MIST News items

ASRP Announces Invitation to Tender

The Aggregates Strategic Research Programme (ASRP) has announced an invitation to tender, to carry out seven projects to enhance the evidence base to support the sustainable supply of aggregates.

The call opened on 19th February 2009 with a deadline for submission of proposals by 27th March 2009.

Full call documentation, application forms and programme terms and conditions can be found on the MIST website at www.mi-st.org.uk.

The projects will be funded from the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). The programme is open to both public and private sector organisations including commercial organisations, academic institutions, public sector agencies and associations. Projects are to be delivered in England. Whilst it is envisaged that the projects will be 100% funded, co-funded applications will be welcomed. Proposals are invited in seven projects;

1. Develop an horizon scan for the production of aggregates.
2. Evaluate the environmental impacts of aggregates within designated sites.
3. Develop an ecosystems approach to decision-making in the planning and restoration of aggregate quarries
4. Scoping study for assessing decisions on when to build new rather than adapting old.
5. Assess the feasibility of using pipelines to transport aggregates.
6. Assess the design of lorries and quarries for aggregates transport.
7. Assess the feasibility of underground mining of aggregates.

ASRP is managed by the Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) on behalf of DEFRA. For further information, please visit the Calls and Invitations pages of this website or contact  mist@miro.co.uk.

13 new research projects commissioned under the MIST Programme

Under the Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology Programme (MIST), now running until March 2011, thirteen new research projects have been commissioned in response to the seventh call for bids, approximately £1.33m ALSF funding will be distributed. Forty Seven applications were put forward for evaluation in this call.

These environmental research and development projects, listed below, commence on, or as soon as possible after the 5 January 2009 and run for varying number of months until February 2011. The projects address issues in six of the seven themes from the MIST 7th Call, impact mitigation and management, site design, operation and closure, knowledge and technology transfer and optimising resource value.

For further information on these projects please visit the Research Projects pages of this website or contact  mist@miro.co.uk.

MIRO successful held the ‘Delivering Sustainable Solutions II’ conference at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 30^th October 2007 to disseminate projects under the MIST and SAMP Programmes from 2004 – 2007 funded through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). 

The conference was attended by 80 delegates ranging from Government, Industry, Academics and Mineral Planners. MIRO Council Member and Secretary of British Aggregates Association, Peter Huxtable chaired the conference and Duncan Wardrop, Mineral Resources Manager at Lafarge Aggregates gave the keynote speech. Peter and Duncan both emphasised the importance of the ALSF funded work to date and its dissemination, and the need for the continuance of the programme post March 2008.

Other presentations came from past projects funded through the MIST and SAMP Programmes:-

• David Jarvis, David Jarvis Associates – ‘Wheelchairs and Handcarts’
• Anam Parand, Camborne School of Mines – ‘Improving the Standards of Health and Safety Management in the Quarrying
• Claire Howarth, Capita Symonds – ‘Mitigation Strategies to Reduce Quarry Dewatering Impacts’
• Alice Davies, RSPB – ‘Nature after Minerals’
• Andrew Bloodworth, BGS – ‘Mineral Safeguarding Areas’

There were also numerous stands on display from past projects, which provided an excellent opportunity for delegates to network.

Presentations are available for download in PDF format by selecting the icon next to the presentations title.

The keynote speech by Duncan Wardrop also took advantage of a presentation as did Peter Huxtable's Theme Review update

‘Delivering Sustainable Solutions II’

MIST/SAMP Conference – 30th October 2007

A conference is to be held on 30th October 2007 at The National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, to demonstrate successful projects commissioned during the period 2004 – 2007 under the MIST and SAMP programmes which are funded by DEFRA from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

The Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology Programme (MIST) is a collaborative research programme that provides co-funding for projects that are implemented by partnerships formed from a wide range of mineral industry stakeholders, and is operated with funding from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). The objective of MIST is, ‘to reduce the environmental effects of mineral extraction through development, promotion and implementation of sustainable technologies.’

The Sustainable Land-Won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme (SAMP) was established by The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as a mechanism to provide funding for aggregate minerals research that is broadly in line with the aims of the construction aggregates component of the DCLG’s Planning Research Programme.

To date the two programmes have engaged the active participation of over one hundred different organisations and commissioned projects with a total combined value of £19.2M.

The Conference will provide an opportunity to present and discuss the results of environmental research and development projects commissioned during the second phase of the MIST and SAMP Programmes which concluded in March 2007.

13 new research projects commissioned under the MIST Programme

Under the Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology Programme (MIST), now running until March 2008, thirteen new research projects with a value of £796,364 have been commissioned in response to the sixth call for bids. Thirty four applications were received for this call. These environmental research and development projects, listed below, commenced on 1st May 2007 and run for 10 months until February 2008. The projects address issues in each of the four themes from the MIST 6th Call, impact mitigation and management, site design, operation and closure, knowledge and technology transfer and optimising resource value.

For further information on these projects please visit the Research Projects pages of this website or contact Abbie Drew at abbie.drew@miro.co.uk.

Sixth Call Annouced

The Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology Programme (MIST) has announced its sixth call for proposals for research and development projects on environmental aspects of UK minerals industries. The call opened on 28th February 2007 with a deadline for submission of proposals by 30th March 2007.

For further information please refer to the Calls for Proposals section of this website or contact the MIST Programme Co-ordinator Abbie Richards at abbie.drew@miro.co.uk.

Delivering Environmental Benefit through the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF)

The Role of Environmental Research and Development

View Paper

This document has been prepared to provide an overview of the role of research and development in the ALSF in relation to the broader aims of the Fund and achievements that have been realised to date. The aim of the paper is to inform discussion on the future of the ALSF and in particular to define the basis for continuation and development of Objective 2 programmes. The paper includes a summary of environmental issues that have not yet been fully addressed and which should form the basis for development of future ALSF research programmes.

A MIST project conference 'Geodiversity, Geoconservation and GeoValue' is to be held in the De La Beche Lecture Theatre at the British Geological Survey on Wednesday 24th January 2007. For further details on the
conference and registration please see the attached programme."

Virtual Quarry wins a 2006 Communicators in Business Award

The Quarry Products Association’s MIST project, an educational website called Virtual Quarry www.virtualquarry.co.uk has won a major prize in the 2006 Communicators in Business Awards held in Bournemouth on Friday 5th May 2006. The site, which was only launched in January this year, picked up the “Most Imaginative Design” award, beating off stiff competition from leading players such as BT and international law firm Allen & Overy.

Virtual Quarry

An interactive Virtual Quarry has been developed by Quarry Products Association through funding from the MIST Programme. The website which is a great new teaching resource is now live at http://www.virtualquarry.co.uk

National Success for MIST Project

The Cooper Hayman cup, the Quarrying Industry’s premier award for best practice in quarry restoration has been awarded, by Fiona Bruce, to a current MIST project ‘Planning and designing the restoration of quarries for the benefit of people with physical and mental disabilities.’

The project, part of a research project to consider ways in which quarries can be restored to benefit disabled people, is part funded by the MIST Programme and part funded by Brett Aggregates Limited. The project is designed and managed by David Jarvis Associates Limited.

Later in the year a handbook for the quarrying industry will be published detailing ways in which facilities for disabled people can be incorporated into quarries.

For further information please contact:

Tamsyn Howard, David Jarvis Associates Limited
Tel: 01793 612173
Email: tamsynhoward@davidjarvis.biz  Website:www.davidjarvis.biz

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