Regional Legislative Decree No. 1/2018/M approving the legal regime for mineral exploitation in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Country/Territory Madeira Islands (Portugal) Document type Legislation Date 2018 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Diário da República, I Serie, No. 3, 4 January 2018. Subject Land & soil, Mineral resources Keyword Research Mining Monitoring Protection of environment Classification/declassification Authorization/permit Expropriation Minerals Entry into force notes This Order enters into force 30 days after its publication. Abstract This Regional Legislative Decree, consisting of 68 articles divided into ten Chapters and five Annexes, approves the legal regime for mineral exploitation and applies to the development of minerals, including research and exploration in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Mineral exploitation activities are classified from 1 to 3, according to the environmental impact they may cause. Class 1 covers underground or mixed quarries having an area of more than 5 ha. Class 2 covers open pit quarries with an area of less than or equal to 5 ha using more than 2000 kg per year of explosives. Class 3 covers open pit quarries using explosives of up to 2000 kg per year. The exploration and exploitation of mineral areas may only be conducted under a research or exploration license, through the request of the interested party who owns the property. The declaration of public utility for the purpose of expropriation of the land necessary for the exploitation of mineral resources can only take place when, predictably, the future quarry exploitation may produce higher benefits to that resulting from the normal use of that land. Full text Portuguese Website www.dre.pt