1-Aug-2006
- Changes to land contamination rules that set
out how radioactive contaminated land should be
dealt with have been welcomed by the Environment
Agency.
The changes, which come into
force on 4 August, set out how radioactive contaminated
land should be dealt with by the Environment Agency
and local authorities. The rules previously did
not cover land contaminated with radioactivity,
but have now been modified by Defra.
David Bennett, Strategic Policy
Manager for Radioactive Substances Regulation
at the Environment Agency said: "From 4 August,
changes to Part 2A of the Environmental Protection
Act 11000 will mean the Environment Agency has
an important role to play in helping local authorities
decide whether land is radioactively contaminated.
"Local authorities will
need to be satisfied that there is enough relevant
information available to indicate the land is
potentially contaminated before they carry out
an initial study. To help them where they do decide
to proceed, we have produced some new guidance.
If their initial investigations suggest there
may be contamination at specified levels, the
case is then referred to the Environment Agency
to carry out more detailed tests."
Based on the findings of these
tests and its own investigations, the local authority
has the final decision on whether the land is
contaminated and to be classified as a ‘special
site’. Once a ‘special site’, the Environment
Agency has the responsibility to ensure the land
is remediated preferably by the polluter or it
can in certain circumstances carry out this work
itself if necessary.
Currently there is no legal
basis for requiring any such land to be investigated
or remediated. Radioactive contaminated land is
either dealt with on a voluntary basis (if the
landowner decides that this is what they want
to do) or if the site is being redeveloped, planning
controls may require this.
"We look forward to working
with local authorities in order to ensure radioactive
contaminated land that falls under the changes
is identified and remediated. Anyone concerned
about radioactive contaminated land should contact
their local authority for advice," added
David Bennett.
Head Office Press Office
