Application on the impact of sand mining on the environment in3 states with different age and mandate relatedto EU membership;partiallydifferent legislative systems as well:France,theUnited Kingdom &Romania1)FrenchRepublic(semi-presidentialregime)-oneofthesixfounding countries of theEU;-a decentralized unitary state comprising territories with special statutes giving them greater autonomy-this longevity of France in the European Union is also reflected in mining, environmental and other policies which haveknown gradualimplementation,togetherwith regulations risingfromanational/sovereign will2)TheUnitedKingdom (parliamentary monarchy)-EUpath(since1973to2018);-UK helped pass environmental protection laws and helped introduce the concept of "polluter pays" which still manages theenvironmental impacts oftheminingsector,-Along withrespectingEUcommitments mostlygoverned byDirectives,UK enforces theprotection of riparian areas (i.e.river habitats"protocols).It alsohas robustminerals regulationand implementationforsandand aggregatesextraction3)Romania (semi-presidentialregime)-ayoungmemberstateoftheEuropeanUnion(since2007);-pale stipulations on sand mining are provided by the Water Law (107/ 1996, updated in 2020);- sand mining impact assessment on riparian eco-systems of Romanian rivers not yet included in the national strategy for river basinsmanagement(asenforcedbyWFD-2000/60/EC)6
6 Application on the impact of sand mining on the environment in 3 states with different age and mandate related to EU membership; partially different legislative systems as well: France, the United Kingdom & Romania 1) French Republic (semi—presidential regime) - one of the six founding countries of the EU; - a decentralized unitary state comprising territories with special statutes giving them greater autonomy; - this longevity of France in the European Union is also reflected in mining, environmental and other policies which have known gradual implementation, together with regulations rising from a national/ sovereign will. 2) The United Kingdom (parliamentary monarchy) - EU path (since 1973 to 2018); - UK helped pass environmental protection laws and helped introduce the concept of "polluter pays" which still manages the environmental impacts of the mining sector; - Along with respecting EU commitments mostly governed by Directives, UK enforces the protection of riparian areas (i.e. river habitats’ protocols). It also has robust minerals regulation and implementation for sand and aggregates extraction 3) Romania (semi—presidential regime) - a young member state of the European Union (since 2007); - pale stipulations on sand mining are provided by the Water Law (107/ 1996, updated in 2020); - sand mining impact assessment on riparian eco-systems of Romanian rivers not yet included in the national strategy for river basins management (as enforced by WFD - 2000/60/EC)
CaseStudiesfromEurope:FranceThecase ofRamieres sand mine-Dromewith theRhone confluence (Commune deRompon,SEFrance),fromthe heavily removal of aggregates (until late 90's) to alluvial overburdening of the riverbed (last 20 years)20022019RiNAhighsedimenttransportcompetenceofneSince2014.sandmining companyzhotthe Drome River"Granulats Vicat"hasbeenoperatingbased ontheprojectto-renewauthorizationfor"RAMIERES"quarryDrome RiverDromeRivSand miningactivitieshavebeenextendedTheriveris embankedonthesand mines side.Thetowardstheoldnaturaldynamicsoftheriverislimitedlesssandminenewconfluenceerosion,increasedaccumulationSources of photos:Google EarthThe river management authoritiesdid not notknow how to proceed, initially,provided that thelawprohibited any extraction ofgravelwhich stagnates especially in areas where rivers meet, knowing that the objective of local officials is to extract the gravel for sale andwatercostsadjustments(JOSenat,2016)Intheevent ofafifty-yearflood, thewaterwouldpassover,withtheriskofbreaking thedikes (Bravard,2018)
Siret River (Romania) - in-stream sand mining The case of Ramières sand mine - Drôme with the Rhône confluence (Commune de Rompon, SE France), from the heavily removal of aggregates (until late 90’s) to alluvial overburdening of the riverbed (last 20 years) Source of photos: AgentGreen (24.April.2020) Case Studies from Europe: France 7 The river management authorities did not not know how to proceed, initially, provided that the law prohibited any extraction of gravel which stagnates especially in areas where rivers meet, knowing that the objective of local officials is to extract the gravel for sale and water costs adjustments (JO Sénat, 2016). In the event of a fifty-year flood, the water would pass over, with the risk of breaking the dikes (Bravard, 2018). Agitated waters and increased turbidity will certainly have an impact on fish breeding. A high sediment transport competence of the Drôme River 2002 2019 Drôme River Drôme River The river is embanked on the sand mines side. The natural dynamics of the river is limited less erosion, increased accumulation Sources of photos: Google Earth Since 2014, sand mining company “Granulats Vicat” has been operating based on the project to renew authorization for "RAMIERES" quarry Sand mining activities have been extended towards the confluence new . old sand mine
CaseStudiesfromEurope:France8Granulates extraction inhumid zones (alluvial plains),the environmental-legislative-economic deadlock.Case studyfromLoireRiverImportant alluvial dynamics200220192014at theconfluence betweenLoireRiverandI'Allier(central France).Atrickyreason why not stopping theaggregates extractionSourceof photos:Google EarthOn theLoire,until the7Os,themotivationbehind alluvial dredging was navigable channel maintenance.Then,sand miningbecameaventuretothe Stateandprivatecompanieswillingness toproduceaggregatesforpublic works (Rohaut,2004).Withtime,instead of stopping thepractice,by exceeding quotas and overexploitation,small gravel companies continueto operatebyvirtueoftacitpactwiththeDirectorate-General forIndustry,Researchand theEnvironment.They arealsosupportedbytheownersofthelands, whobelieve in themiraculous intervention in theriverbed mobility by sandmining
Siret River (Romania) - in-stream sand mining Granulates extraction in humid zones (alluvial plains), the environmental – legislative – economic deadlock. Case study from Loire River Source of photos: Google Earth Case Studies from Europe: France 8 Important alluvial dynamics at the confluence between Loire River and l’Allier (central France). A tricky reason why not stopping the aggregates extraction Lack of concern for practicing sand mining during the season of reproduction for riverine species On the Loire, until the ‘70s, the motivation behind alluvial dredging was navigable channel maintenance. Then, sand mining became a venture to the State and private companies’ willingness to produce aggregates for public works (Rohaut, 2004). With time, instead of stopping the practice, by exceeding quotas and overexploitation, small gravel companies continue to operate by virtue of tacit pact with the Directorate-General for Industry, Research and the Environment. They are also supported by the owners of the lands, who believe in the miraculous intervention in the riverbed mobility by sand mining. 2002 2014 2019