2. Environmental protection

Quarries are often perceived by the general public in terms of the damage they cause to the environment, as a result of the nuisance they cause and the disruption they wreak on soils and landscapes. Under pressure from environmentalists, aggregates producers have mobilized, and significant progress has been made in reducing noise, vibrations and dust, treating water and sludge, rehabilitating production sites, and so on.

At the same time, quarry legislation was amended and strengthened, with the aim of effectively protecting the living environment. Under the Act of January 4, 1993, accompanied by the decrees and circular of June 9, 1994, quarries were transferred from the Mining Code to the legislation governing "highly polluting" classified installations, as defined by the Act of July 19, 1976.

Henceforth, all quarrying operations, regardless...