Planning & Environment
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January 2007 : November 2007 : October 2008
Introduction
The role of the Planning & Environment Services Manager is to assist Members to comply with statutory planning and environmental obligations relating to land use management and the sustainable development of the industry.
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Planning & Environment Services
Essentially, this assistance covers 3 areas of operational management:
- Environmental Management, i.e. the promotion of the principles of the Environment Pillar of Sustainable Development, including Waste Management legislation
- Land Use Planning, i.e. guidance on the adherence to Planning & Development legislation and consents and the preparation of robust professional applications for future development
- Strategic Planning, i.e. assisting operators to plan for the long term security of their businesses including the principles of the Economic and Social Pillars of Sustainable Development
- ICF Members are committed to the application of the principles of the Environmental Code of Practice, see below, and like minded publications such as the EPA Guidelines for Environmental Management in the Extractive Industry (Non-Energy Sector).
- Environmental audits are carried out, when requested, and Environmental Management Programs implemented, including the establishment of Environmental Management Systems, based on ISO 14000.
- Advice is given on permit/licencing requirements and Members are assisted in liaising with local government officials and government departments, as necessary.
- Environmental Awareness training is provided, where requested, to both management and production employees.
- Environmental Awards Competitions are run annually to promote all aspects of environmental management including specific areas such as water management, restoration etc.
- Government departments are liaised with on behalf of the industry so that fair and workable Regulations are applied which respects the balance of environmental protection and the need for extractive development.
- The European Commission and Parliament, as well as the European Aggregate Producers Association are consulted with to ensure Members are aware of impending Directives and that industry interests are respected during their formulation.
- The social responsibilities of Extractive Industry operators are promoted including respect for statutory consultation with the public and the promotion of Biodiversity and amenity benefits during operations and post closure of sites.
Environmental Code Objective
The ICF Environmental Code was first published in 1996, and subsequently revised in 2005, as an Extractive Industry Code of Practice for the promotion of and guidance in achieving the following principle objectives amongst extractive industry operators:
- To operate in line with the principles of Sustainable Development
- To operate to those standards required by law and good industry practice
- To ensure employees and contractors are environmentally responsible in their performance of their duties
- To respect the legitimate concerns and interests of the community
- To adopt the Environmental Management Guidelines detailed in the Code
In this regard, ICF were amongst the first producer's associations in Europe to have a voluntary Code of Practise.
Environmental Awards
Since 1998, the ICF has run Environmental Awards competitions for Extraction Sites and Concrete Plants on a three year rolling basis, along with Health & Safety Awards. These competitions are well supported by the Membership. To win or be highly placed is a notable achievement and the top sites may then be invited to enter corresponding UEPG or ERMCO competitions to compete amongst the best in Europe; this has been done with great success as recently as the UEPG Sustainable Development Awards in 2005.
Land Use Planning
- The development and operation of an Extractive Site is governed by many Acts and Statutory Instruments, depending on the complexity of the site. The most important legislation is, like all development, the Planning & development Act (No. 30 of 2000), and the Planning & Development Regulations (S.I. No. 600 of 2001). This is supplemented by the Dept. of Environment, Heritage & Local Government publication "Quarries and Ancillary Activities - Guidance for Planning Authorities (April 2004)".
- Extraction of aggregates is a prescribed process under Annex II, Section 2, of EC Directive 85/337/EEC on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), subject to a 5 hectare threshold. The aforementioned Irish legislation lays down requirements regarding EIA of development applications and the information required for inclusion in Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), where one is required to be submitted.
- The ICF Membership is committed to continuous improvement in the standard of EIS submitted to assist the EIA process, itself an evolving science, and to observing the public consultation required under the Directive, the Aarhus Agreement and relevant legislation. ICF Members accept the rights of the public where legitimate concerns are expressed, and are, in turn, committed to working with the local community to resolve issues, and complaints, where practicable and reasonable, during the design, operational and restorative phases of development.
