§ Mr. CarrTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to require BNFL to publish its criteria for assessing best available technology not entailing excessive cost; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what criteria are used to assess best available techniques not entailing excessive cost with reference to the BNFL Springfields works; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryBATNEEC relates to a requirement placed upon operators of processes that fall under the regulation of part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Regulation of nuclear site operators falls under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 which requires operators to use the best practicable means (BPM) to reduce radioactive discharges. An explanation of BPM and how it applies to discharges from BNFL's Springfield works is set out in an explanatory memorandum from the recent public consultation exercise concerning proposals to revise Springfield's liquid discharge authorisation. I have arranged for a copy of this document to be placed in the Library of the House. Information on BPM in BNFL's application for revision of the Springfield's liquid authorisation was classified commercially sensitive, and as such cannot be published under the Radioactiive Substances Act 1960, as amended by part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.