HL Deb 24 July 2001 vol 626 cc230-1WA
The Duke of Montrose

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether at the start of the current foot and mouth outbreak individual permits were required for the burial of slaughtered animals at on-farm sites under the rules governing the pollution of groundwater administered by the Environment Agency. [HL331]

Lord Whitty

Groundwater regulations authorisations ("permits") are required for the disposal of listed substances at a specified site. Carcasses and ashes contain listed substances and so authorisations are required for the burial of slaughtered animals. The requirements of the regulations have been implemented throughout the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

The Duke of Montrose

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there was any time lapse between a request by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to carry out an on-farm burial of carcasses resulting from the foot and mouth outbreak and the necessary response from the Environment Agency. [HL333]

Lord Whitty

Under the Groundwater Regulations 1998, before authorising disposals of carcasses, a risk assessment ("prior investigation") must be undertaken to ensure that the proposed disposal will not cause pollution of controlled waters. In the majority of cases, the Environment Agency undertook this risk assessment within three hours of being asked to do so by MAFF/DEFRA. Larger and more complex disposal sites may have taken longer to risk assess in order to ensure risks posed to ground and surface waters were fully considered.

The Duke of Montrose

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether general guidance was produced to show areas where an on-farm burial of carcasses resulting from the foot and mouth outbreak might be suitable; and, if so, when it was made available. [HL334]

Lord Whitty

The Environment Agency assessed each proposed disposal on a site specific basis.

Existing published guidance on risk assessment and tools to determine groundwater vulnerability, available prior to the foot and mouth disease outbreak, were used as part of the assessment to determine suitable areas for on-farm burials of carcasses.

The Duke of Montrose

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When mass burial pits for carcasses resulting from the foot and mouth outbreak were first sanctioned. [HL335]

Lord Whitty

The decision to construct the first mass burial site (at Great Orton in Cumbria) for the disposal of carcasses resulting from foot and mouth outbreak was announced on 25 March 2001.