




































Asian Review of Environmental 

and Earth Sciences 
ISSN: 2313-8173 
Vol. 2, No. 3, 42-53, 2015 
http://www.asianonlinejournals.com/index.php/AREES 

 
 

 

* Corresponding Author 

 

 

42 

 

Environmental Impact Assessment and Sedimentology of 

the Carbonate Quarry Site for Al-Maroua'ah Cement Plant 

in Al-Hodeida District, NW Yemen 
 

Sa'ad Zeki A. Kader A.Kader Al-Mashaikie
1*

 --- Abdul-Kader Mohammed Al-Karraz
2 

 
1 
Dept. of Geology, Collage Sciences, Baghdad University, Al-Jadryiah, Baghdad, Iraq 

2 
Dept. of Marine Environment, Faculty of Marine & Environmental Sciences, Al-Hodiedah Univ. Al-Hodiedah, Yemen 

 

Abstract 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License 

Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

Contents 
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 43 

2. Methods and Materials ............................................................................................................................................................. 43 

3. Quarry Site and Characterization ........................................................................................................................................... 43 

4. Description of the Natural Environment ................................................................................................................................. 45 

5. Ambient Air Quality and Levels of Noisiness ......................................................................................................................... 46 

6. Potential Environmental Impact .............................................................................................................................................. 47 

7. Type of Air Pollution................................................................................................................................................................. 47 

8. Weather and Topography ........................................................................................................................................................ 47 

9. Dispersion Modeling System .................................................................................................................................................... 47 

10. Limitations ............................................................................................................................................................................... 49 

11. Environmental Mitigation Plan ............................................................................................................................................. 50 

12. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................ 52 

References ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this study, environmental impact assessment and sedimentology includes chemical analysis were 

carried out for the quarry site of the limestone raw material in Al-Maroua'ah cement plant in Tehama 

plane, Al-Hodeida district NW Yemen. The study includes the assessment of the limestone raw 

materials, the quality, chemical and mineralogical analysis and expected pollutions impact in the 

quarry site. The studied rock successions are belonging to the Amran Group, which is composed 

mainly of limestone rocks with few interbedded marl, shale and sandstone beds. The chemical analysis 

of the limestone rocks show CaO content is (50.31%), with very little MgO content (0.71%). The 

present shale marl and sandstone rock units are useful for the correction of the rocks to concise with 

the international specifications of the cement production. The site of the quarry of the main raw 

materials of limestone rocks was selected far From the villages and human populations to prevent the 

environmental pollutions according to the WHO and YEPA specifications. The emitted dust from the 

operations of the quarry machine makes impacts on the surrounding environments especially for the 

farms and the natural plants and animals, which are living in the region. For this, the site of quarry is 

selected in a mountain far from the vegetation, population and villages to avoid the expected 

environmental impact. Mitigation plan for prevent or decreases the pollution impact to the minimum, 

was discussed. 
 

      Keywords: Al-Maroua’ah, EIA, Limestone, Quarry, Chemical analysis, Dust pollution, Gases pollution, Management plan. 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


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43 

 

1. Introduction 
Al-Maroua’ah cement factory is significantly contributed in the development of the Yemeni economy after 

operating in early 2015. The plant management had adopted the commitment to improve the local economy of Al-

Hodiedah Governorate, and the region where the plant exists, to provide jobs for the citizens of the Governorate and 

of the region in particular, in addition to the medical and educational services proposed to be provided in the plant 

region, as well as the erection of the integrated residential city for the staff and the labors of the plant. The cement 

production capacity in Al-Maroua’ah cement factory reaches up to 3,000,000 MT of cement.  

This study had been produced to assess the environmental impacts of the operations held in the quarry of the raw 

materials and the resulting residuals of such operations followed the limitation of the EPA [1]. The plant 

management undertakes to apply the Yemeni environment management plans proposed in this study; including the 

measures of reducing the emissions; and the continuous environmental monitoring program. Moreover, this study 

deals with the assessment of the carbonate rocks as the main raw materials in cement production.  

