Participating quarry information

1. Contact information

Company: NorStone AS

Quarry: Nenset

 Latitude / Longitude: 59.16988°N / 9.62384°E

 City:

 Region:

 Country:

2. General description

The Nenset site has a long history in the Skien community. The excavating started over a hundred years ago. Most of the sand and gravel products in modern time have been shipped by boat to and its surroundings.

The plant has two excavating areas. Skyggestein, located about two kilometres from the processing area and the area Nenset where the processing equipment is located. Skyggestein is located next to the small airport in Skien.

The quarry Skyggestein is in a process of expansion of the sand pit site. As a part of the program cultural heritage and biological diversity is being analyzed in the new area. There are several burial sites and residues registered after settlement from the iron age. NorStone is in dialog with the Department for Culture in the regional area fylke.

The surrounding area is covered by pines and other trees. This particular area is flat because of the sand resources which the glaciers produced when they withdrew during the last ice age.

The area is used for activities such as training grounds for dogs, outdoor activities, riding and driving roads for horses.

The extraction area at “Skyggestein”

Geology On the South side of area there are several terraces which show the sea level from the last ice age. This is one of the most sensitive tasks in the process, whether the authority let NorStone extract the sand where it is possible to see the different sand and soil layers made by the sea and beach level. If it will be protected, the terraces will be preserved. Intention is to open a part of it, and let some of the terraces be left.

Topographical description Lars Erikstad, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research NINA writes : Skyggestein is a gravel pit on the ice marginal deposit Geiteryggen in Skien municipality, Telemark County. The deposit belongs to the Ås-Ski sub stage and was deposited about 11 400 years ago. The deposit was built up to the marine limit at Skyggestein and a small remnant of the delta flat is still visible in the area. Distally several shore lines is visible and gullies are found in marine deposits on both sides.

Geiteryggen is included in regional overviews of areas of Quaternary geological natural values. Five defined areas have been given priority and suggested for protection. The planned extension impacts one of these areas. The natural values of the area are described as regional to national and the values

impacted by the plans are defined as medium to large. The plans will let parts of the delta flat remnants and distal shorelines intact and the impact is therefore described as medium to small negative impacts. Possible mitigation is linked to small adjustments in the plan and to the process of securing the delta flat remnant that borders the existing gravel pit.

He has made an Impact study of Quaternary geological nature values in the area.

Nenset The sand pit at Nenset is located between an industrial area to the north, forest to the left, another sandpit and a graveyard to the south and a public road to the east. A scientist has recently conducted a study mapping different specimens of wasps in the area.

In the foreground is seen a precast plant and in the background the sand pit.

Kjørbekk Valley and the Westside Nenset are exposed to excessive "erosion" performed by humans. Mass harvesting of large quantities of sand and gravel here has in some ways split the plains in two.

Westside area is completely characterized by a "blanket" of soils, from fine points clay, sand and gravel

to large boulders. It is gravel and sand that has been left behind after the ice retreated and the land gradually rose.

Skyggestein by the airport to the left and Nenset to the right by the Skien river.

3. Special habitats, flora and fauna

Original vegetation is remaining around the extraction areas. The number of species – both flora and fauna – is probably large.

The area has a normal strong presence of animals such as moose, dear and hare.

According to the study of wasps 12 red list species was found at the site in Nenset.

Gullies in dense forests in the eastern part of the proposed protected area east of the gravel pit at Skyggestein

4. Ongoing nature projects

Nature protection projects  As a result from the wasp study by NINA NorStone will follow the recommendation from the study and make sure there will always be available locations for this insects at the site.

Socio-economical projects  A yearly sand buggy race is allowed and arranged at the Nenset site.