Preparatory Site Report (PSR)

Transcription

1 Preparatory Site Report (PSR) ACTIVITY 3.2 ILLEGAL QUARRYING CASE STUDY: LAKKA QUARRY CCaase Municipality of Kyrros, Prefecture of Pella, Region of Central Macedonia AUTHORS: Chatzipanagis Ioannis, Geologist, Institute of Geology & Mineral Exploration Arvanitidis Nikolaos, Geologist Phd, Institute of Geology & Mineral Exploration Hatzilazaridou Kiki, Geologist MSc, Institute of Geology & Mineral Exploration Athens August 2010

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS No TITLE OF CHAPTER page 1. DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION Geographical data/coordinates Administrative and legal framework Demographic issues Infrastructure Land use planning Presence of integrated land-planning framework seeking to balance competing interests between national and local levels, and between quarrying and conservation 1.7 Biodiversity features Operational status 7 2. GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND RESOURCES Type of aggregates Structural geology conditions Estimated reserves and ore resource potential OPERATIONAL AND MARKET CHARACTERISTICS Quarry infrastructure Extraction methods and processing techniques Existence of codes of practice to achieve technical excellence Providing an overview of production figures Uses and present market destinations Operating system for remote monitoring of illegal quarrying WASTE AND POST-CLOSURE MANAGEMENT Disposal and handling of quarry waste Quantification, characterization, feasibility and potential applications of recycled wastes 4.3 Fit-to-purpose re-use opportunities of wastes/by-products Remediation practices Restoration, post-closure planning and immediate aftercare works Presence of quarry closure, rehabilitation and after-use plans PREPARATORY REPORT OF LAKKA CASE STUDY CONTENTS i

3 No TITLE OF CHAPTER page 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Geomorphologic exposure and visibility aspects Protected areas status Water (surface and groundwater), soil and air quality conditions Existence of codes of practice to achieve environmental excellence Systematic operation of environmental monitoring and control programme Engineering geology issues Noise, visual impacts, dust and emissions and aggregates extraction vs. environmental management and pre-, syn -, and post-quarrying land use 6. SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS ASSESSMENT Local/regional employment situation Workforce directly and indirectly related to local aggregates extraction Health and safety aspects (on- and off-site) Local communities engagement and involvement in decision making and available mechanisms to increase communication and discussion between stakeholders. 7. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS Early stage evaluation with respect to the seven questions framework to sustainability 7.2 Way forward e.g. LCA study approaches BEST PRACTICES APPROACH Possibilities for new technology applications Sought operational improvements Expected impacts towards sustainability Optimising the efficiency of primary aggregates production e.g. water & energy consumption, transport 8.5 Targeting better practises that can help achieve a better relationship between protected areas and other land uses, such as how to incorporate areas of known aggregates potential into decision-making about new protected areas 8.6 Collect information on best practices and failures for aggregates extraction, e.g. environmental management 8.7 Develop guidelines for post quarrying restoration Determine impediments to best practice e.g. lack of knowledge, regulatory blocks Prepare recommendations for industry and government actions to encourage best practice 9. REFERENCES PREPARATORY REPORT OF LAKKA CASE STUDY CONTENTS ii

4 TABLE OF FIGURES Figure No TITLE OF FIGURE Page Fig. 1 Quarry location 2 Fig. 2 Quarry location (Detail) Municipality of Kyrros 4 Fig. 3 Road network around the Lakka quarry site 5 Fig. 4 Spatial relation of Lakka quarry to Natura 2000 sites 6 Fig. 5 Lakka s open pits A, B, C, D 8 Fig. 5a Open pit A 8 Fig. 5b Open pit B 8 Fig. 5c Open pit C 8 Fig. 6 Geological map of Lakka quarry area 10 Fig. 7 Grain size of extracted material 11 Fig. 8 Typical section of the Lakka fluvial deposit 11 Fig. 9 Quarry infrastructure 12 Fig. 10 Restoration/rehabilitation of an old quarry in Athens (Attikon Alsos) 15 Fig. 11 Restoration of mined out areas in the active magnesite mine in Gerakini 20 Fig. 12 Restoration/rehabilitation of an abandoned quarry in Attica 20 PREPARATORY REPORT OF LAKKA CASE STUDY CONTENTS iii