 

2. Methods and Materials 
The evaluation of the quarry and the raw materials for cement production and its environmental impact includes 

field works and survey as well as chemical analysis.  

The field works include the selection of the quarry site according to the international specification to prevent the 

environmental pollution as well as the systematic sampling of the limestone raw materials for quality evaluation.  

It will exploit the Falafel Mountain to supply the factory for raw materials (limestone). The EI assessment was 

followed the parameters listed in the EPA [1] and National [2] Falafel Mountain was divided into three areas for 

exploit and the details of these areas and coordinates are listed in Figure 1. 

Twenty five (25) rock samples were collected and later prepared and analyzed by XRF in the lab of AL-

Watanyiah Cement plant in Lahg Governate followed the procedure listed in Tucker [3]. The results were interpreted 

and the rocks were evaluated for cement production.  

 

3. Quarry Site and Characterization  
The quarry site is lying in Jabal Falafel Mountain in Al-Maroua’ah region, 36 km east of Al-Hodiedah 

Governorate, and 4-5 km from the main road connect Al-Hodiedah with Sana’a City (Fig.1). Jabal Falafel Mountain 

lies near Dear Daood village, which is situated in Tehama Plane parallel to the coast of the Red Sea. Some of these 

areas are agricultural farms with abundant underground water in all seasons of the year. The land surface of the 

region is located at an elevation of about 120 meters above the sea level (Fig.1) 

The primary raw materials used in the production of cement are usually provided from limestone quarries, which 

are generally located near the plant site to reduce transportation and production costs, whereby the limestone 

bedrocks are the most important imperative raw materials for cement industry. The limestone rocks are extracted by 

drilling and explosion before being transported by conveyor belts or heavy trucks. Later on, the extracted rocks are 

subjected to cracking and screening processes to specify the grain size, and finally stored [4]. 

The heavy trucks working in the quarry discharge the cargos in the funnel-shaped container (hopper), which is 

supported by series of sieves to separate pieces of large from the smaller rocks, thereby curtailing the load and effort 

of the initial crusher. The large rocks are broken down and the sizes are reduced (Size of product - 90% less than 

25mm) before passing over conveyor belt which transfers the raw materials through Gamma automatic analyzer, and 

thereafter, they store in opened sheds yard [4, 5]. 

 

3.1. Sedimentology and Quality of the Limestone 
The limestones is belonging to Amran Group and cropping out in Jabal Falafel Mountain, which is laying near 

the site Al-Maroua’ah cement plant. The carbonate rocks include successive and interbedded massive and bedded 

limestone and marls of about 500 m thick [6]. Thick massive sandstone bed of 25 m thick is interbedded with 

limestones. The limestones are composed of lime mudstone, packstone, grainstone and wackestone microfacies 

Flugel [7] and Scholl and Ulmer-Scholl [8]. It is mainly composed of calcite and micrite, with very rare dolomites, 

which represents very good quality for cement production [4, 5]. The sandstone is basically composed of silica grains 

and partial cemented with argillaceous matrix. 
 

3.2. Chemical Analysis 
The chemical analysis was carried out using XR-Fluorescence instrument type THRMO in the lab of Al-

Watanyiah Cement factory and the data is listed in Table (1) which shows that is relatively pure with high to very 

high CaO% and low MgO%. The silica, aluminum, iron oxides and alkalis are very low. Thus, the raw materials 

require substantial correction with argillaceous, siliceous and ferruginous materials.  
 



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44 

 

 
Fig-1. Location map of Yemen shows the site of Al-Maroua’ah cement plant and the quarry site (the colored 

blocks), at Jabal Falafel Mountain (Sat image-google earth). 

 

 
Fig-2. Field photograph shows the extraction processes of limestone 

 
Table-1, Shows the chemical analysis data of the limestone and other raw materials in the study area. 

