§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure there are no procedural delays in the contracting of decontaminated brown-field land sites. [39497]
§ Angela EagleContractual arrangements are a matter for the parties concerned and it is their responsibility to take account of compliance with any regulatory requirements in their project planning. In cases where a waste management licence is required for the remediation of contaminated land, the effect of section 36(9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is to provide the Environment Agency with a basic period of four months in which to carry out statutory consultations and to determine an application. The Environment Agency is committed to providing an efficient and effective service and its Customer Charter includes the following commitment
We will make decisions on applications for waste licences within four months of receiving a full filled-in application, with all supporting information. For example, we may need proof of planning permission and financial guarantees. We will decide on any modifications to licences within two months of receipt and will deal with licences you send back to us within three months of receiving them. Complicated cases may take longer and we will agree upon a period when we will get back to you.