Www.goodquarry.com
An open-access web site for promoting good environmental practice in the UK minerals industry
The University of Leeds and the Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) have developed a new national resource for the UK aggregates sector, supported by funding from the Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology (MIST) Programme, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and over 20 partners from industry, local authorities, conservation and other stakeholder interests. The project has delivered a comprehensive environmental good-practice data library that is fully accessible to all organizations and individuals through an open-access web site. The facility provides, for the first time, a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all parties with an environmental interest in the UK aggregates industry.
Extensive consultation with industry, mineral planners, regulatory bodies, NGOs and the general public led to the conclusion that environmental good-practice information in the UK was held in a wide range of locations in many different formats and with limited accessibility, particularly for the public sector. The web site developed by this project provides a single point of contact for all parties interested in accessing good-practice information in a form that is supported by high-quality presentation and technical input.
Engineers, planners and managers in the minerals industry should find it a useful resource when considering how to incorporate good environmental practice into quarry design and operation. The web site should also be useful to members of the public who have a particular interest in quarrying, as well as to the authorities who regulate the industry. Measures which can be taken to minimize the impact and the level of disturbance associated with mineral working are addressed in considerable detail.
The web site, which can be accessed at www.goodquarry.com, covers issues such as air pollution, blasting, cultural heritage, ecology, mineral wastes, noise, restoration and rehabilitation, social and community issues, traffic, visual and landscape amenity, and water. It also contains a series of case studies as well as a detailed list of references and a comprehensive glossary. The site already attracts over 200 visitors each day.
The partners in the project included: Geoffrey Walton Practice; Silkstone Environmental; Exchem Explosives; H.J. Banks; Doncaster College; Leeds City Council; Hanson Aggregates, Coldstones Quarry; Leicestershire County Council; Wright Rain; ACE Plant; Oil Pollution Environmental Control; Wakefield MD Environmental Health Service; Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group; Hankinson Duckett Associates; Hepworth Acoustics; Hanby Dust Monitoring; Foster Yeoman; RMC; Aggregate Industries; Lafarge Aggregates; and Tarmac.
The web site is continuing to be developed in response to comments arising from the site’s launch conference in February 2004 and suggestions received from existing partners, stakeholders and web site users. The extension of the project in order to expand and promote the web site is fully supported by the existing partners, the Health and Safety Executive, the Quarry Products Association, the British Aggregates Association, English Nature and the RSPB.
A dedicated planning section is also being developed, as suggested by mineral planning officers who commented that there is a need for environmental issues to be put into a planning context. This section will form a training resource for new planners as well as providing an information source for the public and those within the industry who have little or no knowledge of the mineral planning system.
The web site is being promoted at various events, including the 2004 EIG Conference from 2–4 September and Hillhead 2005, and through relevant journals and web sites. The University of Leeds and MIRO are also offering to visit interested parties or stakeholders to demonstrate the new web site at relevant events such as quarry open days, company training courses, institution meetings or any group or individual gathering.
Comments or feedback on the web site would be welcomed, as would any good-practice examples/case studies for inclusion on the site. For further information, or to request a demonstration, contact: University of Leeds on tel: (0113) 243 1751; fax: (0113) 244 3923; or call MIRO on tel: (0113) 245 8006; fax: (0113) 245 7451; email: [email protected]
The University of Leeds and the Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) have developed a new national resource for the UK aggregates sector, supported by funding from the Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology (MIST) Programme, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and over 20 partners from industry, local authorities, conservation and other stakeholder interests. The project has delivered a comprehensive environmental good-practice data library that is fully accessible to all organizations and individuals through an open-access web site. The facility provides, for the first time, a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all parties with an environmental interest in the UK aggregates industry.
Extensive consultation with industry, mineral planners, regulatory bodies, NGOs and the general public led to the conclusion that environmental good-practice information in the UK was held in a wide range of locations in many different formats and with limited accessibility, particularly for the public sector. The web site developed by this project provides a single point of contact for all parties interested in accessing good-practice information in a form that is supported by high-quality presentation and technical input.
Engineers, planners and managers in the minerals industry should find it a useful resource when considering how to incorporate good environmental practice into quarry design and operation. The web site should also be useful to members of the public who have a particular interest in quarrying, as well as to the authorities who regulate the industry. Measures which can be taken to minimize the impact and the level of disturbance associated with mineral working are addressed in considerable detail.
The web site, which can be accessed at www.goodquarry.com, covers issues such as air pollution, blasting, cultural heritage, ecology, mineral wastes, noise, restoration and rehabilitation, social and community issues, traffic, visual and landscape amenity, and water. It also contains a series of case studies as well as a detailed list of references and a comprehensive glossary. The site already attracts over 200 visitors each day.
The partners in the project included: Geoffrey Walton Practice; Silkstone Environmental; Exchem Explosives; H.J. Banks; Doncaster College; Leeds City Council; Hanson Aggregates, Coldstones Quarry; Leicestershire County Council; Wright Rain; ACE Plant; Oil Pollution Environmental Control; Wakefield MD Environmental Health Service; Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group; Hankinson Duckett Associates; Hepworth Acoustics; Hanby Dust Monitoring; Foster Yeoman; RMC; Aggregate Industries; Lafarge Aggregates; and Tarmac.
The web site is continuing to be developed in response to comments arising from the site’s launch conference in February 2004 and suggestions received from existing partners, stakeholders and web site users. The extension of the project in order to expand and promote the web site is fully supported by the existing partners, the Health and Safety Executive, the Quarry Products Association, the British Aggregates Association, English Nature and the RSPB.
A dedicated planning section is also being developed, as suggested by mineral planning officers who commented that there is a need for environmental issues to be put into a planning context. This section will form a training resource for new planners as well as providing an information source for the public and those within the industry who have little or no knowledge of the mineral planning system.
The web site is being promoted at various events, including the 2004 EIG Conference from 2–4 September and Hillhead 2005, and through relevant journals and web sites. The University of Leeds and MIRO are also offering to visit interested parties or stakeholders to demonstrate the new web site at relevant events such as quarry open days, company training courses, institution meetings or any group or individual gathering.
Comments or feedback on the web site would be welcomed, as would any good-practice examples/case studies for inclusion on the site. For further information, or to request a demonstration, contact: University of Leeds on tel: (0113) 243 1751; fax: (0113) 244 3923; or call MIRO on tel: (0113) 245 8006; fax: (0113) 245 7451; email: [email protected]
