Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5152
Issue Two
Date December 1999

Mineral Extraction
and Landfill -
Managing the
Risk

Synopsis
Sets out the minimum requirements for
managing the risk from mineral
extraction and landfill operations.

Submitted by

This document is the property of

Railtrack PLC. It shall not be
Patricia Dingwall reproduced in whole or in part without
Standards Project Manager the written permission of the Controller,
Railway Group Standards,
Railtrack PLC.
Authorised by
Published by
Safety & Standards Directorate
Railtrack PLC
Floor DP01, Railtrack House
Euston Square
London NW1 2EE
Brian Alston
Acting Controller, Railway Group Standards © Copyright 1999 Railtrack PLC
Uncontrolled copy from the catalogue dated August 2004

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Railway Group Standard

GC/RT5152
Mineral Extraction and Landfill - Issue Two
Date December 1999
Managing the Risk Page 1 of 6

Contents
Section Description Page

Part A
Issue Record 2
Responsibilities 2
Compliance 2
Health and Safety Responsibilities 2
Supply 2

Part B
1 Purpose 3
2 Scope 3
3 Definitions 3
4 Principles 3
5 Competency 4
6 Requirements 4
7 Records 5

Reference 6

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GC/RT5152
Issue Two Mineral Extraction and Landfill -
Date December 1999 Managing the Risk
Page 2 of 6

Part A
Issue Record
This document will be updated when necessary by distribution of a complete
replacement.

Amended or additional parts of revised pages have not been marked by a

vertical black line in the adjacent margin because of the number of changes.

Issue Date Comments

One November 1995 Supersedes GC/TP0393 “Mineral Extraction,
Landfill and Reclamation” which is now
withdrawn.
Two December 1999 Supersedes Issue One.

Responsibilities
Railway Group Standards are mandatory on all members of the Railway Group*
and apply to all relevant activities that fall into the scope of each individual’s
Railway Safety Case. If any of those activities are performed by a contractor, the
contractor’s obligation in respect of Railway Group Standards is determined by
the terms of the contract between the respective parties. Where a contractor is
a duty holder of a Railway Safety Case then Railway Group Standards apply
directly to the activities described in the Safety Case.

* The Railway Group comprises Railtrack and the duty holders of the Railway
Safety Cases accepted by Railtrack

Compliance
The provisions in this document are to be complied with from June 2000.

Health and Safety

Responsibilities
In issuing this document, Railtrack PLC makes no warranties, express or
implied, that compliance with all or any documents published by the Safety &
Standards Directorate is sufficient on its own to ensure safe systems of work or
operation. Each user is reminded of its own responsibilities to ensure health and
safety at work and its individual duties under health and safety legislation.

Supply
Controlled and uncontrolled copies of this document may be obtained from the
Industry Safety Liaison Dept, Safety and Standards Directorate, Railtrack PLC,
Railtrack House, DP01, Euston Square, London, NW1 2EE.

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Mineral Extraction and Landfill - Issue Two
Date December 1999
Managing the Risk Page 3 of 6

Part B
1 Purpose
The purpose of this document is to define the minimum requirements for the
management of risk from mineral extraction and landfill operations.

2 Scope
The overall scope of Railway Group Standards is as specified in Appendix A of
GA/RT6001.

Specifically the contents of this document apply to and include:

• land affected by mineral extraction, and landfill;

• land being considered for purchase by the Infrastructure Controller;
• land where redevelopment, reclamation or construction works are proposed;
• all known abandoned mineral workings:

The requirements of this document are applicable to all persons within the
Infrastructure Controller’s organisation responsible for:

• investigating and monitoring mineral extraction, and landfill;

• purchasing land;
• receiving notices of intended mineral extraction, and landfill;
• maintaining operational railway land;
• developing or carrying out construction works.

3 Definitions
Construction Works
Works which are likely to be susceptible to damage from subsidence caused by
mineral extraction.

Landfill
The engineered deposit of waste into or onto land in such a way that pollution or
harm to the environment is minimised or prevented and, through restoration, to
provide land which may be used for another purpose.

Landfill Gas
A gas produced by the decomposition of biodegradable material and is primarily
composed of 65% methane and 35% carbon dioxide plus trace concentrations of
a range of organic gases and vapours.

Mining Contact
The single point of contact appointed by the Infrastructure Controller to receive
and/or evaluate Statutory Notices or other proposals for mineral extraction, and
landfill affecting the areas of railway infrastructure identified in the scope of this
document.

Statutory Notice
A notice of intention to work minerals under or adjacent to railway property. The
notice is statutorily served on the Infrastructure Controller by the mineral
operator.

