§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the locations where methyl tertiary butyl ether has been detected in groundwater as a result of the study into oxygenate occurrence; [138848]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 6 June 2000, Official Report, column 192W, on methyl tertiary butyl ether, what the outcome was of the draft risk assessment, and if he will make a statement; [138849]
(3) when the study into the incidence of methyl tertiary butyl ether in groundwater will be complete; and if he will publish its findings. [138847]
§ Mr. MullinThe Environment Agency expects to publish their report on oxygenate occurrence later this week. I have deposited an advance copy in the Library of the House. The report was carried out to review the presence and behaviour of MTBE in England and Wales. It does not contain a definitive list of all sites where MTBE has been detected in groundwater, but provides supporting statistics and tables, and concludes that current usage does not pose a major threat to public water supplies.
Finland is to resubmit the draft risk assessment for further discussion by EU technical experts in December 2000 and for consideration by the EU Competent Authorities for existing substances in February 2000. Final agreement on the risk assessment, and, if necessary, any proposals for risk reduction are not expected to be published before the end of 2001. The draft conclusions do not indicate any significant risk of adverse effects for human health or the environment from current levels of exposure to MTBE; but there is concern about the implications of taste and odour of MTBE at low levels.