Cooperation between developers, competent authorities and universities in Catalonia. Balance between aggregates supply and environmental protection Esteve Serra Rodríguez Responsible of Evaluation and Reclamation of Extractive Activities Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge

- 2 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Law 12/1981 (Generalitat de Catalunya) First specific rules, pioneer in Spain. Precedent established for subsequent rules. Principle of reclamation, environmental impact evaluation, preventive and compensatory measures. Developed by Decree 343/1983 Perceptive and binding report about the mining permission authorisation. Decree 114/1988 (Generalitat of Catalunya) Environmental impact evaluation Complements Law 12/1981 and decree 343/1983 on Public Information and broadcast the Environmental Impact Statement Basic legislation in Catalunya

- 3 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge AIMS: Landscape and environmental protection Compatibility with economic sector Final integration with the environment Enviromental management scheme of extractive activities in Catalunya 1/3

- 4 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge TOOLS: Clear and simple legislation Environmental and landscape impact project Reclamation project Environment impact statement and subsequent environmental authorisation being a binding report in order to obtain the authorisation from the Mining Dept Specific definition of the affected areas Reclamation warranty Warranty period before deposit refunding Periodical controls. Final inspections Surveillance, monitoring and penalizing proceedings Enviromental management scheme of extractive activities in Catalunya 2/3

- 5 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge STRATEGIES: Active administrative actions Active collaboration with other bodies (extractive sector, universities, other administrations, etc.) Enviromental management scheme of extractive activities in Catalunya 3/3

- 6 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge  1981: Specific Administrative Department  Specific administrative unit of Environmental Management and Restoration of Extractive Activities  1987: Publication of the First Reclamation Guide “Recomanacions tècniques per a la restauració i condicionament dels espais afectats per activitats extractives”  Environmental Education and Training Courses  Contribution of solutions and studies of new techniques Strategies:Active Administrative Action1/5

- 7 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge  1988: Progressive deployment of the Integrated Reclamation System amongst the surface mining activities  Concept: Simultaneous reclamation and mining activity.  The mining working area is kept constant and it moves at the same time as the mining and reclamation fronts.  Open and flexible concept: Adapted to the extraction / reclamation system.  Long term activity: Stages, Chronogram, Warranty Deposit split.  Results:  Higher efficiency and savings  Minimized of the affected area and the negative environmental impact Strategies:Active Administrative Action2/5

- 8 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge  New solutions and techniques  Circa 1988: Study for the artificial edafic soil creation using authorized sub-products  1996: Edition of a guide for the Reclamation with mud from sewage treatment  1997: Study for the feasibility of creation of an artificial edafic soil using liquid pig excrements  Usage of authorised non mining related materials and sub products Strategies:Active Administrative Action3/5

- 9 - Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge  Rules for the management of the natural areas within Natura 2000 network  Allow extractive activities to continue the authorised works  Minimised affected areas during mining life-cycle  Compensatory measures applied in highly protected natural areas that are affected by extractive industries such as Natura 2000 in order to promote natural spices, environments and biodiversity protection. These measures to be applied to new authorised works and/or new extended areas. Strategies:Active Administrative Action4/5

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge  Rules for the management of the natural areas within Natura 2000 network  Optimal reclamation of environments and spices  Reclamation of abandoned mining areas promotion  Definition of forbidden extractive areas such as riverbank areas Strategies:Active Administrative Action5/5

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge  Environmental education to developers  Highly environmental valuable areas and spices promotion (Life - EcoQuarry)  Agreements and cooperation with universities (UB, UAB, CREAF, UdLl) on research  New reclamation and preservation techniques. Agreement with Gremi d’Àrids about birds of steppe  Creation of the Consell Assessor d’Àrids de Catalunya and the Grup de Treball d’Àrids de Catalunya Strategies:Active collaboration with other bodies

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge The experience from the management of natural environment affected by mining activity in Catalunya for more than 25 years can help to define the guideline to use in the future in Natura The Environmental Impact Evaluation and the Reclamation Program as effective tools to protect and recover the environment and the landscape. A sustainable balance between extracting activities within the Natura 2000 area boundaries and the needs of protection of the environment as well as society needs is possible. Conclusions

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Riverbank (art. 10 Directive: Lanscape Coherence)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Bordering extractives activities to Nature 2000 (ZEPA: Secà de Balaguer)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Compensatory measures ZEPA (ZEPA: Secà de Balaguer)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Carbons de Berga (Paleonthological discoveries)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Carbons de Berga (Paleonthological discoveries)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Carbons de Berga (Paleonthological discoveries)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Croscat (Extinguished volcano)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Croscat (Extinguished volcano)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Martinenca (Landscape replica)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Martinenca (Landscape replica)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Vulveralla (Riverbank)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Vulveralla (Riverbank)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Meandre Vell (Riverbank)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge José XXVI (Riverbank)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge José XXVI (Riverbank)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Sanson (Artificial wet area)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Turó de Montcada (Authorisations prior to the legislation)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Turó de Montcada (Authorisations prior to the legislation)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Cantera Maçanet (Artificial edafic soil)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Cantera Maçanet (Artificial edafic soil)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Vallensana (Two-type reclamation)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Vallensana (Two-type reclamation)

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge Cooperation between developers, competent authorities and universities in Catalonia. Balance between aggregates supply and environmental protection Esteve Serra Rodríguez Responsible of Evaluation and Reclamation of Extractive Activities Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge