WATER MATTERS TO THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY Presentation to the South Eastern RBD Advisory Council 24 th October 2007 Liam Smyth FIEI Planning & Environment Manager Irish Concrete Federation

22 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.

33 Value of Aggregate Based Products as portion of Construction Aggregate – Basis for all Construction Stone, Aggregate Concrete Blocks Readymix Concrete Precast Concrete Housing Commercial Agriculture Infrastructure Contracting €2.8Bn House buyers Local Authorities Business Government Farming Public Bodies Developers Investors €35Bn 23% GNP

44 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 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

55 TRADITIONALLY Quarries, Mines & Landfills have been inappropriately grouped together Quarries almost always operate to S34 Conditions Only Mines operate to Mineral Dev. Acts & IPPC Licence Landfills operate to S34 & IPPC Licence

66 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

77 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

88 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 Wording out of date as Quarry Registration process effectively over – alternative suggestion “Quarries five years or older registered their extractive activities with local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 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.”

99 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 )

10 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

11 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