§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what substances are prohibited from qualifying as substitute fuels under the Environment Agency's Substitute Fuels Protocol; what changes are planned to the list of qualifying substances; and if she will make a statement [142346]
§ Mr. MorleyAn operator of an industrial installation or plant wishing to burn a fuel of a type not within the terms of the current operating permit or authorisation has to apply to the Environment Agency for a variation to allow trials to be conducted. Each variation application is determined by the Environment Agency on a case-by-case basis, and the Substitute Fuels Protocol provides guidance to its staff and operators on the application process.
Under the current version of the protocol, trials of a fuel containing the following should not be allowed:
Additionally, trials of a fuel to which any of the following substances has been added should not be allowed:
- (a) a radioactive material or radioactive waste as defined in Sections 1 and 2 respectively of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993; or
- (b) an explosive including: propellants, cartridges, or bombs, or explosive material extracted from them or explosive-contaminated material from their manufacture or decommissioning.
polychlorinated biphenyls;pentachlorophenol;pharmaceuticals;pesticides;biocides; andiodine compounds.The Environment Agency plans to undertake a full public consultation on proposed revisions to the Substitute Fuels Protocol. When the consultation document is published within the next few weeks, it will be available for comment for three months. The protocol may then be revised, taking into account the comments received during the consultation period.