Geological reports issued by the ICGC in the administrative procedure
Technical reports in the field of geology, geological risks and geological heritage under the requirements of current legislation
Regarding technical support to the Government in its actions in the territory, as established by Law 19/2005, Decree 168/2009 and other sectoral regulations, the ICGC must provide technical support in geological matters through the issuance of reports that, as determined by the applicable regulations, will be mandatory.
The ICGC issues mandatory reports in the following procedures:
- Approval of general urban planning instruments.
- Programs for the restoration of extractive activities.
- Authorization of new cemeteries.
- Informative studies or preliminary projects and projects related to urban tunnel works or other tunnels and major works of special complexity or technical difficulty referred to in Law 3/2007, of July 4, on public works.
The ICGC issues non-mandatory reports in the following procedures:
- Environmental assessment.
- Environmental authorizations and licenses for activities.
The body processing the administrative file requests the ICGC to issue the corresponding report. These reports are declarative administrative acts through which the Institute issues its judgment or opinion on a matter related to the exercise of its functions in the field of geological knowledge with the aim of assisting the decision-making body of the aforementioned file.
The reports issued by the ICGC, more than 13,000 for the period 2005-2021, constitute a direct and effective instrument of prevention against geological risks. In each file, whether it is an urban planning, a project or an activity, the ICGC assesses whether the technical documentation has taken into account the possible existence of geological phenomena that could pose a risk to people and their property. Likewise, when it deems it necessary, the ICGC requires the carrying out of complementary studies or the definition of measures for the protection, prevention or mitigation of geological risk.
In relation to the possible impact on the elements of geological interest that constitute the geological heritage, the assessment reports issued by the ICGC are a preventive geoconservation tool, because they avoid the destruction of outcrops of interest and define corrective measures that allow their conservation.