XN000022-1987-05-06 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987

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BILL PROPOSES TO CONTROL OBNOXIOUS INDUSTRIES

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DRAFT REGULATIONS INCLUDING MEASURES TO PREVENT THE DISCHARGE OF NOXIOUS OR OFFENSIVE EMISSIONS, LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR PREMISES USED FOR SPECIFIED PROCESSES, AND A PUBLIC RIGHT OF OBJECTION TO APPLICATIONS FOR LICENCES WERE INTRODUCED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, MR CHAMBERS SAID UNDER THE DRAFT REGULATIONS, PREMISES CURRENTLY USED FOR SPECIFIED PROCESSES WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM LICENSING REQUIREMENTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PLANTS LISTED IN THE THIRD SCHEDULE. ALL OF WHICH HAVE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL FEATURES INCORPORATED INTO THEIR DESIGN AND WHICH WILL THEREFORE BE ABLE TO MEET THE LICENSING STANDARDS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1983 TO REPLACE THE FORMER CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE AND TO ENABLE THE INTRODUCTION OF MEASURES TO CONTROL ALL AIR POLLUTANTS EMITTED FROM STATIONARY SOURCES, INCLUDING A WIDE RANGE OF TOXIC EMISSIONS.

+BES IDES MAKING PROVISION FOR THE ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES CAUSED BY AIR POLLUTION AND THE BANNING OF UNSUITABLE FUELS AND MATERIALS, THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS TO CONTROL 23 CLASSES OF INDUSTRY, KNOWN AS +SPECIFIED PROCESSES+ WHICH ARE LISTED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.

+ IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING DRAFT REGULATIONS TO CONTROL THESE SPECIFIED PROCESSES, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE REQUIRED AMENDMENT IN ORDER TO AMPLIFY OR CLARIFY ITS PROVISIONS.+

+CLAUSES 2(A) AND (B)(1) AMENDS SECTION 14 OF THE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE THAT ONLY CERTAIN DETAILS OF APPLICATIONS FOR LICENCES SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION RATHER THAN THE FULL TEXT OF APPLICATIONS, SO THAT COMMERCIAL SECRETS WILL BE PROTECTED, HE ADDED.

MR CHAMBERS SAID CLAUSE 2(B)(11) AND CLAUSE 3 PROVIDED THAT HEALTH RISKS SHOULD CONSTITUTE LEGITIMATE GROUND FOR AN OBJECTION TO THE GRANT OF A LICENCE FOR A PARTICULAR EMISSION.

+AT PRESENT THE ONLY GROUNDS FOR OBJECTION ARE THAT THE PROCESS WOULD INHIBIT THE ATTAINMENT OR MAINTENANCE OF AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES DECLARED UNDER THE ORDINANCE, MR CHAMBERS SAID,

HE SAID CLAUSES 4, 11 AND 15(A) PROVIDED FOR ANNUAL CHARGES TO MEET THE COST OF SURVEILLANCE FOR LICENSED AND EXEMPTED PREMISES, IN ADDITION TO THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS OF THE LICENSING SYSTEM. THIS PROVISION WILL BRING THIS ORDINANCE INTO LINE WITH THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.