Teesside, UK - A former anhydrite mine at Billingham on Teesside is being investigated for use in waste disposal.
The mine is owned by ICI and anhydrite, an anhydrous form of calcium sulphate, was extracted mainly for fertiliser production. The mine ceased operation in 1971 and was decommissioned in 1978 with aftercare managed by ICI.
NPL Estates Ltd, which works in brownfield land management and land development, says it has agreed conditional terms with ICI to take over responsibility for the former mine workings.
Man standing to the right shows scale of this mine
It is understood that there is a labyrinth of tunnels below ground following the anhydrite mining with some tunnels around 30 feet in height. Anhydrite is impermeable to all intents and purposes and should therefore represent a barrier to groundwater movement under the right circumstances.
These properties attracted NIREX in the 1980s to consider the site for radioactive waste disposal, though this is ruled out under the present proposals. Under the agreement with ICI, the site would not be used for radioactive wastes which the local population successfully rejected in the 1980s when NIREX were undertaking investigations around the UK.
The Billingham site is located in close proximity to a range of industrial activities including ICI’s Wilton complex. There are also good road communications in the general area.
NPL says that the mine could be suitable for a range of waste materials including building rubble and some low-level hazardous waste such as ash from local industrial facilities.
A technical review of the mines condition and characteristics is to be undertaken by experts to see whether it will be suitable for the deposit of waste materials. The review is expected to take a couple of months. Proposals will then be drawn up for consultation with Stockton Borough Council and local residents.
If the review is favourable it is likely that a planning application and PPC application would follow, however NPL emphasises that at the moment there are no definite plans in place to re-open the mine and that it will work closely with the local community to assess the feasibility of any future plans.