Mines and quarries

The extraction of solid minerals from mines and quarries represents a primary activity, with a high environmental impact but also the foundation of all other production activities and, consequently, of the development and well-being of the population. The national legislation on the subject still dates back to the Royal Decree 1443/1927, which distinguishes, on the basis of the material extracted, the first category (mines) and second category (quarries and peat bogs) extractive industries. In compliance with the constitutional dictates, the competences relating to the extractive activities of non-energy minerals have been transferred, at different times, to the Regions (quarries: Presidential Decree 24 July 1977 n.616; mines: Legislative Decree 31/3/1998 n . 112 and Legislative Decree no. 83 of 22 June 2012) which have legislated on the matter.
Despite the sharp decline in production in recent years, the mining industry of solid mineral resources remains an important sector of the Italian economy. As such, it should also be framed in a modern national legislation aimed, in line with European guidelines, towards environmental sustainability, the recycling of raw materials and territorial safety.
The ownership of national mining policies is in the hands of the Ministry of Economic Development and the collection of statistical data is in the hands of Istat and MISE, but the transversality of the matter and the strong environmental impact of the activities in place and above all in the past, with their heavy legacy of hundreds of polluted sites, make the SNPA and ISPRA in particular, a supporting and necessary element of any future sustainable development policy in the sector, also in relation to the reconversion of disused mining areas for cultural purposes.
ISPRA pursues the aim of promoting the conservation and enhancement of the technical-scientific, historical-cultural and environmental heritage of the sites and assets of the disused mining activity, also to promote the economic, social and tourist development of the areas concerned.