§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has carried out to ascertain the possible contamination by methyl tertiary butyl ether from the discharge of unburned fuel from water craft on inland waters in England and Wales. [123444]
§ Mr. MullinI am not aware of any studies currently under way on this issue. Although the Environment Agency considers that the main risk from MTBE is to groundwater and has commissioned research on this, it has also carried out limited monitoring for MTBE in surface waters. Many water craft are powered by diesel fuel which does not contain MTBE.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the(a) terms of reference of and (b) people carrying out, the study on the incidence of methyl tertiary butyl ether in groundwater in England and Wales; and when he expects the study to be completed. [123442]
§ Mr. MullinThe Environment Agency has commissioned a study to investigate known fuel oxygenate occurrence in groundwater in England and Wales, gathering evidence from(a) Environment Agency regional and area records (b) water companies, and (c) additional bodies and sources of information; to review and evaluate the presence and behaviour of oxygenates in groundwater; to inform the EA's strategic regulatory thinking, the risk assessment process and monitoring strategy, and to recommend any future research directions. The study, which is being carried out by the environmental consultancy firm Komex Clarke Bond, is expected to be available in the summer.