§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Coalfields Task Force has consulted the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation 136WA Association with a view to examining and making recommendations about tackling the problem of abandoned minewater from closed coal mines polluting rivers and streams. [HL1838]
§ Baroness HaymanThe Coalfields Task Force will shortly be publishing its report. I understand that it has taken evidence from the Environment Agency and other relevant organisations with a view to making recommendations on the issue of minewater pollution. I am not aware that the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association have submitted evidence, and I will suggest to the Task Force that they might be consulted.
§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Environment Agency has been liaising with the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association to examine the problems of environmental damage to lakes, rivers and streams caused by polluted minewater from closed coal mines; and what financial steps the agency intends to take to assist in keeping the pumps working. [HL1839]
§ Baroness HaymanThe Environment Agency has discussed this issue with many organisations, including the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association.
Under the "polluter pays" principle, the issue of whether or not pumps should be kept working to avoid a potential pollution incident when a mine is abandoned is a matter for the operator or former operator of a mine to consider alongside other options to prevent or treat any resulting water pollution. The Environment Agency is able to help operators to decide if this is the most appropriate environmental outcome for a particular mine, but would not expect to assist financially in keeping the pumps working. New regulations come into force on 1 July requiring mine operators to give the Environment Agency six months' notice of their intention to abandon a mine, to allow steps to be taken to prevent minewater pollution.
The Government are taking steps to clean up contaminated minewaters from long-abandoned mines on a priority basis. The Coal Authority has undertaken 21 detailed feasibility studies on the most environmentally significant overflows from abandoned coal mines, and works commenced on four of these priority sites in 1997–98. In addition, the Coal Authority has, in collaboration with the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, identified further priority sites for study. The Coal Authority spent £3 million in 1997–98 in tackling water pollution from abandoned coal mines, and this is anticipated to rise to £3.9 million in 1998–99.
In addition, the Environment Agency also carries out measures to reduce water pollution from abandoned mines. To reduce pollution from the Wheal Jane tin mine alone, the agency has spent £9.5 million since 1990 on pumping, research and treatment.