§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance notes he has issued to large-scale industry concerning the impending transfer of responsibility for monitoring of water pollution by industry from the National Rivers Authority to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe NRA will continue to be responsible for monitoring and maintenance of water quality in controlled waters, and for discharges to controlled waters from non-prescribed processes. Discharges from prescribed processes will be the progressive responsibility of HMIP, resulting from IPC authorisations given under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
General guidance on standards and monitoring is outlined in the chief inspector's industry sector guidance notes to be published in April. Additional guidance will be given in the process, specific guidance notes to be published at least three months before IPC applications are required. Industry is a consultee to these guidance notes.
The memorandum of understanding between HMIP and the NRA, signed in December 1990, covers agreed procedures for dealing with the HMIP-NRA interface of responsibility for monitoring and enforcement of aqueous discharges from both prescribed and non-prescribed substances to controlled waters.