- Through its Planning & Environment Manager, the ICF educates and assists Members in the development of professional Land Use Planning practices and development applications. Advice is disseminated through seminars and one to one consultations, where necessary, to deal with site specific requirements. Assistance is given in the appointment and management of specialist technical consultants.
- Members are advised and assisted in their dealings with Planning Authorities, bringing a national perspective and consistency to such consultations in order to achieve a level playing field for all operators and public alike. The ICF maintains a protocol of meeting with the County & City Managers Association regularly.
- The ICF consults directly with Government Departments on the drafting of new legislation effecting the Extractive Industry in order that fair and workable legislation results. Again, the ICF maintains protocols for meeting and consulting with a range of Government bodies, including the Dept. of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Dept. of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, An Bord Pleanala, Environmental Protection Agency, National Roads Authority, and the Geological Survey of Ireland.
- The ICF liaises with Non-Governmental Organisations on matters of land use planning and environmental management where issues arise with Membership practices or new development
Strategic Planning
- It is an important aspect of corporate strategic planning that a firms strengths and weaknesses are identified, weaknesses improved or eliminated and strengths enhanced, as appropriate.
- Many operators are too small in size to employ specialist managers, such as resource management professionals etc., and may rely on outside sources for much needed technical and professional advice, across the spectrum of business functions.
- The ICF assists, where requested, in identifying knowledge and resource gaps, and advises on appropriate action for the long term security of the Member's business. This may require the use of one or more of the ICF managers, or the identification and appointment of specialist service providers.
- In particular, the Planning & Environmental Manager can assist Members with financial feasibility modelling of development proposals and associated areas of long term planning.
European Participation
- The ICF, as the national trade federation for both the aggregates and concrete industries, is an active member of the European umbrella organisations in these areas, namely the European Aggregate Producers Association (UEPG) and the European Readymix Association (ERMCO).
- In particular, UEPG is very active, through it Brussels base, in the areas of consultation on EU legislation, access to minerals, and environmental management across Europe. Representing 28,000 Extractive Sites, which employ 350,000 people, and produces 3 billion tonnes of aggregates per annum, its overview, for example of legislative impacts or industry best practice, is an important source of information and guidance for the professional industry.
- The ICF is an active participant in UEPG activities, currently holding the posts of Vice-Chair of the key Environment Committee and Chair of the Biodiversity Task Force.
- It is fair to say that ICF Members generally operate their sites to a standard above the European average with a notable trend to ever better practices. This will firmly establish the Irish Extractive Industry as amongst the most professional operators within the next few years.
- The Irish industry faces the same problems as are faced across Europe. These include as the increasing difficulty in accessing minerals through NIMBYism and accidental sterilisation of scarce resources through alternative land uses, the dichotomy of public demand for aggregates without public acceptance of the Extractive Industry's integral place in society etc.
- The ICF fully supports the UEPG position on a partnership approach to development through consultation with the local community, properly controlled development with sensitive protection of the environment, including restorative measures which promote biodiversity and amenity usage of the site post closure.
Biodiversity and Restoration of Extraction Sites
- ICF Members are committed to the restoration of sites in a manner which promotes the protection of the environment, biodiversity and amenity value to the local community, as appropriate.
- The provision of landscaped screening berms and other measures (e.g. bat roosts, artificial badger sets etc.) during the operational phase provides existing flora and fauna with alternative habitats as existing landscape becomes disturbed during development.
- Professional restoration plans should be agreed with Planning Authorities which incorporate both biodiversity and geodiversity measures, appropriate to the site.
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- Where lakes are formed, measures such as fish stocking and construction of fish breeding shallows should be considered.
- Rock ledges will promote nesting by birds of prey. Indeed, this is a common occurrence in operational quarries.
- Suitable amenity uses for the local community should be considered, e.g. biking etc., as otherwise these may result in unnecessary green field developments elsewhere.
- The ICF actively promotes the above and hopes to produce a Best Practice Guidance document for Members, with the assistance of local authority heritage officials, NGOs, and Extractive Industry sources internationally.
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