ENG-1978 — Page 282

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The Environment

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THE drafting of new environmental protection legislation and the strengthening of organisations responsible for pollution control moved ahead in 1978. This was the result of recommendations made in late 1977 by environmental consultants engaged by the government.

Proposals suggested by the consultants and amended by then Advisory Committee on Environmental Pollution were agreed to by the Governor in Council in early 1978. Plans were subsequently drawn up to give more power to existing pollution control agencies and to establish new agencies where necessary. Consultations with industry on the new legislative proposals were held simultaneously to ensure that the proposals would be practicable.

Central Pollution Control

The Environment Branch, a policy-making and co-ordinating body within the Govern- ment Secretariat, is responsible for pollution control, countryside conservation, urban services, land development, land administration and transport matters.

Attached to the Environment Branch is the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU), a professional agency which is responsible to the Secretary for the Environment for overall policy development in the pollution control field. This includes: formulating the pollution control programme by identifying priorities and assessing the cost- benefits of alternative policy strategies; establishing objectives for environmental quality; assessing the effectiveness of policies in practice; and the long-term trend monitoring of pollutant concentrations which will provide the essential data-base for policy development.

Other duties include providing expert input on environmental planning and on the selection of suitable sites for large-scale development projects, the vetting of environmental impact statements, and the provision of technical guidance to depart- mental control units in difficult cases.

The posts comprising the nucleus of the Environmental Protection Unit were filled during 1978. Environmental protection officers for water pollution and air pollution arrived in April, the environmental protection officer for noise and vibration arrived in August, and the environmental protection officer for solid waste was in his post by September. These officers work to the head of the unit, the Environmental Protec- tion Adviser. Recruitment of staff for the unit will continue over the next three years so that it can be brought up to strength to undertake investigational and monitoring work, essential for policy development.