The consultation page can be found on the DCLG website:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/wastemanagement

The consultation document is found here:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/651225

EU Directive 2006/21/EC on the management of waste from the extractive industries – the ‘Mining Waste Directive’ – was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on 15 March 2006.

The Directive regulates the management of waste from mining and quarrying (‘extractive’) industries for the purposes of preventing harm to the environment and human health. Member States, including the UK, are required to transpose the Directive into national law by 1 May 2008. This will require new regulations to be brought into force in England and Wales, and separately in other parts of the UK.

The Directive affects all on-shore sectors of the mining and quarrying industry that produce extractive waste. Waste from off-shore extraction is excluded from the scope of the Directive. The UK Government’s preferred option is to transpose the Directive through the new Environmental Permitting Programme, as explained in this consultation paper. The other options considered are transposition through town and country planning legislation, together with the application of existing water pollution controls, and a hybrid of both the Environmental Permitting Programme and town and country planning system.

Section 8 of the consultation paper poses 16 questions relating to the transposition of this legislation in England and Wales.

Separate provisions regarding implementation will be considered in Scotland and Northern Ireland.