5 Preparatory Site Report (PSR) ACTIVITY 3.2: ILLEGAL QUARRYING CASE STUDY: LAKKA QUARRY 1. DESCRIPTION OF LOCATION 1.1 Geographical data/coordinates Lakka quarry (red triangle in maps), is located in the Prefecture of Pella of the Region of Central Macedonia in northern Greece. It belongs to the municipality of Kyrros. Coordinates of location (using WGS84 system) (A quarry) (B quarry) 40o 51 30,69 N 40o 50 55,62 N 22o 15 12,16 E 22o 14 59,73 E h= 147 m h= 86 m (C quarry) (D quarry) 40o 50 48,20 N 40o 50 46,11 N 22o 15 13,11 E 22o 15 40,97 E h= 78 m h= 72 m 1

6 Lakka It is located in a distance of: around 70 km northwest of Thessaloniki around 15 km northeast of Edessa (capital of Pella Prefecture) < 1km east of Lakka village < 5 km from other local settlements (Mandalo, Anydro, Drosero and Plaghiari villages) Fig. 1: Quarry location 2

7 1.2 Administrative and legal framework Greek legislation (Mining Code), distinguishes mineral resources in ores and quarry minerals. The distinction is made on the basis of the difference in ownership rights. The Mining Code 210/1973 defines that: the quarry minerals, including primary aggregates, belong to the landowner whilst the ores either superficial or underground, do not belong to the owner of the land. Law 669/1977, which is still in force, sets the basic lagislative framework for the exploitation of primary aggregatess (and the quarry minerals in general). Law 1428/1984 and its basic amendment Law 2115/1993 specialized the legislative framework for the exploitation of primary aggregates. Interventions in several points of the basic legislative framework have been made by the laws: 2576/1998, article 8 paragraph /1999, articles 6&8 2837/2000, article /2001, article 9 paragraph B1 3190/2003, article /2005, articles 13& /2006, article 14 Law 1428/1984 and its amendments contain all the essential issues related to the exploitation of primary aggregates such as: exploitation rights, process for definition of quarrying areas, licensing process related to mining, installment and operation of machinery, obligations of the quarry operator, authorisation process, treatment of illegal quarrying, process for exploitation of public quarries, etc. The environmental licensing of projects and activities come within the jurisdiction of Law 1650/1986 For environmental protection, as amended by Law 3010/2002 and by Common Ministerial Decisions regulating issues covered by the Law. All projects and activities that require environmental licensing are grouped and classified into categories and sub categories (A1, A2, B3 & B4). Depending on the type of activity, different type of environmental study needs to be submitted for evaluation and approval: a) Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment study and Environmental Impact Assessment study, or b) Environmental Report when the project/activity is classified under the sub category B4, excluding specific cases. The approval of Environmental Conditions is given either by the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change or by Common Ministerial Decisions of the latter and other Ministries (national level) or by the General Secretary of the relevant Region (regional level) or by the relevant Prefecture (local level), depending mainly on the category-subcategory of the activity in question. Competent authorities to evaluate and issue the Environmental Conditions approval and depending on the group, category or subcategory of the project/activity are either the Environmental Department of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (for A1 and A2 subcategories of project/activities that are located in a 3

