§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent directions he has given to the Environment Agency regarding pollution in Falmouth Harbour; and if he will make a statement. [111129]
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§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 21 February 2000]: Section 40 of the Environment Act 1995 provides for the Secretary of State to make directions to the Environment Agency in respect of the carrying out of any of its functions. No such directions have been made to the Environment Agency in respect of pollution in Falmouth Harbour.
In July last year I announced the designation of an additional 76 new shellfish waters, and the extension of 17 existing designations in England, including the Fal Estuary. In addition, My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made a number of designations of Sensitive Areas pursuant to implementation of the EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The most recent, made on 30 July 1998, included designation of the upper reaches of the Truro, Tresillian and Fal estuaries. In such areas, the Environment Agency is required to ensure through its discharge consenting powers that appropriate nutrient removal requirements are imposed through sewage discharge.