§ Ms Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the permit issued by Her Majesty's inspectorate of726W pollution in respect of DERA's explosive waste incinerator at Shoeburyness; [33981]
(2) in which exempted category in the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 data on emissions from the explosive waste incinerator plant at Shoeburyness fall; and if he will make a statement; [33982]
(3) what plans does he have to monitor the effect of emissions from the Avocet explosive waste incinerator system at Shoeburyness on the areas of special scientific interest in the Colne estuary, the Blackwater estuary, Dengie, the River Crouch marshes and Foulness; [33984]
(4) what plans he has to permit the burning of munitions waste on open ground or a beach in the vicinity of the mid-Essex coast. [33985]
§ Mr. Clappison[holding answer 12 July 1995]: I have today placed a copy of the authorisation and a variation notice, issued by HMIP, in the House of Commons Library.
The plant is required to meet the emission standards imposed on chemical waste incinerators. It will also have to comply with the EC directive on the burning of hazardous waste when this directive applies. Data on the emissions from the incinerator are not exempted from the provisions of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 and will be placed on the public registers.
Prior to the granting of this authorisation, HMIP consulted English Nature, which was satisfied that the plant will not have an unacceptable effect on sites of special scientific interest in the local area.
HMIP authorisation requires the operator to carry out an environmental monitoring programme. Soil and grass samples taken from several locations around the incinerator are to be analysed for dioxins and heavy metals.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what consultations his Department was involved in respect to the siting of the Avocet explosive waste incinerator system at Shoeburyness; and if he will make a statement. [33983]
§ Mr. Robert B. Jones[holding answer 12 July 1995]: The Secretary of State was not consulted on the location of the Avocet waste incinerator system at the Ministry of Defence testing and evaluation facility at Shoeburyness as there was no requirement under planning legislation to do so. I understand, however, that the Ministry consulted the local planning authority, Rochford district council, on the siting of the system, and obtained the necessary authorisation for its operation from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. A second incinerator on the site has also been the subject of consultation with Rochford district council and the application for authorisation from HMIP is expected shortly.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds Shoeburyness was chosen for the siting of the Avocet explosive waste incineration system. [33986]
§ Mr. Robert B. Jones[holding answer 12 July 1995]: This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.