FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1985
NEW DEPARTMENT TO CENTRAL ISE POLLUTION CONTROL
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO UPGRADE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) TO A FULL-FLEDGED DEPARTMENT TO RATIONALISE AND COORDINATE ANTI-POLLUTION MEASURES CURRENTLY UNDERTAKEN BY 13 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE DECISION TO GIVE THE EPA AN EXECUTIVE AND ENFORCEMENT ROLE FOLLOWS THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A WORKING GROUP SET UP TEN MONTHS AGO TO FORMULATE A PLAN WHICH WOULD MAXIMISE RESOURCES AND CENTRAL ISE POLLUTION CONTROL.
UNDER THE PLAN DUE TO COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1, 1986 THE NEWLY-CREATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WILL BE HEADED BY A DIRECTOR AND TWO ASSISTANT DIRECTORS - ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR WATER AND WASTE AND THE OTHER FOR AIR AND NOISE.
ITS MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE :
(A)
FORMULATION OF POLICY IN ALL FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION;
(B) ESTABLISHING PROGRAMMES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT} (C) MONITORING POLLUTION LEVELS IN THE ENVIRONMENT;
(D)
(E)
IMPLEMENTATION OF STATUTORY POLLUTION CONTROLS;
MEASUREMENT OF EMISSIONS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH CONTROLS;
(F) RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS OF POLLUTION:
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(G) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT; AND
(H)
PROVISION OF ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
THE FUTURE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WILL BECOME THE AUTHORITY UNDER LEGISLATION COVERING WATER POLLUTION, WASTE DISPOSAL AND AIR POLLUTION. IN ADDITION, HE WILL BE GIVEN AUTHORITY UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE FOR THE CONTROL OF SMOKE EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES.
CONTROL OF MARINE DUMPING WILL ALSO COME UNDER THE NEW DEPARTMENT, BUT THIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE RECENTLY ENACTED U.K. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT WHICH WILL REPLACE THE DUMPING AT SEA ACT.
ON THE QUESTION OF NOISE POLLUTION, ANY AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING CONTROL PROVISIONS WILL TIE IN WITH A NEW NOISE CONTROL BILL GIVING THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OVERALL AUTHORITY.
THE PLAN.