Decazeville Basin Mine Risk Prevention Plan in Aveyron

Plans for the prevention of natural hazards (PPRN) were established by the Act of 2 February 1995 on strengthening the protection of the environment. The system was supplemented by the plans for the prevention of mining risks introduced by Law No 99-245 of 30 March 1999 on liability for damage resulting from mining and the prevention of mining risks after the end of operation, codified in the new Mining Code (Article L174-5). They are the key instrument of the State in the field of risk prevention. The objective of this procedure is to monitor development in areas exposed to a major risk.
The PPRNs are decided by the prefects and usually carried out by the departmental directorates of the territories (DDT). These plans regulate land use or land use through construction prohibitions or requirements on existing or future buildings (constructive provisions, vulnerability reduction work, restrictions on agricultural use or practices, etc.).
These plans may be under development (prescribed), implemented in advance or approved.
For natural PPRs, the Environmental Code defines two categories of zones (L562-1): risk-exposed areas and areas that are not directly exposed to risks but where measures can be foreseen to avoid exacerbating the risk.
Depending on the hazard level, each area is subject to an enforceable settlement.
The regulations generally distinguish three types of zones:
• ‘Building prohibited areas’, known as ‘red areas’, where the hazard level is high and the general rule is the prohibition on construction;
• ‘prescribed areas’, known as ‘blue zones’, where the hazard level is average and the projects are subject to requirements adapted to the type of issue;
• areas not directly exposed to risks but in which constructions, works, developments or holdings of agricultural, forestry, crafts, commercial or industrial holdings could aggravate risks or cause them again, subject to prohibitions or requirements (cf. Article L562-1 of the Environmental Code)