The document provides guidance on assessing mineral dust impacts for planning purposes. It stresses the importance of thoroughly preparing for and conducting a site inspection to understand the proposed operations, existing site conditions, and nearby receptors that could be affected. The site inspection should involve reviewing documentation in advance, booking the visit with the proper contacts, conducting a risk assessment, receiving required safety training, and having an escort during the visit. Key items to examine include other dust sources, sensitive receptors and their proximity/direction to the site, existing screening, and baseline dust conditions. Understanding the scale of operations and how the site fits into the local landscape context is also important for visualizing and objectively evaluating the potential effects.

1. Institute of Air Quality Management
Launch of Guidance on the Assessment
of Mineral Dust Impacts for Planning
Tuesday 24 May 2016
Site Conditions
Dr Hugh Datson, DustScan Ltd

2. Aims and objectives
• Comprehend the development: what is
proposed?
– Mineral type
– Extent and rate of working, timescale
– Extraction and processing
– Distribution
– After-use and site restoration
• Consider the implications: who will be affected,
how?
– Local receptors, potential effects and impacts

3. Preparation
• Review the documentation
before visiting site
– Scoping Request, opinion
– Objections/comments
– Plans, local maps
– Satellite imagery (beware
out-dated images)
• Book the visit
– New site: landowner/agent
– Existing site: site
operator/Quarry Manager
(comparable sites?)
– EHO/regulator if appropriate

4. Site inspection: on-site
• Quarries are busy and
hazardous places: no
unauthorised access
• Plan your visit: don’t
turn up unannounced
• Risk assessment:
hazard identification
and risk management
• Specific safety training
• Site induction and
training
• Supervised/escorted
visit http://www.safetypassports.co.uk/courses/mineralproducts/
(Other training providers are available)

5. Site inspection: locality
• Other dust sources
– Existing operations
– Other minerals sites
– Farmland etc.
• Receptors
– Sensitivity
– Proximity
– Direction/s
– Screening (existing and
planned)
• Baseline conditions
– Monitoring?

6. Context: scale of operations

7. Context: site locality
• Imagine the effect the mineral operation will
have if it goes ahead
– A new site might be perceived differently from the
extension of an existing operation
– What are the positive outcomes as well as the
negatives?
– Will all receptors be affected the same way,
simultaneously?

8. Summary
• It is essential to establish site conditions early
in the assessment process
• Research the proposal, the locality and the
planned operations
• Comprehend the proposal and its possible
effects: visualise the landscape throughout
the development, be objective
Thank you