Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
The Mining Waste Directive (MWD) introduced new requirements for managing extractive waste at mines and quarries, including requirements to prevent major accidents at high risk mining waste facilities.
This guidance applies to Category A mining waste facilities in the UK unless your facility also falls under the requirements of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH). If it does fall under COMAH you do not need to comply with this guidance. For information about COMAH, see our COMAH guidance.
Mining waste facilities are classified as Category A (high risk) facilities:
For further information, see the European Community decision on the definition of Category A waste facilities.
To find out more about the requirements for waste facilities at mines or quarries, see our guidance on extractive waste.
Managing extractive waste in Northern Ireland and Scotland
You must take steps to prevent major accidents at your Category A mining waste facility.
Before you start operating a Category A mining waste facility you must:
Your MAPP should also refer to the tipping rules and the stability of your waste deposits, including lagoons and retaining dams. For further information on the tipping rules, contact the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland.
HSE: Mining
HSE: Quarries
HSE Northern Ireland: Quarries and mines
If you have a Category A mining waste facility, you must provide information about your facility in your planning application.
In Scotland SEPA will pass this information to your local emergency planner who will prepare an off-site emergency plan for dealing with any accidents at your site. Your local emergency planner can send you a notice requesting further information about your site. You must provide this information within the time limit given in the notice.
In Northern Ireland, the Department of the Environment will prepare your off-site emergency plan.
The purpose of the off-site emergency plan is to:
You must supply information to your local emergency planner or the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) if there is a major accident at your site and provide information to the public about safety measures at your site. You must also follow all guidance issued by your regulator in the event of an accident and continue to provide them with information until the incident is concluded.
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
View our latest videos & subscribe to our channel.
Free monthly email newsletter with environmental updates for Northern Ireland and Scotland