Environment Bill
The Environment Bill was flagged in the Queen's Speech as one of the major pieces of Government legislation for the current session. A second reading debate was held in the House of Lords on 15th December 1994.
The Bill contains a cocktail of environmental provisions (many of which are unrelated) from amendment to the defence available to those who permit polluting discharges from abandoned mines to the introduction of cost benefit analysis in environmental regulation.
One of the prime objectives of the Environment Bill is the establishment of the Environment Agency which will combine and replace the National Rivers Authority and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution in 1996.
Contaminated Land
In November 1994 the Government published its policy framework in response to the consultation paper "Paying for our Past" circulated in May 1994. The framework policy confirms the Government's intention to pursue a "fitness for purpose" test for the clean-up of contaminated sites.
November and December also saw the publication of three Department of the Environment sponsored contaminated land research reports on:
Environmental Assessment
The European Community Directive No 85 (337) requires an environmental impact assessment team to be undertaken for certain public and private works. This directive was implemented in the UK in 1988 and requires an environmental statement to be prepared for such developments as oil refineries, highways, waste sites, mineral sites, etc.
Research has recently undertaken both by the UK Government and by the European Community to assess the effectiveness of the environmental impact assessment procedure.
To assist the development of a "best practice" for environmental impact assessment, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association published in December 1994 their guide to environmental assessment.
One of the co-authors of the guide (which runs to some 270 pages) is Michael Renger of Nabarro Nathanson's Environment Department from whom more information can be obtained.
The above is an extract taken from issue 10 of Environment Law Matters January 1995, published on behalf of Nabarro Nathanson.
Detailed specialist advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the comments made in this article which are only intended as a brief introduction to the particular subject. Nabarro Nathanson is regulated in the conduct of investment business by the Law Society.
For additional information contact Kevin Wheeler, Nabarro Nathanson, tel 071 491 6982.
The Environment Bill was flagged in the Queen's Speech as one of the major pieces of Government legislation for the current session. A second reading debate was held in the House of Lords on 15th December 1994.
The Bill contains a cocktail of environmental provisions (many of which are unrelated) from amendment to the defence available to those who permit polluting discharges from abandoned mines to the introduction of cost benefit analysis in environmental regulation.
One of the prime objectives of the Environment Bill is the establishment of the Environment Agency which will combine and replace the National Rivers Authority and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution in 1996.
Contaminated Land
In November 1994 the Government published its policy framework in response to the consultation paper "Paying for our Past" circulated in May 1994. The framework policy confirms the Government's intention to pursue a "fitness for purpose" test for the clean-up of contaminated sites.
November and December also saw the publication of three Department of the Environment sponsored contaminated land research reports on:
guidance on preliminary site inspection of contaminated land; sampling strategies for contaminated land; information systems for land contamination.These reports are in a series of reports financed under the Contaminated Land Research programme of the Department of the Environment. The purpose of the reports is to provide regulators, developers and other interested parties with authoritative and researched advice on how best to identify and assess the problems contamination can pose and what can be done to tackle them. More information on the detail of the reports and on legal liabilities and marketability of contaminated land is available from the Environment Department at Nabarro Nathanson.
Environmental Assessment
The European Community Directive No 85 (337) requires an environmental impact assessment team to be undertaken for certain public and private works. This directive was implemented in the UK in 1988 and requires an environmental statement to be prepared for such developments as oil refineries, highways, waste sites, mineral sites, etc.
Research has recently undertaken both by the UK Government and by the European Community to assess the effectiveness of the environmental impact assessment procedure.
To assist the development of a "best practice" for environmental impact assessment, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association published in December 1994 their guide to environmental assessment.
One of the co-authors of the guide (which runs to some 270 pages) is Michael Renger of Nabarro Nathanson's Environment Department from whom more information can be obtained.
The above is an extract taken from issue 10 of Environment Law Matters January 1995, published on behalf of Nabarro Nathanson.
Detailed specialist advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the comments made in this article which are only intended as a brief introduction to the particular subject. Nabarro Nathanson is regulated in the conduct of investment business by the Law Society.
For additional information contact Kevin Wheeler, Nabarro Nathanson, tel 071 491 6982.
