§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the threat to(a) the environment and (b) public health of residual contamination which remains on the Millennium Experience site. [24220]
§ Angela EagleThe Exhibition site has been subject to detailed ground investigation and assessment by British Gas Properties/Port Greenwich Ltd. who were the original owners and original polluters, to provide information on the presence of contaminants. English Partnerships bought the site from British Gas early in 1997 and has carried out further investigations.
These assessments have allowed English Partnerships to carry out a safe, practical strategy for the remediation of the site. Rehabilitation proposals have been drawn up in accordance with current guidance from the Interdepartmental Committee for Redevelopment of Contaminated Land and the Environment Agency. The overall rehabilitation strategy has also been discussed and agreed with both the Environment Agency and the Environmental Health Department of the London Borough of Greenwich. All aspects of the remediation work have been carried out to statutory health and safety standards.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if contaminated material found at the site of the Millennium Experience has been disposed of off-site. [24219]
§ Angela EagleThe remediation strategy has involved the excavation of contaminated soils, treatment of the soils on site, the maximum re-use of material on the site and the disposal off-site of some of the soil to licensed landfill sites. The selection of sites for disposal is the responsibility of the contractors who, under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, operate under a duty of care in the waste handling chain. All the sites used have been licensed by the relevant authority and are suitable for the material being disposed there.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if contaminated material has been buried on the site of the Millennium Experience. [24221]
§ Angela EagleLow levels of contaminated material, have been left in situ in accordance with current Government guidance for contaminated land. The site has been capped with a multi-layered clean-engineered capping material to isolate the site users from this material. Risk assessments have been carried out and the remediation has been designed to protect all possible users from harm.