Regulating the environmental impacts of the Libyan aggregates industry.

This research is concerned with the Libyan aggregates industry, which, as far as can be determined has not been extensively investigated before. Its key aim is to establish the environmental effects of quarrying in Libya and the regulatory regime to control them, with reference to the institutional framework and social and cultural influences in Libya. The research is intended to achieve a better understanding of the aggregates industry and to identify the key factors which have formed its current status, and also to investigate the main barriers constraining the regulatory regime controlling the aggregates industry. Theoretical and empirical studies were conducted between 2004 and 2006 in Libya. The theoretical research focused on the aggregates industry and its key issues. The empirical research was carried out in Libya to collect information regarding the environmental impact of the Libyan aggregates industry as well as managerial and employee attitudes towards it. The data were obtained through interviews targeting the employees of government organisations' supported by a number of questionnaires with the quarry staff. The data gathered from the questionnaires and the interviews were analysed using Excel and SPSS Software. As a result of this study numbers of issues have been discovered with regard to the Libyan aggregates industry and its environmental impacts. It was discovered that the environmental impacts of aggregate extraction are very serious in Libya and the environmental protection plan that attempts to control them is weak. This research has highlighted those environmental impacts and the barriers facing the implementation of the environmental protection plan to control these impacts. It was discovered that there are high numbers of quarries working without permission. The selection of quarry sites in the country seems to be based on nepotism and there is a complete lack of any initial environmental protection training for quarry staff and for new recruits. Within the aggregates companies investigated, there is a total absence of environmental departments and environmental laws and regulations are not of major concern to aggregates industry staff. The research has highlighted the importance of social and economic changes and the influence of tribe and family and people's attitudes to environmental protection and the implementation of the environmental regulations.