 
 
 



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45 

 

4. Description of the Natural Environment 
Topography of the site is located at height of about 120 m and the mountains altitudes around is reaching 400 m 

height a.s.l. and 300 m above land surface .The area is gradually sloping towards the west and expands in all 

directions as wide planes extends for hundreds of kilometers [9]. 

 

4.1. Climate and Water Metrology 
The Tehama region is of arid climate, extremely hot during winter months (November to March) when 

temperatures range from 20C
0
 to 30C

0
. The mean monthly maximum temperatures are ranging from 32C

0
 in January 

to 39C
0
 in June. Annual precipitation is 100 mm in the costal line to 400 mm near the foothills and mountains, most 

of which occurs in April to October. The annual evapotranspiration is about 1864 mm/year. The region is 

characterized by high relative humidity with average of 71-76 %. The wind in Tehama Plane (includes Al-Maroua’ah 

area) is of southern general direction (Table.3). 

The annual average values of sunshine in Al-Hodiedah Governorate range between 7 to 10 h/day, which 

correspond to 50 to 75 % of the theoretical maximum. The monthly Sunshine duration in Al-Hodiedah Governorates 

ranges from 7 h/day in July to 10 h/day in November.  

 

4.2. Biology and Agriculture Farms 
Many types of trees are considerably proliferating in the mountains surrounding the factory site. The agricultural 

fields are spreading down on the lands surrounding Falafel Mountain, which sometimes expands to distance more 

than 2 Km. Corn and vegetables cultivation as well as mango farms are widely spread throughout the valleys (PL/1, 

A, B, C). 

 

4.3. Natural Environments 
In Al- Maroua’ah area represents one of mountainous regions, which includes relatively high biodiversity and 

provides significant habitat for the birds and their migration to other regions. Most of native and semi-origin animals 

and plants exist in the study area, such as: Hemitragus jayakari, the Arabian Gazelle (Gazella gazelle), the 

Mountainous Caribou (Capra ibex nubiana), the Striped Hyaena (Hyaena), the Wild Cat (Felis sylvestris) and the 

Panther (Panthera xanthopygos). 

The types of the birds exist in the region are Yellow-Incision Nightingale (Pycnonotus xanthopygos), Songbird 

(Prinia gracilis), Brown Songbird (Phylloscopus umbrovirens), Yemeni Apple Bird (Carduelis yemenensis), Dark 

Skin Flycatcher Bird (Muscicapa gambagae), Arab Partridge (Alectoris melanocephalia), and Black Shuhite Bird 

(Milvus migrans) [2, 10]. Falafel Mount is a barren area in which do not grow any plants, but there are some trees 

from Acacia type (PL/1, D). 

 

4.4. Human Populations 
In the Republic of Yemen had a high population growth ratio reaches 3.5% in the recent decades. This immense 

population expansion created certain risk to the scarce environmental system and threatened the great biodiversity 

and the bio-natural fortune in the country.  

4.5 Water Resources 

Come from rain-fed, which is inadequate in all districts of northern Tehama except for dry cropping where low 

rainfall is about 50% below evapotranspiration rate during the most days of the year. Consequently, groundwater is 

the main and supplementary source of irrigation   . Impact of overexploitation of deep aquifers results in depletion of 

groundwater table from 1-7 m/year. Sources of irrigation in Al-Hodiedah Governorate are shown in (Table. 2). It is 

unexpected to note that groundwater in irrigated area was retreated in 2004 to 2008 despite the lack of control 

measurement for the resource [2, 11, 12].  

 
Table-2. Shows cropped area by sources of irrigation, Al-Hodiedah area. 

 
   Source: [11-13]. 

         

Table-3. Meteorological data of Al-Hodiedah district from 1995 to 2008. 

 
  Source: FAO [14]  

 



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46 

 

 
Plate-1. Field photographs show the plant diversity in the agriculture farms and natural trees in Jabal Falafel Mountain. 

