However, it could take six months or more to serve the Discontinuance Order on the owner, George Deane, and longer if he lodges an appeal.

    After the Department of the Environment imposed a Stop Notice on excavations in August, Mr Deane said he was considering taking the matter to the High Court.

    Now, senior planning officer Geoff Harbinson says the Department is "pushing ahead" with a Discontinuance Order to revoke the mineral extraction permissions granted at Roosky Quarry in 1979.

    At present the Stop order only prevents excavation work - Mr Deane is still allowed to process the rock that has already been extracted.

    Mr Harbinson explained: "At the minute there is rock on the site which has been the subject of extraction. He is permitted to crush that rock and remove it from the site and he currently is doing that.

    "That is why there has been some confusion in the area - only the excavation has stopped."

    Residents living nearby had opposed the blasting ever since the quarry was reopened in 2001, but the Department stepped in when the work threatened two rare turloughs - small lakes which are fed by aquifers and are of European importance.

    A report just published by Professor John Gunn of the University of Huddersfield revealed that the stone extraction had breached the aquifers.

    Commissioned by the Environment and Heritage Service, the report revealed that the work had cut down the flow of water feeding the turloughs, which are designated as Areas of Special Scientific Interest because of the rare species they harbour.

    Mr Harbinson said the damage would never have taken place if Northern Ireland's planning legislation had kept pace with that in other parts of the UK. ROMPS legislation (review of old mineral permissions) has been introduced elsewhere but has not reached the province yet.

    "If it had been in place in 2001, we would have been able to review the existing permission and decide whether the work should proceed under current circumstances. That is why all these environmental issues have arisen," Mr Harbinson said.

    "It's not unique in Northern Ireland. In other places, similar works are recommencing."

    Mr Harbinson said on average it took about six months to serve a Discontinuance Order but several more months could be added to that if Mr Deane exercised his right to appeal.

    Planning officers monitor Roosky Quarry weekly, contacting Mr Deane ahead of their visits.