Application of the Folchi Method in the Limestone Quarry to Quantify the Environmental Impact: (Case Study)

The application of the FOLCHI method it is depicts in this paper to quantify the environmental impact of mining activities in a limestone quarry. The affected environment surrounding the pit was broken down into the eleven components such as Human health and immunity, Surface water, Air quality, Noise, Landscape etc. The effect of ten impacting factors, both directly and indirectly, from the mining activities was then calculated for each Environmental Component. Firstly, using the Magnitude ranges, where each Impacting Factor for the proposed mining activity was assessed and its Magnitude chosen. A matrix of the Impacting Factors against the Environmental Components was then drawn up, with the chosen Magnitude weighted using the numeric values given. Then the overall effect on each Environmental Component was calculated by summing the weighted magnitudes of all the Impacting Factors. It was then possible to summarize the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed mining activity as a simple graphical representation. The method, which is outlined here in a schematic form, was originally developed for a mining operation in Kruja District, Albania, but it can successfully be used for limestone quarry ventures and more general mining and other industrial activities in accordance to environmental regulations and laws.