conservation

1. Changing engine oils without having taken protection, 2.Destroying protected areas 3. Disregarding legislation, EIA, Environmental Conditions, local General Plans and Mining Acts

1. Develop and apply detailed and state-of-the-art environmental plans in order to protect Ecology, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, 2. Collect oils and deliver to the supplier for treatment, 3. Take leakage avoidance measures, 4. Take noise avoidance measures, 5. Perform systematic monitoring air quality, water, soil, noise and vibration, 6. Keep disturbed area as small as possible ensure vehicles keep to the designated paths, 7. Ensure that downstream ecosystems, residential areas, and water supplies are not impaired,

Protect local habitats and species

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Best Practice Avoid Recommended Messages 8. Minimize removal of native vegetation, 9. Maintain topsoil in any areas not in use and to maintain maximum existing vegetation coverage, 10. Replant any areas not in use, especially to either side of haul roads, 11. Remove sediment and other contaminants from water before reuse or reintroduction into natural waterways

4. Noise Reduction

1. Ignoring the blasting plan, 2. Operating during night, 3.Transportation through cities

1. Apply regular monitoring of noise and comparison to current legislation terms or site environmental terms, 2. Install noise suppression systems, 3. Use of appropriate blasting technique and blasting material, 4. Construct new roads to bypass residential areas.

Design for good noise control at the planning stage

5. Planning and Design

1. Ignoring the EIA, and generally the plans, 2. leave the site without restoration, 3. Destroying protected areas

1. Integrate planning for operations and closure 2. Identify the critical stages for land management, 3. Ensure that continuous interaction between the economic component and the environmental component takes place. 4. Discuss adequately plans with local stakeholders prior to implementation. 5. Follow in detail the approved plans.

Plan effectively and efficiently and follow the plan

6. Quarry Fines + Waste

1. Keeping waste out of reuse, 2. Changing oils without considering the discharged oils,

1. Try to re-use quarry fines for remediation, or as backfill material, 2. Try to develop mixtures and by-products with or without commercial value, 3. Return silts to water bodies (if appropriate), 4. Collect discharged oils and deliver for treatment, 5. Recycle wrapping materials, containers and tires, 6. Take waste management measures.

Minimize and utilize waste

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Best Practice Avoid Recommended Messages 7. Reclamation (Restoration + Rehab, Visual + landscape)

1. Leaving site without restoration, 2. Planting not-endemic plants, 3. Leaving residual contamination, 4. Leaving site without restoration

1. Ensure that plantation of suitable species is applied, 2. Disallow any residual contamination, 3. Restore the degraded land by utilizing either the topsoil removed during the initial development of the quarry or even topsoil from other areas, 4. Restore of natural features (i.e. streams, etc). 5. On occasions where restoration is related to change in land utilization create new facilities (lakes in cases of deep quarries with impermeable bottoms or sports facilities or recreational parks or wetlands or a combination of the above). 6. Develop plant nurseries during the life time of the quarry to facilitate the restoration phase with local species.

Reclaim beyond legislation, and minimum requirements

8. Social + Community

1. Ignoring the local community, 2. Having 'secrets' from the local community,

1. Ensure increased and sustained communication between stakeholders (i.e. operators, local community and authorities), 2. Implement meetings, workshops, 3. Publish reports, 4. Distribute leaflets, 5. Disseminate activities with posters, 6. Organize events such as school excursions

Respect the local community

9. Transport + Traffic

1. Transportation of aggregates through cities or villages

1. Use alternate routes to minimize impacts to wildlife, 2. Implement noise suppression and dust suppression schemes to minimize impacts to wildlife, 3. Use alternate routes and transport aggregates at off peak or specific hours of a day to reduce impacts to residential areas

Be aware of the environmental footprint of your operation!

10. Water 1. Wasting of water 1. Avoid water contamination,

2. Control the quality of both the surface and the ground water related to the operation, 3. Setup appropriate water quality (permanent) measurement stations, 4. Take continuous measurements,

Preserve water reserves!

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Best Practice Avoid Recommended Messages 5. Put in place water protective structures (i.e. impermeable barriers to the ground water, impermeable geotextiles that cover the equipment maintenance area, etc), 6. Implement hydrogeological studies to check the changes in water quality based on the station measurements.

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Table 20: Summary of short messages Best Practice Messages

1. Environmentally Friendly Quarrying Plan effectively and efficiently and follow the plan

2. Restoration Reclaim and restore beyond legislation, and minimum requirements

3. Social Impacts Respect the local community

4. Sustainable Development

Be aware of the environmental footprint of your operation!

References

Brundtland (1987), Our Common Future, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987. Published as Annex to General Assembly document A/42/427, Development and International Co-operation: Environment

Miko S., Hasan O., Kruk B., Croatian Geological Survey (HGI) (2010), Case study on the Šljunčara Trsenik Quarry, SARMa, SEE Project (www.sarmaproject.eu)

Cibin, U., Furin S., Ricciarelli F., Rizzati A.R., Romagnoli M., Scappini S., Segadelli S., Boggio P., Corradi A., Pelosio A., Ruffini A., Emilia Romagna Region and Parma Province (2010), Case study on the Lanca dei Francesi Quarry, SARMa, SEE Project (www.sarmaproject.eu)

Hatzilazaridou K., Chalkiopoulou F., Papantoni H., Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (2010), Case study on the Araxos Quarry, SARMa, SEE Project (www.sarmaproject.eu)

Jones and Stokes Associates (1987), "Sliding Toward Extinction: The State of California's Natural Heritage," 1987 (http://biodiversity.ca.gov/Biodiversity/biodiv_def2.html)

Langer W.H. (2002), Managing and Protecting Aggregate Resources, Open-File Report 02-415, USGS, 15p.

Langer, W.H., (2009), “Sustainability of aggregates in construction”, Sustainability of Construction Materials, Editor Jamal M. Khatib, Woodhead Publishing 1-3

National Stone Council (2008), Best Practices of the Natural Stone Industry, Prepared By the University of Tennessee Center for Clean Products.

Solar, S., Shields D. and Langer W.H., (2009), “Important Features of Sustainable Aggregate Resource Management” AI Magazine




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Simić V., Živanović J., Beljić Č, Životić D., Radivojevi M., University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology (2010), Case study on the Kovilovaca Quarry, SARMa, SEE Project (www.sarmaproject.eu)

Marinescu M., University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics (2010), Case study on the Revarsarea Quarry, SARMa, SEE Project (www.sarmaproject.eu)

Marinescu M., University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics (2010), Case study on the Iacobdeal Quarry, SARMa, SEE Project (www.sarmaproject.eu)

www.goodquarry.com (goodquarry.com) www.quarryacademy.com www.sustainableaggregates.com www.agriculturedictionary.com/definition/nature-conservation.html




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Appendix A: Abbreviations

Partner MINGORP, Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, Directorate for Mining, subcontractor: Croatian Geological Survey

Partner ER and PARMA, Emilia Romagna Region and Parma Province, Italy Partner RGF, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Serbia Partner IGME, Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Greece Partner FGG, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics,

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