The importance of early data collection in quarry development consent applications; linking hydrogeological assessment to the decision makers’ legal framework, a case study

The working of superficial deposits frequently interacts with the groundwater table and thus may affect surface water and groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems. The Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive require detailed consideration of these potential effects during any application for planning consent or other authorizations and during periodic reviews. These assessments need to consider water resources impacts, the potential for pollution and whether the natural water chemistry may be changed in a way that could change ecological conditions. Early recognition of these challenges, and a well-structured hydrogeological investigation programme to properly characterize the site, is essential to facilitate timely progress through the planning process. This case study presents the approach to hydrogeological characterization and assessment used at the proposed Upwood Quarry, Oxfordshire, which is adjacent to a calcareous wetland protected at European level. Through careful characterization and stakeholder engagement, planning consent was obtained. We consider lessons that may be applied to other sites especially with increased regulation of dewatering abstractions and consider the potential impacts of recent court decisions.

Kinetic and spectrophotometric studies of binding of iron(III) by glutathione

In this report, determination of unbound aquo iron species is accomplished by a kinetic method involving reaction with sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) on a time scale which is very short with respect to reaction of SSA with the glutathione complexes of iron. The data are used to calculate conditional binding constants for Fe(III) to glutathione. Binding constants in 0.1 M ionic strength media were obtained between pH 1 and 2.4 by the kinetic method, and near pH = 3 by spectrophotometry and by examination of the ratio of rate of complex formation and dissociation. The conditional binding 'constant' between pH 1 and 3 is represented as pK = −1.96 – 0.50pH. This is consistent with the importance of reactions involving only very limited proton release. Spectrophotometric data show that the —OH group on Fe(OH)2+ is lost on glutathione complexing. Kinetics of the complex formation reaction between aquo iron(III) species and glutathione are slower than rates of reaction of iron(III) with simple ligands.The glutathione system is regarded as a model system important to natural water chemistry because it is a widely distributed biological sulfur-containing chelating agent.