Implications

Depending on the extent to which these best practice recommendations are already carried out by individual operators and planning authorities, there are a range of potential benefits to be gained from the guidance summarised in this report. These range from more efficient development control procedures and reduced confrontation between the various parties, to enhanced protection of the water environment and the avoidance of unnecessary sterilisation of important mineral resources.

There will, however, also be other implications. In some cases, individual suggestions may involve MPAs, mineral operators or Environment Agency / SEPA personnel in additional work. In other cases, mineral operators may be faced with additional costs for monitoring studies or specialist hydrogeological assessments. More significantly, they may sometimes be faced with a possible reduction in workable mineral reserves (for example if depth limitations have to be imposed to prevent adverse effects on the water environment).