A. The Corn farms near AL-MAROUA'AH site of the cement plant. 

B. The Mango trees near AL-MAROUA'AH site of the cement plant. 
C. The wide extended agriculture farms in the vicinity of Al-MAROUA'AH Plant Site. 

D. The acacia natural trees in the vicinity of Al-MAROUA'AH Plant Site. 

 

5. Ambient Air Quality and Levels of Noisiness 
Most regions in the Republic of Yemen do not possess scientific data about the air quality and levels of noise. In 

this Study, efforts were exerted to collect database upon air quality and levels of noise in the region of Al-Maroua’ah 

cement plant. It is worth mentioning that this region is situated 5 km from the main road connect Sana'a and Al-

Hodiedah Cities and far from villages, noisiness and crowded people and markets.  

Al-Maroua’ah area is characterized by proliferation of agricultural lands on both sides of the mountain, where 

the people is working in agricultural and the fields of cattle breeds and sheep herding. No air pollutant was found, 

while the vehicles traffic is few, quiet life atmosphere is prevailing and population density is low (Table 4). 

The data of the air quality and dust concentrations in Al-Maroua’ah area is lying within the limits of the 

standards of EU [15] AAEP [16] EPA [1] and (Table.5). Air pollution comes from operating of the quarry machines 

(shovels, trucks and crushers), which produced dust, carbon dioxide and associated gases. Production of 3000 

tons/day cement creates pollution of dust and CO2 gas emitted to the surrounding environments e.g. natural and 

agriculture plants as well as animals and people. The pollution is coming from; (1) explosions of dynamite in the 

quarry, (2) Shovels transport the raw materials to the main crusher, (3) Viechels and trucks transport the raw 

materials. Three types of crushers are operating to crush the limestone raw materials to smaller size and produce two 

essential types of impact; dust and gases in the air, and noises. 

 
Table-4. Collected data of dust concentrations in the air of certain localities in Al-Maroua’ah cement plant site in the morning (in field work). 

 
 

Table-5. Proposed Standards in view of Air Quality [1, 15, 16]; 

 

 



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47 

 

6. Potential Environmental Impact 
The potential environmental impacts are resulted from different stages of operation of AL-MARAOUA'AH 

Cement factory. The important pollutions include air, surface and ground waters, soil, biodiversity, methods of 

utilizing of the natural resources, health and safety factors, impact on the landscapes, social and economic indices in 

the region.  

Assessment of impacts is determine using quantitative uses of the analytical equipment's and computing 

methods, while other pollution can be identified in term of the qualitative comparison and description in accordance 

with the previous observations [17, 18]. Consequently, assessment of the environmental pollution impacts is directly 

linked to the definition of those locations, which may be exposed to pollution, including local areas, hospitals, 

residential areas, schools, offices, factories, commercial shops, mosques, sports stadiums and recreation places.  

It is worth emphasizing that the site of the project is located in rural agricultural area, where villages and 

agricultural farms are distributed in the region, with absence of cities, public governmental or private facilities. The 

locations which are exposed to pollution and close to the plant site are the surrounding villages, the residential units 

which shall be erected for the plant labors and staff, and the agricultural fields (Fig. 3; Table.6). 

 

7. Type of Air Pollution  
This study focus on the assessment of the anticipated environmental impacts in terms of kinds of the air 

pollution, which may appear during the quarry processes and mainly resulting from the smelting operations of raw 

and grinded materials to produce 3,000,000 t/y of Clinker in AL-MARAOUA'AH Cement Plant. 

It is well known that the quarry process of the raw materials is characterized by emission of immense quantities 

of dust and gases; which are generated due to the explosion of dynamites and the primary and secondary crushing 

and grinding of the limestone raw materials near the quarry. Moreover, the operations of the shovels, Viechels and 

machines are emitted real quantities of carbon dioxide and associated gases, which are pollute surrounding areas. The 

grinding of limestones to finer size, leads to inevitably significant emissions of dust. The size and composition of the 

emitted dust particles mainly depend upon the characteristics of the primary raw materials. (Table 6)    
 

Table-6. Types of the emitted dust and the reasons of the formation during different processes [19]. 

