HC Deb 09 July 1990 vol 176 cc4-6W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the arrangements to monitor air emissions from the Ferro Alloys chimney stack in Glossop, and of air emissions from the stack in each of the last 12 months.

Ferro Alloys and Metals Ltd—SO2, Calculations July 1989—June 1990
Month Total SO2 (Tonnes) Days Production Average SO2/Day (Tonnes)
July 1989 248 31 8.0
August 1989 132 17 7.7
September 1989 252 30 8.4
October 1989 263 31 8.5
November 1989 248 30 8.3
December 1989 247 31 8.0
January 1990 242 31 7.8
February 1990 242 28 8.6
March 1990 240 31 7.7
April 1990 235 30 7.8
May 1990 231 31 7.5
June 1990 212 30 7.1

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the sulphur dioxide emissions were required to be reduced following the decision by the Secretary of State for the Environment to uphold the appeal to extend the planning permission for the Ferro Alloys chimney stack in Glossop; and if the process will be covered by IPC.

Mr. Trippier

The sulphur dioxide emissions were required to be reduced to a rate not exceeding 113 kg/hour by 31 August 1992, a reduction of 70 per cent. on previous emission rates.

The process will be covered by IPC.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information held by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution or his Department concerning(a) emissions from the Ferro Alloys chimney stack in Glossop, and (b) other producers of sulphur dioxide in the area, has been exchanged with the Peak Park planning board.

Research contracts commissioned by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of pollution during the year ending 30 June 1990
Contractor Contract value (excluding VAT) £ Duration (months) Area of work
University of Lancaster 60,340 15 Study of Polonium 210 levels
Research Surveys (GB) 64,750 15 Cumbrian coastal area habit surveys
W. S. Atkins 89,000 12 Modelling gas generation
Biotreatment 77,221 12 Removal of radionuclides by bio-sorption
UKAEA 45,200 12 Study of environmental distribution of technetium
NRPB 10,050 7 Exposure of sewer workers
National Nuclear 39,500 12 Management of tritium wastes
UKAEA 85,000 12 West oxidation of organic waste
UKAEA 80,000 9 Effect of elevated temperatures on cement and blended cements
PA Technology 90,000 24 Microbiological treatment of low level waste
UKAEA 104,000 24 Removal of active species from liquid effluent
Taymel 1,500,000 24 Quality checking of radioactive and hazardous wastes
RPRWC 19,945 8 Monitoring of tritium discharges
UKAEA 10,000 6 Determination of the efficiency of absorber materials
University of Newcastle upon Tyne 83,634 9 Study of scope of site investigation programmes

Mr. Trippier

The darkness of the emissions is monitored continually by measuring transmitted light. Sulphur dioxide emissions are assessed by calculations based on the levels of sulphur fed into the plant. Tests made by an HMIP sampling team in December 1988 confirmed this correlation.

Information on sulphur dioxide calculations covering the period July 1989 to June 1990 is shown in the table.

Mr. Trippier

Glossop is within the High Peak district council area and not the Peak Park planning board, and there has been no exchange of information with the latter.

The Ferro Alloys chimney stack is the only registered works within the Glossop area producing sulphur dioxide.