WATER MATTERS TOTHE EXTRACTIVE

INDUSTRYPresentation to the South Eastern RBD Advisory Council 24th October 2007Liam Smyth FIEI

Planning & Environment ManagerIrish Concrete Federation

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Irish Concrete Federation Membership

• National Trade Association

• 300 Main Locations plus satellite sites

• €2.8 Billion Industry Value

• 15,000 People employed

• 75% of Agg.

• 90% of Conc.

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Value of Aggregate Based Products as portion of Construction

Aggregate – Basis for all Construction

Stone,Aggregate

Concrete Blocks

Readymix Concrete

PrecastConcrete

Housing

Commercial

Agriculture

Infrastructure

Contracting

€2.8Bn

House buyers

Local Authorities

Business

Government

Farming

Public Bodies

Developers

Investors

€35Bn 23% GNP

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DEMAND FOR AGGREGATES

• Europe wide 3bn tonnes per annum• ICF 2006 estimates 150m tonnes nationally• Euro Ave. 7.5 tonnes per capita per annum• Irish Ave. 32-35 tonnes per capita per annum• Growing further! Not particularly sensitive to

housing market fluctuations• Rapidly reducing landbanks• Estimated up to 25% of supply from unauthorised

sources

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TRADITIONALLY

Quarries, Mines &Landfills have been

inappropriatelygrouped together

Quarries almost always operate to S34

Conditions Only

Mines operate to Mineral Dev. Acts &

IPPC Licence

Landfills operate to S34 & IPPC Licence

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PRESSURES• NIMBYism Europe wide • Introduction of Environmental Legislation

outpacing Improved Aggregate Planning Policy• Poor standard of Enforcement in many LAs • Inappropriate rural development adjacent quarries• An Bord Pleanala unduly restrictive on depths • Need to maximise yield from each footprint

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RESTRICTIONS ON DEPTH

• Apparent General Policy by An Bord Pleanala• Sufficient Standard Planning Conditions• Submission to An Bord Pleanala• Necessary Improvement in Reporting for Quarries• Follow IGI Guidelines & Use of P. Geo or C.Eng with

Extractive Experience• Hugely Successful Seminar for Regulators,

Consultants/Industry• An Bord Pleanala and An Taisce participated• Clear support for larger, deeper quarries• Properly investigated and reported, water/groundwater

seldom an issue regardless of depth

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WHAT EXISTING CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE ?

• Wording out of date as Quarry Registration process effectively over – alternative suggestion

“Quarries five years or older registered their extractive activities with local authorities under Section 261 of the Planning & Development Act in early 2004. Now all legitimate extraction sites are obliged to operate to environmental management conditions to BAT principles. The DEHLG and EPA have published guidance for operators of extractive sites. Proposers of planning applications for new facilities of more than 5 hectares are obliged to include an Environmental Impact Statement with the application.”

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ARE THESE CONTROLS ADEQUATE TO MEET THE

NEW TARGET ?

• Technically Yes, Regardless of Depth!• In Practice, Compliance Monitoring Req’d• Likely Enforcement for Non-Compliant Sites• Closure of Unauthorised Sites• Ensure Discharge Licences In Place (if necessary)• Preferred Sites for Permitting for Inert C&D

(minimising total number of sites with potential risks)

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WHAT ADDITIONAL ACTIONS ARE PROPOSED ?

• Additional Enforcement Resources• Additional Planning Resources • Better EIS/EIA practice in relation to

Hydrogeology, Water Management and Ecology• Experienced Planner and Environmental Scientist

with responsibility for Extractive Industry in each Local Authority

• Better Pre-Planning Consultations

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ABSTRACTIONS

• Necessary Abstractions for Concrete Production and Aggregate Washing

• Also Used For Dust Suppression Measures• Important that Process Water is Recycled to

Minimise Risks & Avoid Unnecessary Abstraction• For Majority of Sites, Abstractions Not Major

When Averaged• Potential Issue In Area With Industry

Concentration• Consideration When De-Watering for Deep

Extraction