Federal Laws to Safeguard Against Quarries

Environment and Health
Fuad Ali has covered an important story today (18 June 2008) in the Gulf News that concerns new federal laws to control quarry and crushing companies.

The report issues from a seminar strategically located in Al Aqah, Fujairah and will have great implications for the stone industries in the eastern emirate.

The new regulations are designed to protect the environment and safeguard the health of workers and residents from quarry dust and noise.

The Minister of Environment and Water, Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd was reported as saying:

“All stone quarries and crushing companies must implement all aspects of the new environmental law within a year or face severe penalties.”

Federal and Local
The article concludes with this insightful statement:
“Dr Sultan Al Moadhen, Member of the Federal National Council and Chairman of the Provisional Committee for Monitoring Environmental Pollution, said the implementation of the environmental resolution must be enforced by the federal government and not left to local authorities who - he said - proved to be ‘unreliable’.”

Implications for the Marine Environment?
The federal government today has implemented important legislation and controls for quarries and crushers and will not leave it to local authorities to police, enforce and prosecute offenders.

In view of the succession of oil dumpings this year into the Fujairah waters, with local authorities proving to be impotent in surveillance and prosecution, one would hope that the federal government will also implement tough new laws and penalties that will be effective in stopping the damage to the marine environment.

For the full report, including reactions from the different sectors see:

Fuad Ali, Quarries in UAE must follow new environmental law says minister, Gulf News, 18 June 2008.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Quarry in Dibba, Fujairah.