HC Deb 17 June 2003 vol 407 cc194-5W
Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports the Environment Agency used as the basis for their legal notice to the operators of Pitsea Tip under section 42 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and if she will publish those reports. [118730]

Mr. Morley

Site inspection reports are produced at each routine site inspection. These identify compliance with conditions of the Waste Management Licence. They also highlight breaches of conditions with instructions/guidance on rectifying the relevant matters. Where these are not rectified within suitable timescales, or are more serious/complex breaches, a Notice can be served under section 42 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requiring compliance with conditions.

The site inspection reports are on the public register, which the Environment Agency holds.

Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring procedures have been undertaken by the Environment Agency in respect of Pitsea Tip; and what results have been achieved. [118731]

Mr. Morley

The site has a Waste Management Licence (WML). The WML has conditions requiring the operator, Cleanaway Ltd., to conduct monitoring of groundwater, surface water, leachate and landfill gas. This is done at prescribed frequencies in prescribed locations in and around the site.

The Environment Agency receives the analytical data and assesses it. The agency also conducts its own audit monitoring of the site to verify the data supplied by the operator. This data is on the public register which the Environment Agency holds.

Ambient air quality is not required by the licence and is not routinely carried out by the agency. Spot samples of odorous air were recently taken from the landfill site and analysed; health experts have confirmed that the results indicate the presence of constituents at levels which would not cause harm to human health. Further comprehensive air monitoring is presently being conducted by an independent consultant and a report is expected to be produced in the next week.