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Vibration Monitoring of Quarry Blasting

Monitoring Vibrations from Quarry Operations

Malta has a number of quarry operators that are engaged in the extraction of hardstone through blasting operations. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority oversees the implementation of regulations and legal obligations related to quarry operations in terms of monitoring of vibration levels from blasting operations.

Given the environmental concerns associated with these vibrations, the Authority has issued terms of reference (TORs) and a guidance document on vibration monitoring of quarry blasting. The purpose of these guidelines is to improve environmental performance by providing quarry operators with details as to how and what is required in order to monitor vibrations from blasting operations. Maximum vibration levels that shall be considered acceptable are also being specified.

Apart from providing details on the parameters that need to be monitored, these guidelines clarify responsibilities of the operators, stipulate threshold levels for vibration monitoring and determine other specifications related to location, design and sensitivity of the monitoring equipment. In addition, the TORs also provide guidance on the documentation that needs to be submitted to the Authority prior to the commencement, and upon completion of the blasting operations.

The TORs and related guidance document are available on the following links:

Terms of reference - Quarry Blasting and Vibration Monitoring

Guidance on Vibration Monitoring and Blasting in Quarries

Monitoring Reports for Quarry Blasting

The information provided in these reports is based on currently available data and approved methodologies, which MEPA is still in the process of reviewing.

Quarry	Blast Monitoring Reports
HM01 - Ta' Zuta, Siggiewi	10/11/2010
HM01 - Ta' Zuta, Siggiewi	16/01/2011 14/03/2011 05/04/2011
HM04 - Tal-Faqqanija, Ta' Zuta, Siggiewi	13/09/2010 18/11/2010 23/11/2010
HM04 - Tal-Faqqanija, Ta' Zuta, Siggiewi	06/01/2011 10/03/2011 18/07/2011
HM08 - Wied iz-Ziju, Zejtun	12/01/2011 14/02/2011 14/03/2011 06/04/2011 09/05/2011 25/10/2011 24/11/2011
HM08 - Wied iz-Ziju, Zejtun	27/01/2012
HM9c - Ix-Xaghra Ta' Qaduma, Mosta	04/08/2010 24/09/2010 02/11/2010 14/12/2010
	24/01/2011 09/02/2011 08/03/2011 13/04/2011 09/05/2011 18/07/2011 22/09/2011 10/10/2011 07/11/2011 09/12/2011
	11/01/2012 26/01/2012 14/02/2012 01/03/2012 21/03/2012 12/04/2012
HM13 - Tat-Tomna, Mellieha	14/09/2010 06/10/2010
	14/01/2011 18/03/2011 07/04/2011 06/05/2011 16/06/2011 15/07/2011 19/09/2011
	17/01/2012 23/03/2012
HM22 - Victoria Lines, Naxxar	22/07/2010 30/07/2010 22/09/2010 10/11/2010 17/11/2010 26/11/2010 29/11/2010 06/12/2010 20/12/2010
	03/01/2011 10/01/2011 17/01/2011 25/01/2011 02/02/2011 08/02/2011 16/02/2011 24/02/2011 02/03/2011 15/03/2011 24/03/2011 04/04/2011 08/04/2011 18/04/2011 03/05/2011 10/05/2011 14/06/2011 30/06/2011 26/07/2011 27/09/2011 05/10/2011 13/10/2011 01/11/2011 08/11/2011 15/11/2011 06/12/2011 19/12/2011
	02/01/2012 08/01/2012 18/01/2012 07/02/2012 15/02/2012 29/02/2012 12/03/2012 20/03/2012 30/03/2012 09/04/2012 17/04/2012 03/05/2012
HM26 - Tal-Macina, Nigret, Zurrieq	02/08/2010 23/09/2010 08/11/2010
	11/01/2011 22/03/2011 11/05/2011 13/07/2011 01/08/2011 20/09/2011 21/10/2011 22/11/2011 14/12/2011
	22/03/2012
HM29 - Ta' Torri Falka, Mgarr	23/07/2010 04/08/2010
	21/02/2011 17/03/2011 07/04/2011 26/04/2011
	15/02/2012 12/03/2012 26/04/2012 12/04/2012
HM31 - Ta' Dmejrek, Dingli	20/09/2010
HM33 - Ta' Bellula, Siggiewi	19/07/2010 05/08/2010 09/09/2010 12/10/2010 27/10/2010 26/11/2010
	12/01/2011 22/02/2011 29/04/2011 31/05/2011 06/07/2011 29/07/2011 16/09/2011 04/10/2011 24/10/2011 21/11/2011
	17/02/2012
HG12 - Ta' Klement, Qala Gozo	03/08/2010 07/10/2010 12/11/2010
	13/01/2011 11/03/2011 25/05/2011 30/09/2011 01/12/2011
	12/01/2012 03/04/2012

When interpreting or correlating data in these vibration reports or between vibration reports from different quarries, various factors are to be taken into account. These include Peak Particle Velocity (mm/s), distance from seismograph (m) and the frequency (Hz) at which the readings are taken. Data collected from a monitoring point cannot be compared with a published standard unless all parameters are factored into the interpretation of the results.

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Vibration Monitoring of Quarry Blasting