XN000022-1986-07-28 — Page 2

MONDAY, JULY 28, 1986

EPCOM MEETS UNDER NEW CHAIRMAN

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MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM), MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME UNDER THE NEW CHAIRMAN, DR DAVID J. JOHNS, TODAY (MONDAY) SET THE PRIORITIES FOR WORK IN THE POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMME FOR THE COMING YEAR.

THEY NOTED A WORK PROGRAMME COVERING A RANGE OF SUBJECTS IN THE FIELDS OF AIR, NOISE, WATER AND SOLID WASTE POLLUTION.

PRIORITIES IN THE AREA OF WATER POLLUTION CONTROL INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE WATER QUALITY IN TOLO HARBOUR AND THE DRAWING UP OF AN APPROPRIATE ACTION PLAN IN THE LIGHT OF THE FINDINGS OF THE REVIEW A REVIEW OF POLLUTED NULLAHS AND DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE CONTROL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE.

IN WASTE MANAGEMENT, CONTROL OF POLLUTION CAUSED BY ANIMAL WASTES IS HIGH ON THE LIST, FOLLOWED BY PROPOSED MEASURES TO CONTROL TOXIC. HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT WASTES.

AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OVERALL REFUSE DISPOSAL STRATEGY,

AIR QUALITY PRIORITIES INCLUDE CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY ON PROPOSED CONTROL OF SPECIFIED PROCESSES UNDER THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE AND SUBSEQUENT IMPLEMENTATION: THE DECLARATION OF AIR CONTROL ZONES AND AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES; AND CONTROL OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND VEHICULAR EMISSIONS.

REGARDING NOISE POLLUTION, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE TODAY EXPRESSED THE IR VIEWS ON THE DRAFT NOISE CONTROL BILL WHICH DEALS WITH NOISE FROM DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PREMISES, PUBLIC PLACES AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE CONTROL OF NOISE POLLUTION AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF EXISTING CONTROLS.

MEMBERS OF EPCOM WILL DECIDE AT THE NEXT MEETING WHETHER TO RECOMMEND PUBLICATION OF THE DRAFT BILL FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION PRIOR TO ITS FORMAL SUBMISSION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MEMBERS ALSO STUDIED A PROGRESS REPORT PREPARED BY THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE WORKING PARTY ON FLOATING REFUSE.

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