In  cooperation with America Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA),  Land Research Center (LRC)-Jerusalem conducted an environmental study in the period from November 2001 to May 2002 entitled: Assessment of Environmental Impacts and Horizons of Rehabilitation for Abandoned Limestone Quarries in the Eastern and Northeastern Parts of Hebron District.

This study principally aims at choosing the most suitable quarries sites to be rehabilitated after being abandoned.  

The study idea was born out of the realization of the severe negative impacts of the random establishment of the stone quarries.  These negative impacts are environmental, social and even economic.  The desire to reach kind of sustainable environmental development in a small spot crowded with people and quarries pose the desperate need for such a study.

The limestone quarries in the West Bank were excavated in response to a need for building material. To date (2002), there are no plans for their use after they are abandoned.  The core of this study is the evaluation of the environmental risks resulted from the abandoned limestone quarries in the north and northeastern part of Hebron District and exploring the horizons of rehabilitation of the abandoned quarries.

The area of interest was determined and delineated based on the distribution of quarries and the surrounding urbanized clusters. It has an area of 62 km².  It includes the towns of Sa’ir, Bani Na’im and Alshuyukh in addition to many other small villages (hamlets).  The poulation of the selected area is about 41,000. To provide the data necessary for the assessment of environmental risks and land-use planning tools, the physical and demographic statuses of the area were described. The quarry sites were examined and potential impacts on surrounding land-uses were identified during a site visit to the area.Various thematic geographic features wereincluded in the analysis and evaluation of the quarries negative environmental impacts.

Quarries locations are divided into seven clusters and about thirty quarries outside these clusters. 

Each cluster was delineated and described in terms of its area, number of working and abandoned quarries.  The location of each quarry outside and inside cluster was also determined using aerial photographs.  The sites of the quarries implications on the land use, the environment and the people of the area were investigated taking in consideration all the negative effects of these quarries.  

This study addresses also the appropriate post-closure uses for some limestone quarries in the area. Ideas concerning the post-closure uses are formulated into recommendations in response to the prospected land-use in the area. Final recommendations were divided into general long term addressed to planners and decision makers at governmental and planning bodies and practical short term recommendations addressed to the sponsor (ANERA)of this study.

The ranked post-closure uses proposed in this document in response to the specific land use needs are: land reclamation for agricultural purposes, playing fields with retail services, gardens, a stadium, composting facility, temporary water reservoir, housing units and health center.