§ Lord Norrieasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice they have given to local authorities on the classification of certain substances as required by EC Groundwater Directive 80/68/EEC.
§ Baroness BlatchThe Government have today published a consultation paper setting out proposals for a centralised national classification scheme of listed substances for the purpose of the EC Groundwater Directive (80/68/EEC). The groundwater directive was adopted in late 1979 and came into effect two years later. Its objective is to protect groundwater against pollution from dangerous substances. An annex to the directive lists those substances (List I) which must be prevented from entering groundwater; and those substances (List II) where it is necessary to limit their input into groundwater to avoid pollution. Advice on the classification of substances into List I and List II was issued in March 1982 in a joint circular (DoE 4/82 WO7/82). Recent discussions with the European Commission have led to a re-examination of the procedures for classifying substances into List I or List II. New arrangements are set out in a circular (DoE 20/90, W034/90) which is published today. The circular describes the steps to be taken by controlling authorities in assessing whether substances belong to List I or List II. It does not however contain precise rules for the classifying process. Proposals on this are contained in a separate consultation paper issued by the department today.
The consultation paper puts forward numerical threshold values to be used to assess whether substances are List I or List II. In some cases these are shown as ranges to accommodate differing views. Before taking final decisions the Government wish to have the views of industry and other interested parties. The paper also proposes that the scheme should be run by the National Rivers Authority to ensure consistency of application. The consultation paper is being sent to the CBI, Chemical Industries Association, the National Rivers Authority, Water Services Association, Water Companies Association, representatives of various trade associations, local authority associations and other interested parties. Copies are available in the Library.