8 protected area such as Natura 2000) or the Environmental departments of the relevant Regions and Prefectures. The submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment is obligatory and the exploitation license is granted after the approval of the Environmental Conditions. The latter is usually valid for 5 years As it was mentioned before, the private landowner or the owner of concession rights to whom were legally granted by the landowner holds the rights for the exploitation of primary aggregates in Greece. The exploitation of aggregates is permitted only within the legally defined quarrying areas on the level of the Prefecture. In certain cases, exploitation permits, outside the specified quarrying areas, can be granted. The exploitation license is granted for 20 years with the possibility to extent it for another 5+5 (in total 10) years. The Greek State has proceeded, over the last years, to the elaboration of a new bill for the exploration and exploitation of quarries, in order to simplify, update and codify all the relevant legislation. After a long time of public consultation and the cooperation of several Ministries, the bill has been completed and it is going to be submitted to the Greek Parliament. 1.3 Demographic issues F.Y.R.O.M Fig. 2: Quarry location (Detail) Municipality of Kyrros Prefecture of Pella Municipality of Kyrros Lakka quarry The Prefecture of Pella covers an area of ha (2.506 km 2 ) and has a population of inhabitants (data 2001). Its population density is 58,2 inhabitants/km 2. Its capital is Endessa with inhabitants (data 2001). The largest city of the Prefecture is Gianitsa with inhabitants. The Prefecture of Pella is divided into 11 municipalities. The municipality of Kyrros (orange area in Fig. 2) where the Lakka quarry site is located, covers the east part of the Prefecture and an area of ha (73,45 km 2 ). Its population is inhabitants (data 2001). Main occupation of the inhabitants is agriculture and farming. The most popular crops are peaches, cherries, apricots, plums, kiwi, lotus, cotton, corn, beet, cereals and vegetables. The closest settlement to the quarry site is Lakka village, with around 135 houses. Lakka s inhabitants are mainly engaged in farming. 4

9 1.4 Infrastructure The quarry site is situated in an area very well supported by primary and secondary asphalt public roads. The old public road that connects Thessaloniki with Edessa runs through the quarry site (Fig. 3). Old public road Thessaloniki-Edessa B Quarry site C D Fig. 3: Road network around the Lakka quarry site 1.5 Land use planning The Lakka quarry shows no spatial relation to Natura 2000 sites. (red rectangle 1 in Fig. 4) 5

10 Fig. 4: Spatial relation of Lakka quarry to Natura 2000 sites 1.6 Presence of integrated land-planning framework seeking to balance competing interests between national and local levels, and between quarrying and conservation Spatial planning is mainly regulated by the Law 2742/1999 on Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development and other provisions in direct relation with the Law 2508/1997 for "Sustainable urban development of cities and villages of the country " and Law 1650/1988 for " Protection of the environment. The National Spatial Policy is set at three spatial levels: National level spatial planning (General Framework for Spatial Planning) Regional level spatial planning (Regional Framework for Spatial planning and Sustainable Development) Lower to regional level spatial planning The General Framework for Spatial Planning (GFSP): a) records and assesses the factors that affect the long term spatial development and structure of national territory, b) evaluates the spatial impact of international, European and national policies and c) identifies, with a 15 years perspective, the key priorities and strategic directions for the integrated spatial development and sustainable organisation of national territory. In the GSFP (national level) general directions are given for the spatial planning of aggregate extraction activities where it is clearly stated that land use planning should safeguard areas for aggregate production activities especially near centres 6

11 with great demand offering low transportation costs and the least environmental impact. Also safeguard the areas for extraction activities development from other competing uses especially if are spatially related to Natura 2000 sites or near coastline, considering environmental impact and scarcity of exploitable resources issues. The Regional Framework for spatial planning and Sustainable Development (regional level) sets as a target for extraction activities: environmentally sustainable management and organised development as well as spatial planning and designation of aggregate quarrying areas where aggregate extraction activities will be allowed. The definition of quarrying areas by regional and local authorities takes into account, among other things, other land use issues such as residential and urban areas, environmental restrictions, archaeological sites, etc. The case of Lakka is an example of how illegal activities could be greatly encouraged by the absence of a legally designated quarrying area to cover the local demand in aggregates. 1.7 Biodiversity features The area surrounding the quarry site does not host any specific species that need to be protected (see also paragraphs 1.3 and 1.5 above). 1.8 Operational status The illegal extraction activities in Lakka area started several decades ago (around 1960) and carried on till around During that time the Prefecture of Pella had been granting occasionally temporal licenses to contractors to extract and sell specific quantities of raw materials in order to cover the Prefecture s need in aggregates for public roads construction. In year 1998, the Prefecture of Pella designated an authorized quarrying area which is located close to the Lakka site. In this quarrying area two limestone aggregate quarry operators have been licensed and started operation. These quarries are still active and cover the aggregate needs of the Prefecture. In 1999 all illegal activities Lakka quarry site were practically terminated. The abandoned Lakka quarry site comprises 4 open pits (Fig. 5 and topographic map below). All the pits are inactive (Fig. 5a, 5b, 5c). 7