§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the sites at which toxic ash from Byker Heat and Transfer Station, Newcastle, was spread in contravention of the operating licence; when this contravention was first reported to the Environmental Agency and when action was taken to correct it; and if the remedial action has been completed at all locations; [123748]
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Byker CHP plant ash deposit sites (tonnes) 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 Total Bridleways Big Waters — — 10 20 — — 30 Blaney Row — — — 30 10 — 40 Coach Lane, Throckley — 20 — — — — 20 Coronation Road — — 40 — — — 40 Dinnington Recreation Ground — — 40 — — — 40 Feversham — — 80 — — — 80 NE Mason Farm — — 80 — — — 80 Newburn Riverside — — — — — 40 40 Reith Burn, Throckley — — — — 40 — 40 Stamfordham Road — — 40 — — — 40 Three Hills — 100 — 40 — — 140 UFAMS, Newburn — — 80 10 — — 90 Walbottle Dene — — — 10 — — 10 Allotments Blaney Row — — — 10 30 10 50 Blutcher — 10 10 — — — 20 Braxton B 20 — — — — 10 30 Irish Brickfields — — — — — 20 20 Brunswick — — — — — 20 20 Christen Road — — — 100 — — 100 Coxlodge 40 — — — — — 40 Denton Bank 20 — — 30 — — 50 Denton Dene 30 30 30 10 — 10 110 Fenham Model 30 60 40 10 — 10 150 Hulne Terrace — — — — 10 — 10 Jesmond Premier/Vale 20 10 — — — — 30 Keebledale Pigeons — — — — 10 — 10 Little Moor — 20 — 10 20 — 50 Ridgewood Crescent — — — 40 — — 40 Salter Lane 20 — — — — — 20 St. Anthony's — — — — — 10 10 (2) what investigations have been made, and what conclusions have been reached, by the Environment Agency about soil, plant and animal contamination at Byker City Farm, Newcastle; what caused those investigations to be made; and when they started. [123851]
§ Mr. Mullin[holding answer 25 May 2000]The Byker Reclamation Plant is the subject of two Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) authorisations issued by the Environment Agency under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. While the IPC authorisation for the Heat Station provides that landfill is the preferred waste disposal option for ash from the plant, disposal by another means is not in contravention of the authorisation. This is because the disposal of waste is subject to the duty of care and the waste management licensing provisions of Part II of the 1990 Act, and section 28 of the Act provides that no condition shall be attached to an IPC authorisation to regulate the final disposal of waste.
The possibility that ash from the plant might have been used for the construction of footpaths and other purposes was first raised by a local resident during discussions with the Environment Agency on another mater in August 1999. At a public meeting organised by Newcastle City Council on 19 January 2000, it was confirmed by the City Council that sampling would be undertaken to establish the composition of the ash. The Environment Agency then wrote to the City Council's direct works contractor, "Cityworks", on 2 February to request details of the dates, locations and quantities of ash used for the construction of footpaths etc. The sites which have identified as receiving ash from the Heat Plant, and the estimated tonnages, are as follows: 197W
Byker CHP plant deposit sites (tonnes) 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 Total St. Michaels A 40 — — — — — 40 St. Michaels B — — — — — Union Hall Road 20 — — — — — 20 Walkergate Hospital — — 10 — — — 10 Walkergate 3A — 20 20 20 — 10 70 Walkergate 3B 10 — 70 10 — 10 100 Westmacott Street 30 30 20 20 — — 100 Whinneytield Road — — — 10 — — 10 Moorside — — — 40 — 10 50 Nun's Moor 20 — — — 20 — 40 Other sites Leightwood Avenue — 40 — — — — 40 Murton Riding School — — — — 40 — 40 Annfield Plain 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 1— 30 1 Not known Newcastle City Council has undertaken the removal of the ash from these sites and its disposal is being supervised by the Environment Agency. I have been informed that the removal of the ash from all of these sites has now been completed but that further investigations will be carried out by the City Council to ascertain whether any further remedial action is required.
The Environment Agency is conducting an investigation to establish whether the waste management controls of Part II of the 1990 Act have been contravened and, if there is evidence of contravention, action will be taken in line with the Agency's published Enforcement Policy.
To date, no investigations have been carried out by the Environment Agency into possible contamination at Byker City Farm.