 
 

8. Weather and Topography     
Data of weather conditions and terrain are forming important input indices of impact of the dispersion of dust 

and gases emissions from the quarry source in open spaces. Changes in weather conditions and topography may lead 

to change in the levels of concentrations at the exposure sites. Hence, it is required to obtain hourly data on weather 

conditions during the year. 

The inserted data in the program is collected from the city of Al-Hodiedah, which enjoys weather conditions 

similar to those of Al-Maroua’ah area, where the air monitoring stations do not exist in the study area.  

Al-Maroua’ah area comprises simple topography, which lies in flat plane with scattered medium height 

mountains. The altitudes of the topography were calculated in the field survey and Google Earth utility through the 

International Information Network (Internet) and using program GIS and DEM 90m for Earth (NASA.USA). This 

survey indicates that the height of the ground surface of the site is 120 m and the mountains are 365 m and 400 m.     

There is important to classify the utilization of lands in the vicinity of AL-MARAOUA'AH Cement site, 

considering that the average dispersion is variable between the rural environment and the urban environment follow 

the general outlines of the USEPA [15, 18]. EPA is relevant to the air quality simulation programs depending on the 

factors of population density and land utilization methods as standards of classification. It is advised to apply the 

dispersion indices belonging to the rural environment. The site of the cement Plant is located in agricultural region 

and occupies an area of 5 km
2
, where any kinds of industrial facilities do not exist. Hence, the rural environment 

indices were selected to apply, considering that the vicinity surrounding the site has low population density and 

agricultural vicinity. 

 

9. Dispersion Modeling System  
GIS modeling using potential data is applying for annual pollution, which is plotted on topographic map of the 

area include villages and the cement plant site fig.6.5, 6.6. 

BREEZE ISC GIS Pro version 4.1.3model was used with more accurate data, which is developed according to 

the model of USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency [20] to assess the environmental impact of the 

dust and gases emissions. 

 

9.1. Dispersion of Dust   
The adopted interpretative of illustrate the levels of concentrations are shown in Table 5.10. In the absence of the 

control the pollution of potential emissions in the cement plant, wide area is exposed to emission levels exceed the 

health standards that permits by the EPA [1] in terms of dust concentration.  
 



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48 

 

 
Fig-3. Shows the dust emission from the sources of the open spaces in the quarry site. 

 
Table-6.6. Proposed emission data produces from the sources of the open spaces in the cement plants. 

 
 

Table-6.9. Shows the approval probabilities in specify dispersion of emissions. 

 
 

 
Fig-6.5. Annually PM exposure levels in proposed production capacity of 3,000,000 tons/year (BAT: Best Available Technology). 

Note the wind direction is pointed in the lower right edge of the photo. 

 



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49 

 

 
Fig-6.6. Annually PM exposure levels under proposed production capacity of 2,000,000 tons/year (BAT: Best Available Technology). Note the 

wind direction is pointed in the lower right edge of the photo. 

 

10. Limitations   
Several limitations were encountered in the present study. The absence of reliable and long-term site-specific 

data, which is required drawing on literature reported values that may not accurately describe the actual operational 

conditions at neither MCP nor the baseline environment in AL-MAROUA'AH area. As such, it is imperative to 

implement suggested monitoring program and to reassess the results and validate the simulated exposure levels based 

on long-term and systematic monitoring data. The available models are far from being ideal and are simplifications 

of reality. Models are only capable of providing rough overview of real time processes and are best used for 

comparison purposes. Note also that all air dispersion models including ISC exhibit increasing uncertainty with 

short-term average periods. This uncertainty decreases with increase average periods and as such predicted annual 

exposure levels tend to be more accurate than daily levels.  

