Natural England partnering with Institute of Quarrying to update ‘Good Practice for Handling Soils’
THE Institute of Quarrying (IQ) is partnering with Natural England to update Defra’s Good Practice for Handling Soils. The guidance, which was first published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in 2000, has been and still is extensively used by the minerals industry, planning authorities and regulators, and their advisors.
However, over the past 17 years there have been changes in the equipment and practices used, so it is timely that this key guidance is now about to be updated. Dr Neil Humphries FIQ, author of the current guidance, has been invited to assist with the update, which is expected to be available in 2019.
Mineral producers and suppliers, planning authorities, and their advisors are also invited to assist by: commenting on the current guidance and suggestions for improvements; identifying examples and evidence of good practice and innovation across the range of equipment and practices used; providing support for visits to example operations; and helping with production of the guidance (eg graphics and animations).
Anyone interested in assisting should register through IQ general manager Mike Phillips (via: mail@quarrying.org), with all responses clearly titled: ‘Updating of Soil Handling Guidance’.
