§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the proposed burning of orimulsion at Pembroke power station.
§ Mr. MacleanNational Power has applied for an authorisation under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to burn orimulsion at its Pembroke power station. This application is currently being considered by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether power stations in the United Kingdom currently allowed to burn orimulsion are required to have flue gas desulphurisation equipment; whether this equipment will be required of power plants requesting permission to burn orimulsion in future; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanTwo power stations, Ince in Cheshire and Richborough in Kent, operated by PowerGen are allowed to burn limited amounts of orimulsion under the legislative provisions which preceded the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Neither is required to have flue gas desulphurisation equipment.
Applications under the 1990 Act have been made to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution for these stations and for two others operated by National Power, at Pembroke in Wales and Padiham in Lancashire, and are being considered. In determining these applications, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will consider the environmental implications of releases from the processes to all three media: air, water and land. In view of my right hon. and learned Friend's appellate role it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what submissions have been made to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution as to the amount of orimulsion expressed in(a) tonnes and (b) monetary value that will be used at Pembroke power station if permission is granted.
§ Mr. Maclean(a) 3,760 kilo tonnes per annum; (b) No submissions have been made as to value other than a general comment that it would be linked to a basket of international coal prices.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria will he evaluated by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in coming to a decision regarding the burning of orimulsion at Pembroke power station; whether that decision is subject to appeal and within what length of time; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe criteria used by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in its determination of an application are set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and related statutory instruments, and span a variety of subject areas.
848WThe recipient of an authorisation under the Environmental Protection Act may appeal to the Secretary of State within a period of six months from the date of issue.
Bearing in mind that Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has yet to determine the application for Pembroke power station, I have no plans to make a statement at this time.