 

10.1. Noise and Vibrations   
Noise is defined as “unwanted sound”. It has numerous adverse effects on people’s health as well as 

environment. Several factors other than the magnitude of exposure typically influence community reaction to noise 

including duration of intruding noises and frequency of occurrence, time of year (windows open or closed), time of 

day of noise exposure, outdoor noise level in community when intruding noises are not present, history of prior 

exposure to noise source, attitude towards noise source, and presence of pure tones and impulses [18]. 

Activities of quarry heavy machineries are generate high levels of noise, much of which can be reduced by 

properly sitting and insulating the operations area [21]. Noise generation from the cement industry may either be 

permanent or intermittent. Intermittent noise is mainly due to blasting, the daily starting of engines, and the loading 

of rocks into dumpers [22]. Permanent noise generating sources can be divided into three main groups after [23]: 

- Dynamite explosion of the raw materials 

- Machine generated noise e.g. shovels, tracks, digging compressors and crushers. Generally, the type 

and age of machines affect the level of noise generated. The older machines are usually emitting 

higher levels of noise. 

- Trucks and conveyers that transported the raw materials from the quarry to the plant site  
The assessment of the noise impacts resulting from the operation of the MCP plant under the current production 

capacity of 3,000,000 tons /year using two digital sound level meters (Fig. 6.9). Measured levels conformed to 

typical energy-equivalent noise levels that have been reported for the cement industry.  

The resulting noise levels exceed both daytime and nighttime Yemeni noise standards set forth for rural and sub-

urban residential areas, while the standard set forth for industrial areas is achieved within 2 Km radius. 

L L 20log (x 250) 48                                                                            (1) 

The noise action on-site are of concern to on-site workers who are exposed to elevated noise levels for an 

average period of 8-hr. Most measured noise levels are exceeding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA) 8-hour occupational noise exposure standard of 90 (dBA). 



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50 

 

Vibrations on the other hand, are produced by blasting of limestone quarry and from heavy traffic on or off-site. 

The levels of generated vibration are generally below those that cause structural damage to properties. However, 

vibrations transmitted through the ground and pressure waves through the air (“overpressure”) shake buildings and 

may create nuisance. In this context, blasting is an issue of concern for the local people. For several residential units 

surrounding MCP, have complain that vibrations from the plant have result in property damage. 

 

 
Fig-6.9. Proposed noise meters used at MCP to measure ambient and industry related noise levels. 

 
Table-6.13. Show measurement of noise levels at MCP compared to typical energy-equivalent noise levels reported for the cement industry 

[22]  

 
NR: Not recorded 
1: Measured at 7.5 m from source 

2: Value measured during the loading and transport of raw materials 

 

11. Environmental Mitigation Plan 
The primary potential adverse environmental impacts associated with the operations in MCP can be minimized 

by careful planning, adopt proper management practices, and relying on effective environmental monitoring. The 

mitigation plan suggests several potential impact-mitigation or control measures that will earn MCP more 

acceptability by eliminating or reduce the possible extent of impacts and intended to reduce the effect of potentially 

significant impacts on the environment. They are highly dependent on the significance of the predicted and the nature 

of the impact (permanent vs. temporary). 

 

11.1. Mitigation of Air Quality Impact  
Several mitigation measures are available to reduce the diverse environmental impacts that ambient air quality. 

These measures are compound specific and vary in the treatment efficiency as well as in technical and financial 

requirements. As such, air quality mitigation is ranging between BAT and low-cost treatments. The MCP has 

planned to adopt several proposed mitigation measures to reduce dust emissions into the environment. The priority is 

clearly to mitigate PM dust emissions.  

The quarry processes emit considerable quantities of PM as a result of handling and grinding raw materials often 

to fine-grained size, which render dust emissions almost inevitable. The primary source of PM emissions includes 

fugitive and area source emissions that are generated from the handling, quarrying, and storage of raw materials. 

