Part IIAContaminated Land
23 provisions
- EPA 1990 s. 78A Definitions for contaminated land Defines key terms for Part IIA EPA 1990: contaminated land, special site, harm, remediation. Local authorities use Secretary of State guidance.
- EPA 1990 s. 78B Duty to inspect for contaminated land Local authority inspects area for contaminated land; notifies Agency, owner, occupier, appropriate person. Must follow Secretary of State guidance.
- EPA 1990 s. 78C Designation of special sites Process for local authorities to designate contaminated land as special site under EPA 1990 s. 78C, with 21-day notice period and Agency advice requirements.
- EPA 1990 s. 78D Referral of special site decisions If the appropriate Agency objects within 21 days to a local authority's special site decision, the authority must refer it to the Secretary of State.
- EPA 1990 s. 78E Remediation notices for contaminated land Enforcing authorities must serve remediation notices on appropriate persons for contaminated land, specifying required actions, deadlines, and cost proportions.
- EPA 1990 s. 78F Determination of appropriate person Determines who must pay for contaminated land cleanup: the person who caused or knowingly permitted the pollution, or if none found, the current owner/occupier.
- EPA 1990 s. 78G Grant of rights of entry for remediation Landowners must grant rights of entry for remediation under a notice; they get compensation. Authority must consult before serving, except in imminent danger.
- EPA 1990 s. 78H Remediation notice restrictions under EPA 1990 s. 78H limits remediation notices: forcing consultation and a three-month pause unless imminent danger of serious harm or water pollution exists.
- EPA 1990 s. 78J Water pollution liability limits EPA 1990 s. 78J limits remediation notices for water pollution on Class B persons and pre-31st December 1999 abandoned mine water discharges.
- EPA 1990 s. 78K Liability for escaping contaminants You are liable for contaminants you caused or knowingly permitted to escape. Innocent owners of receiving land need not remediate unless they caused the escape.
- EPA 1990 s. 78L Appeals against remediation notices A person served a remediation notice under EPA 1990 has 21 days to appeal. Appellate authority must quash if material defect, else may confirm or quash.
- EPA 1990 s. 78M Failure to Comply with Remediation Notice Failing to obey a remediation notice is an offence under EPA 1990 s. 78M, punishable by fines up to £20,000 for commercial land or level 5 fines.
- EPA 1990 s. 78N Enforcing authority's remediation powers EPA 1990 s. 78N lets enforcing authority remediate itself in six cases: prevent imminent serious harm, after agreement, on notice failure, etc.
- EPA 1990 s. 78P Remediation cost recovery & charges Authorities recovering remediation costs must consider hardship and guidance. Charging notices bear interest and form land charges in 21 days.
- EPA 1990 s. 78Q Special site adoption and inspection Details how the appropriate Agency adopts existing remediation notices if contaminated land becomes a special site under EPA 1990 s. 78Q.
- EPA 1990 s. 78R Registers of contaminated land Public register of remediation notices, appeals, statements etc. – required by EPA 1990 s. 78R, with exceptions for national security and confidential info.
- EPA 1990 s. 78S National security exclusion from registers Allows Secretary of State to exclude info from registers for national security, direct enforcing authorities, and accept notifications from individuals.
- EPA 1990 s. 78T Commercial confidentiality on registers EPA 1990 s. 78T lets businesses exclude commercially confidential data from contaminated land registers. Exclusions last four years; appeals allow 21 days.
- EPA 1990 s. 78U Reports on contaminated land state EPA 1990 s. 78U: Agency must publish reports on contaminated land state in England, Wales, Scotland; local authorities must supply info on request.
- EPA 1990 s. 78V Site-specific guidance by Agency Site-specific guidance by agency: authorities must have regard, but disregard if inconsistent with Secretary of State guidance.
- EPA 1990 s. 78W Agency duty to consider guidance EPA 1990 s. 78W empowers the Secretary of State to issue guidance to the Agency on contaminated land powers, which the Agency must consider.
- EPA 1990 s. 78X Combined sites, adjacent land, liability – EPA 1990 s.78X Combined contaminated sites treated individually; authority can act on adjacent land; insolvency practitioners not personally liable unless unreasonable.
- EPA 1990 s. 78Y Application to Isles of Scilly EPA 1990 s. 78Y excludes Isles of Scilly from Part IIA unless Secretary of State orders otherwise after consulting Council, with modifications.