FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1986
ANTI-POLLUTION ACTION TAKES ANOTHER STRIDE
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ACTION TO CONTAIN THE PROBLEM OF TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION INSIDE A WATER CONTROL ZONE (WCZ) MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TODAY (FRIDAY) WITH THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS SETTING OUT THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED.
THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1986 PRESCRIBE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE IS TO BE ADMINISTERED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE REGULATIONS, CERTAIN KINDS OF DISCHARGES AND DEPOSITS COULD BE PROHIBITED OR BROUGHT UNDER LICENSING CONTROL IN ANY WCZ WHILE EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE GRANTED TO EXISTING DISCHARGES PROVIDED THAT THEY WERE NOTIFIED TO THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN A SPECIFIED PERIOD.
+ IT IS INTENDED THAT THE REGULATIONS WILL TAKE EFFECT IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS, + HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE ENABLING LEGISLATION AND THE REGULATIONS WERE BASED ON THE NEED TO MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY OF A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MINIMISING THE RISK OF ADVERSE ECONOMIC EFFECTS, INCONVENIENCE AND COST TO THE INDUSTRY.
+ THE REGULATIONS WERE DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ENABLE CONTROLS TO BE APPLIED IN A FLEXIBLE MANNER, PERMITTING THE CONTROL OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF POLLUTANT IN SPECIFIC AREAS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT AS THERE IS AT PRESENT ONLY ONE SUCH ZONE THE TOLO HARBOUR AND CHANNEL WATER CONTROL ZONE DECLARED IN 1982 THE REGULATIONS WOULD THEREFORE ONLY APPLY TO THIS AREA FOR THE TIME BEING.
ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE REGULATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THEY WERE FIRST PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN MAY LAST YEAR IN VIEW OF THEIR LENGTH AND COMPLEXITY.
+ DURING THE EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION EXERCISE IN WHICH MEETINGS WERE HELD BETWEEN OFFICIALS AND THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIONS WERE RECEIVED THROUGH THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND THE UMELCO OFFICE. AN AD HOC GROUP WAS ALSO FORMED BY UMELCO TO EXAMINE THE DRAFT REGULATIONS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS IN DETAIL.
+ WHILE THE GENERAL THRUST OF THE REPRESENTATIONS WAS IN SUPPORT OF THE DRAFT REGULATIONS, THERE IS NATURALLY CONCERN AMONG INDUSTRIALISTS ABOUT THE COST IMPLICATIONS EVEN THOUGH THE EFFECT OF CONTROLS ON EXISTING INDUSTRIES WILL BE MINIMAL,+ HE SAID.
/THE SPOKESMAN