§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations exist to protect adjoining residents from pollution by chemical plants.
§ Mr. MacleanUnder part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, prescribed processes require authorisation by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, and chemical plants fall into this category. In granting authorisation, the enforcing authority must seek to ensure that the best available techniques not entailing excessive cost, are employed to prevent or minimise the release of any substance prescribed for any medium.
HMIP has prepared guidance in the form of process guidance notes for inspectors, on the standards to be applied to the processes it controls. The first nine notes in the chemical sector which, cover organic chemical processes were published on 27 January in preparation for the processes coming under integrated pollution control 372W from 1 May 1993. These notes are publicly available for the benefit of operators and other interested parties. Further guidance notes for the chemical sector will be published during 1993.
Copies of the guidance notes have been placed in the Library.