§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the dumping of dredge spoil is controlled under the terms of the North sea conference agreements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls exist in respect of disposal of dredge spoil; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryThe disposal of dredged spoil at sea is controlled by a requirement for licensing under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those locations where dredge spoil was dumped last year, giving the quantities for each site; and what checks are carried out to establish impact on the marine environment in respect of choice of location, quantity of dredge spoil and contamination levels of dredge spoil, before such dumping is carried out.
§ Mr. CurryAbout 110 locations in English and Welsh waters have been designated for the disposal of dredged
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Name of body Date of next appointment or renewal Position Agricultural Training Board March 1992 Whole committee Agricultural Wages Board July 1990 Chairman + 2 independent members July 1991 2 independent members Agricultural Wages Committees (England) 1990 1 Chairman + 21 members material. The sites are identified in annual reports of the Oslo Commission, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Statistics of quantities disposed of at each site in 1989 are not yet available.
The assessment of dredged material for disposal at sea is carried out in accordance with guidelines agreed by the Oslo Commission in 1986.
The guidelines provide a means of assessing dredged material which it is proposed to deposit at sea, including information on the nature, quantity and composition of the material. They also include the factors which are to be considered in the designation of dredged material disposal areas. These factors include:
- 1. Geographical position, depth and distance from the coast;
- 2. Location in relation to living resources in adult or juvenile phases;
- 3. Location in relation to amenity areas;
- 4. Initial dilution achieved by proposed method of discharge;
- 5. Dispersal, horizontal transport and vertical mixing characteristics;
- 6. Existence and effects of current and previous discharges and dumping in the area (including accumulative effects).
Guidelines for post-operational monitoring of dredged material disposal sites were adopted by the Oslo Commission in 1980 and form the basis of our current site surveillance strategy.