§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what investigations have been carried out regarding the deposit of poisonous or toxic waste at Pitsea tip; if he will list the agencies concerned; and when reports of these investigations will be available; [3890]
(2) if she will publish the inquiry findings into waste at Pitsea tip, with particular reference to findings by the Environment Agency. [3885]
625W
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 13 July 2001]: I am advised that the waste management licence for the Pitsea landfill site authorises the disposal of both non-hazardous and hazardous waste—defined in our national legislation as "special waste". The Environment Agency has a legal duty to supervise and inspect all licensed sites. No investigation or inquiry separate from the fulfilment of this duty has been carried by the Agency in relation to the Pitsea landfill site.
The Environment Agency is required by section 64 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to maintain a public register of licences. The information which the Agency is required to keep on the public register is set out in section 64 of the 1990 Act and regulation 10 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. It includes (a) the licence for each site; (b) reports produced by the Agency in the discharge of its functions under section 42 of the 1990 Act; and (c) any monitoring information relating to the carrying on of any activity under the licence. The consignment and disposal of special waste is also subject to the requirements of the Special Waste Regulations 1996.
The Environment Agency is carrying out a thorough investigation into the destinations of ash from municipal waste incinerators and a report will be published by the Agency on completion of its investigation. The Agency has no evidence that ash accepted at the Pitsea landfill site was subsequently consigned from the site for use elsewhere. However, the Agency will address this possibility in the context of its current investigation.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what action will be taken to clean up Pitsea tip and make the environment safer for residents of Castle Point; and if she will make a statement; [3886]
(2) what assessment she has made of the public safety and environmental implications of the poisonous waste deposited at Pitsea tip on the communities and land at Benfleet and on Canvey Island; [3888]
(3) what the radius is of the area at risk from poisonous waste deposited at Pitsea tip. [3887]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 13 July 2001]: Landfill sites operate under the terms of waste management licences and are subject to the controls set out in Part II of the Environment Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. The purpose of licences is to ensure that waste is disposed of in ways which protect the environment and human health. Failure to comply with a licence condition, or the disposal of waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution or harm to human health, is a criminal offence.
The Environment Agency has a legal duty to inspect all licensed sites and section 42 of the 1990 Act requires the Agency to take the steps needed to ensure that (a) the activities authorised by a licence do not cause environmental pollution, harm to human health or serious detriment to local amenities; and (b) the conditions of a licence are complied with.
626WIt is the responsibility of the Environment Agency to assess whether any steps are needed to ensure compliance with these provisions; I am advised by the Environment Agency that the Pitsea landfill site is currently being operated within the terms of its licence; and that the Agency has no plans to take enforcement action under Part II of the 1990 Act either in relation to the disposal of waste, including poisonous waste, at the site or the implications of its disposal outside the site's boundaries (i.e. within any radius of the site).
The Environment Agency will continue to inspect and supervise the site under section 42 of the 1990 Act and will take any steps necessary to ensure that the licence conditions are fulfilled and that waste, including poisonous waste, is not disposed of in ways which cause environmental pollution or harm to the health of any communities living within any radius of the site.