Mitigation of visual and environmental impacts from mineral workings

Visual intrusion is often the most significant environmental impact associated with mineral workings and where permission is granted, landscape quality should be protected by attaching conditions designed to avoid or mitigate any adverse impacts. Particular regard should be paid to the preservation of skylines and to the proposed location of plant, stockpiles and overburden/waste within the development. Additional scope for the satisfactory mitigation of proposals impacting upon the environment may include, where applicable, measures designed to prevent pollution of water bodies, watercourses and ground water. Such measures should be included in applications for mineral extraction and processing plants, including settlement ponds. The provision of reliable protective measures will be an important factor in assessing the acceptability of the proposal.