**5. Conclusion**

*Sandy Materials in Civil Engineering - Usage and Management*

dwellers around the vicinity (**Figure 6**).

adequate state assistance [14, 17].

mitigate and control environmental impacts [19].

The National Policy on Biodiversity Conservation and

Prevention of Industrial Pollution: Council of Ministers

*Local proclamations and policies related to environment protection.*

Environmental Organs Establishment Proclamation

**4. Legal framework**

The quarry operations will produce fugitive dust from blasting, vehicular emissions, and other mining operation which would deteriorate air quality. The dust will affect negatively the health and the well-being of residents [11]. A descriptive example of such incident is demonstrated by Semere [14]. He reported in 2013 that there was a functioning coarse aggregate quarry site 60 m from a cooperative apartment dwelling in the capital city of Ethiopia; this has an impact both on the structures and the

Ethiopia has signed/or ratified a number of multilateral and international agreements that aim to protect the environment. In light of these agreements, the following paragraphs summarize the local proclamations and policies to laws. The Provisions 1995 Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia provides a perfect basic framework on which detailed laws shall be developed for various sectors. It contains provisions that support the enactment of EIA legislation. Thereof, it stipulates that the design and implementation of development programs and projects in the country should not damage or destroy the environment. It makes sure that the right of the people to be consulted and express their views on the planning and implementation of environmental policies and projects that affect them. It also states citizens have the right to live in a clean environment and, where displaced or livelihood has been adversely affected by the development projects undertaken by the government, the rights to get commensurate monetary or Overview of EIA in Ethiopia alternative compensation, including relocation with

The 299/2002 Article 5 Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation defines

any projects that are likely to have a negative impact on the environment and requires an EIA process for any planned development project or public policy. With regard to development projects, the proclamation stipulates that no person shall commence implementation of proposed project identified by directive as requiring EIA without first passing through environmental impact assessment process and obtaining authorization from the competent environmental agency [18]. Additionally **Table 2** states the local policies and proclamations which aim to legally

As per the classification of the above proclamation, aggregate quarries fails under the category of project that can likely to have a negative impact on the environment, and as per the directives given, the environmental impact assessment

1998

2008

**Local proclamations or policies Year** The Environment Policy of Ethiopia (April 1997) 1997

Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation 299/2002 2002 Pollution Control Proclamation 300/2002 27 2002

**74**

**Table 2.**

Research (1998)

Regulation No. 159/2008

The need for increased infrastructural and housing requirements due to the growing rate of urbanization has led to an ever-increasing demand for both fine and coarse aggregate. This increase in an unregulated system is raising the environment concern to a level that immediate intervention is required. Locally quarry activity has created several environmental and social problems. These problems include change of landscapes and loss of aesthetic value, contamination of soil, erosion and sedimentation, air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and health problems on the workers and local residents. Even if there are relatively sufficient laws and proclamations for the protection of the environment, quarry sites are not regularly inspected of by the authorized bodies while they are operational or after they have been closed for reclamation purposes. Most quarry sites are just left abandoned. The only environmental mitigation practices in few quarry sites are planting of trees and collection of waste [6, 12, 14].
