Section 30Z(1) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires a mine operator to give notice of abandonment of a mine or part of a mine to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency at least six months before any proposed abandonment in Scotland. Section 30Z(4) and (5) contains special provisions about the notice which must be given where the mine is abandoned in an emergency or where the operator is the Accountant in Bankruptcy or the official receiver.

Regulation 2 of, and Schedule 1 to, these Regulations prescribe the information which must be contained in notices given under section 30Z. Regulation 3 and Schedule 2 prescribe particulars relative to the notice which must be published by the operator in a newspaper circulating in the locality where the mine is situated.