1. MINERALS EXPLOITATION IN PROTECTED NATURE AREAS OF SLOVAKIA
Peter Balaz, Dep. of mineral resources assessment
STATE GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF DIONYZ STUR

2. introduction Realization of geological task resuslted from documents
approved by Ministry of the Environment and the
Government:
proposal of Minerals Policy of Slovakia (2001)
Government Decree No. 722/2004, which approved Updated Minerals Policy of Slovakia on mineral resources, with obligation to evaluate minerals exploitation in large-scale protected nature areas

3. objectives
analyse and evaluation of minerals exploitation and related environmental problems in national parks and protected landscape areas
identification of collisions with territorial protection of country and the environment, assessment of potential mining impacts

4. large-scale protected areas in Slovakia
9 national parks (NP)
14 protected landscape areas (CHKO)
total area of 1.1 milion ha, or 23 % of state´s territory (2006)

5. large-scale protected areas in Slovakia

6. legislation
Geological and mining activities in protected nature areas are regulated by the Act No.543/2002 Col. on nature and landscape protection, in the wording of the Act No.525/2003 Col., Act No.205/2004 Col., Act No. 364/2004 Col., Act No. 587/2004 Col. and Act No. 15/2005 Col.

7. legislation
technical geological works, mining operations, operations using mining methods are prohibited in protected ranges, nature reservations and monuments (4th and 5th degree of protection)
in national parks (3rd degree of protection), presented activities are prohibited, except technical geological works, where agreement from the nature protection office is necessary
in protected landscape areas (2nd degree of protection), mining is not prohibited, but agreement of the nature protection office is necessary

8. methodics
archive search (information data systems of SGUDS, SOP SR, NP and CHKO administration, mining offices)
mineral deposits inventory in protected areas
identification of collisions (mining and deposit areas versus protected nature areas, including small-scale areas and NATURA 2000
evaluation of real and potential mining impacts

9. software Microsoft Access (database) Mapinfo (GIS)
Microstation (graphic outputs)

15. mineral deposits & environmental database
administrative data
geological conditions
mineral characteristics, processing and use
reserves and mining data
economic assessment
present collisions
environmental characteristics of deposit locality
substitutes

16. environmental characteristic of deposit
hydrogeology and hydrology
mine waters
geomorphology
climate
geochemistry
ecological characteristics of locality
potential and real risks

17. substitutes
possibilities of other mineral deposit occurrences out of protected natural areas
comparison and considering amount and quality of reserves, transport distances, etc.

19. preview of mining in protected areas
mining output in protected nature areas has reached 6,5 Mt, representing 16 % of total mining output in Slovakia (2005)
identified 177 deposits in protected areas
58 deposits in 1 km zone of potential impact

20. categories of relative mining impact
1. category - no impact, or low degree of impact (mining capacity to 500 t.km-2 per year) – 15 areas
2. category - medium degree of impact (mining capacity from 500 to 5,000 t.km-2 per year) – 8 areas
3. category - high degree of impact (mining capacity over t.km-2 per year) – no area at present

21. graphic outputs geologic maps of single protected areas (1 : 50 000)
special maps of minerals exploitation in protected areas (1: or 1 : )
summary map of mineral deposits in protected areas of Slovakia (scale 1 : )
ortophoto
photo documentation

25. NATURA 2000 areas (proposed)
SPAs 23.3 %, SACs 11,7 % of Slovakia territory

26. NATURA NP, CHKO

27. mineral deposit objects
Mining Law - List of reserved minerals
Reserved mineral deposits (state owned)
- protected deposit areas
- mining areas (licence to exploitation)
Non-reserved mineral deposits
(part of land = private, municipality, state or church owned, according to land owner)

32. conclusions
based on evaluation of mining, economic and environmental conditions, particular mineral deposits in NP and CHKO were recommended for continuing exploitation, preservation or depreciation
the next step should be evaluation of deposit and mine collisions in NATURA 2000 areas and in landscape out of large-scale protected areas

33. conclusions nature protection law vs mining law
protected natural area vs mining area licence
compromise needed
rising demand for minerals and mineral based products
import dependence
request for using of domestic (European) sources
European minerals policy

34. Slavec Gombasek - limestone quarry

35. Maluzina – melaphyre quarry

36. Besa – closed gravelsand mine

37. Dubrava – closed antimonite mine

38. end