§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the components used in the manufacture and production of Cemfuel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsCemfuel is a blend of residues from solvent recovery plants and other solvents that are not suitable for economic recovery. Cemfuel can be used only if it meets a specification agreed in advance with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and which covers limits on, for example, chlorine, polychlorinated biphenyls, sulphur and heavy metals content.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations and research his Department has carried out into the impact of the use of Cemfuel by industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsAs I said in my statement in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan) on 23 JuneOfficial Report, column 261 before trial burning of secondary liquid fuel in cement kilns is approved, satisfactory baseline data on the normal operation of the cement manufacture will need to be provided to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. This will cover details of the kiln, its operating characteristics and the emissions to the environment during normal operation.
Trials will be run in accordance with a schedule of conditions to be agreed in advance with HMIP. Operators will be required to make ongoing reports in the progress of all trials. For monitoring purposes, HMIP will impose an enhanced and stricter regime to meet the particular circumstances of the trials.
The trials will be principally concerned with the testing and monitoring of releases. Continuous monitors for particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and oxygen, calibrated to the satisfaction of HMIP, will have to be installed before trials commence. HMIP will carry out independent testing to verify the results of the trials.
Monitoring results obtained during trial burns will be used by the company to prepare an environmental impact assessment report which will be submitted to HMIP. This report will be evaluated by HMIP when deciding whether the practice of burning these materials can be allowed on a more permanent basis. The monitoring results, plus any application from the company to burn secondary liquid fuel on a permanent basis will be placed on the public register.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what health hazards have been discovered by his Department in the use of Cemfuel by industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsHer Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is responsible for protecting the environment under the terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and has been closely supervising these tests.
Results obtained so far indicate no cause for concern. The emissions of dioxins and heavy metals are well within the limits that HMIP will impose on incinerators. Milk 968W monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for dioxins has indicated no ill effects from the burning of Cemfuel.
HMIP is keeping a close watch on the emissions from the trials and will shut them down if the environment is being damaged.