§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what depth the site of the Millennium Dome has been cleared of contaminants. [30516]
§ Mr. CabornThe depth of contamination on the site to be occupied by the Millennium Dome varied widely. The majority of contamination was contained within the surface layer, which varied between 2 and 4 metres in depth. In isolated instances the contamination extended up to a maximum of 14 metres. The treatment applied to each part of the site depended on the type and depth of the contamination. No part of the site was treated to a depth of less than 2 metres and in places the treatment extended to 14 metres.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contaminants were present on the Millennium Dome site. [30515]
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§ Mr. CabornA large proportion of the Millennium Dome site has been chemically contaminated to varying degrees as a result of former industrial activities, principally the generation of coal, gas and associated by-products. By-products include the manufacture of sulphuric acid and ammonium sulphate fertiliser in a dedicated chemical works as well as the production of coal tar and a range of organic chemicals such as benzene and naphtha in a separate tar works.
As a result, the principal contaminants found on the site were:
Wastes from tar production and distillation including coal tar and a variety of derivatives;Materials from gas purification including foul lime, clinker waste and spent oxide;Carboniferous materials including coal, coke and clinker.The contaminants were identified during a comprehensive site investigation undertaken both by the original site owners (British Gas) and by the current owners, English Partnerships.
The approach to the treatment of the site has been approved by both the Environment Agency and the London Borough of Greenwich and is consistent with Government policy on the treatment of contaminated land.