4 Principles
• Appropriate measures are implemented by the Infrastructure Controller to
manage the risks to train operations from mineral extraction and landfill
sites.
• Land proposed for development, construction works or purchase is
assessed for the effects of current, future and abandoned mineral
extraction.

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Issue Two Mineral Extraction and Landfill -
Date December 1999 Managing the Risk
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5 Competency
5.1
The Infrastructure Controller shall ensure that the responsibilities of those
persons involved in managing the risks from mineral extraction and landfill
operations are clearly defined in writing and understood by them.

5.2 Mining Contact

The Mining Contact shall be professionally qualified in mining works, have
knowledge of landfill operations and have at least ten years experience in
mineral extraction.

5.3
The Infrastructure Controller shall ensure that all persons undertaking duties in
accordance with this document possess the necessary skills, expertise and
training to carry out those duties.

6 Requirements
6.1 Planning Applications
The Infrastructure Controller shall ensure that procedures are in place to advise
all planning authorities:

• to direct all mineral extraction and landfill planning applications to the Mining
Contact;
• that the Mining Contact will make the formal response to the mineral
extraction or landfill planning application on behalf of the Infrastructure
Controller.

6.2 Underground Mineral Extraction

6.2.1
The Infrastructure Controller shall ensure that procedures are in place for the
Mining Contact to:

• receive all Statutory Notices in respect of underground mineral extraction

which could affect the safety of train operations;
• determine the extent of the Infrastructure Controller’s boundaries relevant to
the proposed mineral extraction;
• predict the effect of the underground mineral workings on the Infrastructure
Controller;
• reply to the Statutory Notice within the timescale laid down in the relevant
legislation;
• monitor the mineral workings as appropriate;
• maintain a register of all current underground mineral extraction sites which
could affect the safety of train operations.

6.2.2
The Infrastructure Controller shall also ensure that procedures are in place to;

• decide what action is required to protect the safety of the operational

infrastructure within the timescale laid down in the relevant legislation;
• implement and maintain any works necessary to protect the safety of the
operational infrastructure;
• monitor the effect of the mineral workings on the operational infrastructure
and take appropriate action to ensure that the safety of train operations is
secured.

6.3 Abandoned Underground Mineral Workings

The Infrastructure Controller shall have procedures in place for:

• the Mining Contact to maintain a register of abandoned underground mineral

workings which could affect the safety of train operations;
• categorising the mineral workings based on the assessed risk to the safety of
train operations, taking into account known measures that have been

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Mineral Extraction and Landfill - Issue Two
Date December 1999
Managing the Risk Page 5 of 6

implemented on abandonment of the mine (eg infilling, discontinuation of

pumping, etc);
• implementing appropriate actions (such as mining stability reports, site
investigation, mitigation and remedial works) to manage the risk to train
operations where such measures are justified on safety grounds.

6.4 Surface Mineral Extraction and Landfill

6.4.1
The Infrastructure Controller shall ensure that procedures are in place for the
Mining Contact to:

• receive, evaluate, liaise as necessary, and respond to all planning

applications in respect of surface mineral extraction and landfill within the
statutory timescales (the response must detail the measures that the mineral
extractor or the landfill operator is required to take to protect the railway);
• maintain a record of all current surface mineral extraction and landfill sites
which could affect the safety of train operations (for example, in the case of
landfill, from the migration of landfill gas).

6.4.2 Surface Mineral Extraction only

The Infrastructure Controller shall also ensure that procedures are in place to
monitor, where appropriate, any surface mineral working which is likely to have
an impact on the safety of train operations. These procedures shall identify the
implementation of any preventive remedial works necessary to protect the safety
of train operations.

6.5 Purchase, Development or Construction Works

Where the purchase of land, development or construction works are proposed,
the Infrastructure Controller shall have procedures in place for a report to be
obtained from the Mining Contact to establish whether the land or works are
likely to be affected by current, future, or abandoned mineral extraction or landfill
operations.

7 Records
The Infrastructure Controller shall ensure that procedures are in place to:

• maintain and update existing records of underground mineral extraction,

surface mineral extraction and landfill operations which could affect the
safety of train operations for perpetuity unless otherwise justified. (The
record shall include any known details of protective measures implemented
as a result of such workings);
• record all evaluations of Statutory Notices or other proposals for mineral
extraction or landfill;
• record all mining reports, site investigations, mitigating or remedial works
carried out in assessing or reducing the risk from abandoned mineral
workings.

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Issue Two Mineral Extraction and Landfill -
Date December 1999 Managing the Risk
Page 6 of 6

Reference

GA/RT6001 Railway Group Standards Change Procedures

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