Table 8.1 presents summary of mitigation measures that adopted at MCP.  

 

11.2. Mitigation of Traffic Impact  
Primary measures adopted to mitigate traffic impacts include the proper dissemination of information regarding 

the transport schedule of limestone raw materials from the quarry site to the storage yards. In this respect, proper 

planning and development of a traffic plan that accounts for the reservations and inputs of nearby residents is 

essential to minimize potential inconvenience on commuters as well as to ensure the safety of motorists and 

pedestrians. As such, truck movements should be limited to off-peak hours to the extent feasible. In addition, 

adequate warning and signing are needed at least 500 m down and up-gradient from the entrance of the MCP to warn 

people that heavy equipment and trucks are frequent along these intersections. Other traffic mitigation measures are 

presented in Table 8.2. 



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51 

 

 
Table-8.1. Common control measures for particulate emissions from quarry processes of the raw materials 1: [17, 23-26]. 

 
 

Table-8.2. Traffic control measures in MPC. 

 
 

11.3. Mitigation of Noise Impact  
The outcome of the noise impact assessment reveals that noise levels in the areas surrounding MCP are higher 

than both daytime and nighttime according to the [27, 28] set for suburban residential areas. For this purpose, 

mitigation measures should be adopted in MCP to limit the impacts of noises on affected receptors. For this purpose, 

the erection of noise barriers to screen noise sources is proposed. Usually, purpose-built noise barriers or screens 

constructed of appropriate material to be located along active work sites could result in noise reduction of up to 10 

dBA. It is anticipated that a movable noise barrier with a suitable footing and small cantilevered upper portion can be 

located within few meters of a static plant and about 5 m of mobile equipment. The provided insulation barriers can 

reduce noise impact up to 10 dBA noise attenuation. In this case, noise levels may reach the daytime Yemeni 

suburban noise standard (50 dBA).  

Additional mitigation measures include good site practice, selecting quieter mechanical equipment, as well as 

adopting proper schedule of construction activities. Scheduling noisy activities during the daytime periods (7:00 am 

to 6:00 pm) will ensure that the noise standard set for the evening will not be exceeded at several instances. In 

addition, maintain proper onsite management to minimize noise emissions from the works during all times including: 

Continuous maintenance for on-site machines, equipment intermittent in use are shut down between work 

periods, adopting low noise equipment, installing rubber coating in dumpers and entry chutes, using personal 

protection gear such as earplugs…etc, developing greenbelt around the quarry site, installing noise barriers around 

the quarry site,  

Concerning mitigation measures that could be adopted to reduce ground vibrations generated particularly from 

blasting activities at the quarry site, MCP should adopt the following measures [22]: limit blasting to trained 

personnel, initiate periodic recording of blast vibrations, limit blasting activities to fixed days and hours that are 

acceptable with nearby receptors, disseminate the blasting schedule to nearby receptors, using mille-second delay 

detonator, deck charging, or other techniques to reduce vibrations and noise, increase the use of surface mining that 

do not require. 

 

11.4. Mitigation of Soil, Surface and Groundwater Impact  
The primary sources of potential impacts to water quality come from site runoff, which may directly enter soil, 

surface and groundwater waters. As such, open stockpiles of raw material should be covered with tarpaulin or similar 

fabric during rainstorm events to prevent the washing away, while earthworks at the quarry should be well 

compacted to prevent erosion especially during the wet season. Furthermore, the installation of appropriate drainage 

system coupled with sedimentation tank is also imperative to re-duce exposure time to potential discharge sources. 

Water from the settling tanks can be reused by MCP as process water or for irrigation and groundwater recharge 

purposes.  

Efforts should also be made to clean the existing spillages in the wades where dried fuel spills should be 

collected and transported to a landfill while fresh fuel pools should be pumped in containers and re-used later on. 

