Exclusion zones of 500m to nearest residences are strongly recommended in Government

guidance contained in National Planning Policy Guidance. 

Other guidance covers distances to the nearest school.
 

Liability

The  landowner may have liability for default or damages on the part of the quarry operator.
 

Air Pollution

Air pollution - links with asthma within clusters near sources of irritants is a clear concern. 

The quartz mineral at Douglasmuir produces a very fine dust during workings.

Tarmac claim that the weather patterns reduce the level of risk from

dust to negligible levels.
 

Pneumoconiosis
Silicosis seen in any industry using quartz containing dusts such as stonework, foundries, glassmaking, pottery, etc.   Several forms of free silica: quartz, cristobalite, tridymite, fused silica dust, tripoli & silica flour inhalation of crystalline silica (silicon dioxide) fibrotic changes in the lungs

Relevant Government advice

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 50 Annex 13 The Control of Dust at Surface Mineral Workings

PAN 50, Controlling the Environmental Effects Of Surface Mineral Workings

Consultation Paper issued by the Scottish Executive 7 July 2000

"Particulate matter of less than 10 microns diameter (PM₁₀) is significant for health reasons because it is the mass fraction of particles which, if inhaled, would penetrate beyond the larynx."

"If a site is within 1000m of any residential property or sensitive premises/users, then further assessment work should be undertaken to look at the likely impacts".

Extract from paragraph 15 of the above SE paper:

"The findings also suggest that, from a planning perspective, the composition of the overburden could be important; quartz, for example, is more likely to have an effect on health than shale. The Committee noted that such increments in exposure to these materials as may occur in local communities as a result of opencast mining operations are most unlikely to have any detectable effects on health. Nonetheless, the Executive endorse Chomp's recommendation that, on a precautionary basis, efforts should continue to be made to control the emission of particles from opencast sites. Because the activities identified are common to all mineral sites, the Executive believe that the research recommendations should be extended to cover all types of mineral workings, not just opencast coal."

Scottish Executive analysis of  responses

Answers to Asthma questions

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Sewage Waste

Please study the material contained in the linked web sites.

Paragraph 20 of Tarmac's planning statement, refers to stabilised sewage sludge being used in a 100mm thick mix with quarry waste over the existing quarry floor by the end of 2009.

NOISE CONSIDERATIONS
 

How will monitoring be carried out?

The programme for blasting is defined in proposed Planning Conditions.

Vibration disturbance & risk of damage is referred to in proposed Planning Conditions.