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NO
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1985
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT DEAL WITH DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION, WHILE THE LATTER AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROLLING DIFFERENT FORMS OF AIR POLLUTION NUISANCES. SIMILARLY, MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS ENGAGED FULL-TIME IN CO-ORDINATING PROGRAMME PLANS AND HELPING TO FORMULATE POLLUTION CONTROL POLICY AND LEGISLATION, BUT HAS NO EXECUTIVE CONTROL OR ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS, MR CHAMBERS SAID.
A REAPPRAISAL OF THE PRESENT ORGANISATION STRUCTURE HAS SHOWN THREE MAIN DEFECTS:
* IT IS UNDULY COMPLEX AND FRAGMENTED, MAKING MORE
DIFFICULT THE EPA'S COORDINATING FUNCTIONS, ESPECIALLY IF DIFFERENCES OF VIEW CANNOT BE RESOLVED;
*
WITHOUT EXECUTIVE OR STATUTORY FUNCTIONS, THE EPA DOES NOT HAVE THE FIRST-HAND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO ITS POLICY ADVISORY ROLE; AND
SINCE SO MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE INVOLVED IN POLLUTION CONTROL ACTIVITIES, THIS CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO
PROLONGED DEBATE AND HENCE DELAY IN TAKING ACTION.
MR CHAMBERS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THIS COMPLICATED SYSTEM COULD BE CONFUSING TO INDUSTRIALISTS, WHO NEED TO KNOW HOW TO COMPLY WITH POLLUTION CONTROL REQUIREMENTS, AND WHICH DEPARTMENT OR DEPARTMENTS ARE CHARGED WITH ENFORCING THE CONTROLS WHICH THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MEET. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO BE CONFUSED WHEN THEY WISH TO REPORT INSTANCES OF POLLUTION TO THE RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT,
ANOTHER DRAWBACK IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DUAL ROLES OF SOME DEPARTMENTS WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN POLLUTION CONTROL AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY OPERATE PLANT AND FACILITIES WHICH ARE A MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION. THEY HAVE TO OBSERVE THE LAW, AND ARE SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS. BUT IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO EXTERNAL CONTROL, SURVEILLANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.
THE WORKING GROUP NOW SET UP WILL LOOK INTO ALL THE IMPLICATIONS OF GIVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AN ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE AND OPERATIONAL ROLE. THIS WOULD INVOLVE TRANSFERRING TO THE EPA THE STATUTORY FUNCTIONS OF THE CONTROL AUTHORITIES UNDER THE MAIN POLLUTION CONTROL LEGISLATION, WHILE LEAVING WITH DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF ANTI-POLLUTION FACILITIES.
/+IN OTHER
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