Other sources of potential water pollution include oil/fuel leaks and spills to the soil as well as the uncontrolled 



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52 

 

disposal liquid effluents. The improper handling of fuels at the fuel receiving area constitutes potential source of 

pollution at MCP. As such, fuel tanks should be bundled to limit the environmental damage, which is result from 

accidental spillage. Bunds should be impermeable and resistant to the stored materials to avoid drains or taps that 

lead to blind collection point incorporate the distribution pipes within the bounded areas. In addition, oil and fuel 

residue that are generated from vehicle and machine service, vehicle wash bays and lubrication bays should also be 

mitigated to avoid potential soil, surface and ground water pollution. As such, oil-water separators and sand 

precipitators should be constructed, while oil collection trays should be provided to the operators at the vehicle and 

machine servicing areas [29]. Spent motor oils should be collected in sealed containers and stored within closed 

drums located within the workshops until they are reused or recycled. Oil contaminated cooling water should be 

treated in oil-water separators to remove oil. The treated water can be re-used to cool the flue gases in the 

conditioning tower as well as the cement mill [23, 29-31]. In case the suspended solids in the effluent are high in 

relation to the receiving waters, treatment may be required to reduce levels to maximum of 50 mg/l, which is the 

effluent requirement for direct discharge to surface waters [19, 23, 29-31].  

 

11.5. Mitigation for Terresterial Biodiversity  
Efforts should be made to preserve existing vegetation, avoid fires, prohibit hunting activities and the disposal of 

wastes of fuel and oil, hazardous in non-allocated areas, initiate a landscaping program on-site, as well as endorse 

well-planned restoration and reforestation plan for the quarry. The restoration and reforestation plans should be 

closely coordinated with Al-Hodiedah Governorate and should use indigenous flora in re-vegetation schemes on-site 

since the use of exotic species hampers the re-colonization of the area by the local fauna. Following closure to the 

quarry, several steps must be carried out to ensure the reintegration of the site with its surrounding including [15]: 

a) Removal of wastes, b) Reshaping of quarry walls to prevent unloading cracks and potentially dangerous 

collapse, c) Reshaping of walls and loosening of compacted floors to facilitate re-vegetation and ensure the aesthetic 

quality of the restored landscape, e) Retaining natural drainage on-site, f) Re-vegetation using indigenous stocks of 

local vegetation such as the Tamarix aphylla, Salvadora persica, Acacia spp, Ziziphus spina-christi, Commifora 

kataf and Cadaba rotundifolia 

 

12. Conclusion 
Environmental impact assessment and sedimenta logical study includes chemical analysis were carried out for 

the quarry site of Al-Maroua'ah cement factory in Tehama plane, Al-Hodeida district NW Yemen. The assessment of 

the quarry operations includes blasting of dynamite, shovels, trucks and primary crusher of the limestone raw 

materials was evaluated. The pollution includes dust emission, noise, gas emission from heavy duty Viechels and 

fuel and oil waste were evaluates.  Mitigation plans was proposed to decrease the environmental impact for the 

minimum levels, which effected actually on the surrounding environments e.g. farms, populations, natural fauna and 

flora…etc. One of the most important point for mitigate pollution is the selection of quarry far From the villages and 

human populations to prevent the environmental impacts followed the specifications of WHO and YEPA. The 

emitted dust and gases from the operations of the quarry machine makes impacts on the surrounding environments 

especially for the farms and the natural plants and animals, which are living in the region. For this, the site of quarry 

is selected in a mountain far from the vegetation, population and villages to avoid the expected environmental 

impact. Mitigation plan for prevent or decreases the pollution impact to the minimum, was discussed. 

Moreover, quality, chemical and mineralogical analysis for the limestone raw materials were also evaluated and 

expected pollutions impact was estimated.   

 

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responsible or answerable for any loss, damage or liability etc. caused in relation to/arising out of the use of the content. 

 

http://www.airnow.gov/
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http://www.inece.org/mmcourse/chapt6.pdf

