Disclosure Log

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Question

Monitoring Practices: How are coal tips within your jurisdiction monitored? Please include details of any methodologies, inspection regimes, and technologies used (e.g., manual inspections, sensor systems, remote sensing, etc.). Use of Technologies: Is the council currently using technologies such as drones, satellite data, or ground movement sensors to monitor coal tips? If not, are there any plans or pilot schemes in place to implement such technologies in the near future? Collaboration: How does the council coordinate with external bodies such as the Coal Authority, Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government, or the Mining Remediation Authority regarding coal tip monitoring and risk management? Organisational Structure: Does the council have a dedicated team, department, or officer responsible for the oversight and monitoring of coal tips? If so, please provide the team’s title or structure. Impact of Funding Changes: Have there been any changes to the way coal tips are monitored or managed as a result of recent funding adjustments or changes in financial support from Welsh or UK Government? Community Communication: What mechanisms does the council have in place to communicate with residents regarding coal tip safety, risk awareness, and emergency preparedness? Ownership Breakdown: Please provide a breakdown of coal tip ownership within your council area: - Number of publicly owned coal tips - Number of privately owned coal tips - Number owned directly by the council - Number where ownership is currently unknown or unconfirmed

Answer

Monitoring Practices: How are coal tips within your jurisdiction monitored? Please include details of any methodologies, inspection regimes, and technologies used (e.g., manual inspections, sensor systems, remote sensing, etc.). Tips are inspected in accordance with the Mines, Quarries and Tips Act 1969 and the frequency is dependent on the category of tip. Inspections are carried out by walking tips and using drones. Use of Technologies: Is the council currently using technologies such as drones, satellite data, or ground movement sensors to monitor coal tips? If not, are there any plans or pilot schemes in place to implement such technologies in the near future? We do not have any monitoring systems on tips. We use drones to carry out inspections. Collaboration: How does the council coordinate with external bodies such as the Coal Authority, Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government, or the Mining Remediation Authority regarding coal tip monitoring and risk management? The Mining Remediation Authority (formerly Coal Authority) have been inspecting Merthyr’s C and D tips since 2020 and provide their inspection reports. MTCBC Engineers attend the Welsh Government’s coal tip technical working group. Organisational Structure: Does the council have a dedicated team, department, or officer responsible for the oversight and monitoring of coal tips? If so, please provide the team’s title or structure. No. The tips are managed by the Structures team that cover road bridges, footbridges, retaining walls, subways, reservoirs and coal tips. Impact of Funding Changes: Have there been any changes to the way coal tips are monitored or managed as a result of recent funding adjustments or changes in financial support from Welsh or UK Government? No changes to the way tips are monitored and managed. Welsh Government funding has been used to carry out maintenance work on tips. Community Communication: What mechanisms does the council have in place to communicate with residents regarding coal tip safety, risk awareness, and emergency preparedness? Any messages will be given via social media or the council website. Ownership Breakdown: Please provide a breakdown of coal tip ownership within your council area: - Number of publicly owned coal tips Merthyr Council own 30 coal tips - Number of privately owned coal tips 90 - Number owned directly by the council As above Merthyr Council own 30 coal tips - Number where ownership is currently unknown or unconfirmed we have not searched who the individual land owners are for every tip but 90 are on private land as mentioned above.