BAILII is celebrating 24 years of free online access to the law! Would you consider making a contribution?

No donation is too small. If every visitor before 31 December gives just £5, it will have a significant impact on BAILII's ability to continue providing free access to the law.
Thank you very much for your support!



BAILII [Home] [Databases] [World Law] [Multidatabase Search] [Help] [Feedback]

Statutory Instruments made by the National Assembly for Wales


You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Statutory Instruments made by the National Assembly for Wales >> The Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations 2001
URL: http://www.bailii.org/wales/legis/num_reg/2001/20012197e.html

[New search] [Help]



2001 No. 2197 (W.157)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WALES

The Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations 2001

  Made 12th June 2001 
  Coming into force 1st July 2001 


ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

1. Citation, commencement, application and interpretation
2. Land required to be designated as a special site
3. Pollution of controlled waters
4. Content of remediation notices
5. Service of copies of remediation notices
6. Compensation for rights of entry etc
7. Grounds of appeal against a remediation notice
8. Appeals to a magistrates' court
9. Appeals to the National Assembly for Wales
10. Hearings and local inquiries
11. Notification of the decision of the National Assembly's decision on appeal
12. Modification of a remediation notice
13. Appeals to the High Court
14. Suspension of a remediation notice
15. Registers

SCHEDULES

  1. Special sites

  2. Compensation for rights of entry etc

  3. Registers

The National Assembly for Wales makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 78C(8) to (10), 78E(6), 78G(5) and (6), 78L(4) and (5) and 78R(1), (2) and (8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990[
1], and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf:

Citation, commencement, application and interpretation
     1.  - (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations 2001 and shall come into force on 1st July 2001.

    (2) These Regulations apply to Wales only.

    (3) In these Regulations, unless otherwise indicated, any reference to a numbered section is to the section of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which bears that number.

Land required to be designated as a special site
    
2.  - (1) Contaminated land of the following descriptions is prescribed for the purposes of section 78C(8) as land required to be designated as a special site - 

    (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) above, "waste acid tars" are tars which - 

    (3) In paragraph (1)(d) above, "authorisation" and "prescribed process" have the same meaning as in Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (integrated pollution control and air pollution control by local authorities)[4] and the reference to designation for central control is a reference to designation under section 2(4) (which provides for processes to be designated for central or local control).

    (4) In paragraph (1)(e) above, "nuclear site" means - 

and "nuclear site licence", "licensee" and "period of responsibility" have the meaning given by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965[5].

    (5) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(f) above, land used for residential purposes or by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes shall be treated as land used for naval, military or air force purposes only if the land forms part of a base occupied for naval, military or air force purposes.

    (6) In paragraph (1)(f) above - 

    (7) In paragraph (1)(g) above, "chemical weapon" has the same meaning as in subsection (1) of section 1 of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996[8] disregarding subsection (2) of that section.

Pollution of controlled waters
     3. For the purposes of regulation 2(1)(a), this regulation applies to land where - 

Content of remediation notices
     4.  - (1) A remediation notice shall state (in addition to the matters required by section 78E(1) and (3)) - 

    (2) A remediation notice shall explain - 

Service of copies of remediation notices
     5.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, the enforcing authority shall, at the same time as it serves a remediation notice, send a copy of it to each of the following persons, not being a person on whom the notice is to be served - 

    (2) Where it appears to the enforcing authority that the contaminated land in question is in such a condition by reason of substances in, on or under it that there is imminent danger of serious harm, or serious pollution of controlled waters, being caused, the enforcing authority shall send any copies of the notice pursuant to paragraph (1) above as soon as practicable after service of the notice.

Compensation for rights of entry etc.
    
6. Schedule 2 to these Regulations shall have effect - 

Grounds of appeal against a remediation notice
    
7.  - (1) The grounds of appeal against a remediation notice under section 78L(1) are any of the following - 

    (2) A person may only appeal on the ground specified in paragraph (1)(d) above in a case where - 

    (3) If and in so far as an appeal against a remediation notice is based on the ground of some informality, defect or error in, or in connection with, the notice, the appellate authority shall dismiss the appeal if it is satisfied that the informality, defect or error was not a material one.

Appeals to a magistrates' court
     8.  - (1) An appeal under section 78L(1) to a magistrates' court against a remediation notice shall be by way of complaint for an order and, subject to section 78L(2) and (3) and regulations 7(3), 12 and 13, the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980[15] shall apply to the proceedings.

    (2) An appellant shall, at the same time as he makes a complaint, - 

    (3) The notice of appeal shall state the appellant's name and address and the grounds on which the appeal is made.

    (4) On an appeal under section 78L(1) to a magistrates' court - 

    (5) Rule 15 of the Family Proceedings Courts (Matrimonial Proceedings etc.) Rules 1991[16] (delegation by justices' clerk) shall apply for the purposes of an appeal under section 78L(1) to a magistrates' court as it applies for the purposes of Part II of those Rules.

    (6) In this regulation, "file" means deposit with the justices' clerk.

Appeals to the National Assembly for Wales
     9.  - (1) An appeal to the National Assembly for Wales against a remediation notice shall be made to it by a notice ("notice of appeal") which shall state - 

    (2) The appellant shall, at the same time as he serves a notice of appeal on the National Assembly for Wales, - 

    (3) Subject to paragraph (5) below, if the appellant wishes to abandon an appeal, he shall do so by notifying the National Assembly for Wales in writing and the appeal shall be treated as abandoned on the date the National Assembly for Wales receives that notification.

    (4) The National Assembly for Wales may refuse to permit an appellant to abandon his appeal against a remediation notice where the notification by the appellant in accordance with paragraph (3) above is received by the National Assembly for Wales at any time after the National Assembly for Wales has notified the appellant in accordance with regulation 12(1) of a proposed modification of that notice.

    (5) Where an appeal is abandoned, the National Assembly for Wales shall give notice of the abandonment to any person on whom the appellant was required to serve a copy of the notice of appeal.

Hearings and local inquiries
    
10.  - (1) Before determining an appeal, the National Assembly for Wales may, if it thinks fit - 

and the National Assembly for Wales shall act as mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above if a request is made by either the appellant or the Environment Agency to be heard with respect to the appeal.

    (2) The persons entitled to be heard at a hearing are - 

    (3) Nothing in paragraph (2) above shall prevent the person appointed to conduct the hearing of the appeal from permitting any other person to be heard at the hearing and such permission shall not be unreasonably withheld.

    (4) After the conclusion of a hearing, the person appointed to conduct the hearing shall, unless he has been appointed under section 114(1)(a) of the Environment Act 1995 (power of the National Assembly for Wales to delegate its functions of determining appeals) to determine the appeal, make a report in writing to the National Assembly for Wales which shall include his conclusions and his recommendations or his reasons for not making any recommendations.

Notification of National Assembly's decision on appeal
    
11.  - (1) The National Assembly for Wales shall notify the appellant in writing of its decision on an appeal and shall provide him with a copy of any report mentioned in regulation 10(4).

    (2) The National Assembly for Wales shall, at the same time as it notifies the appellant, send a copy of the documents mentioned in paragraph (1) above to the Environment Agency and to any other person on whom the appellant was required to serve a copy of the notice of appeal.

Modification of a remediation notice
    
12.  - (1) Before modifying a remediation notice under section 78L(2)(b) in any respect which would be less favourable to the appellant or any other person on whom the notice was served, the appellate authority shall - 

    (2) Where, in accordance with paragraph (1) above, the appellant or any other person is heard, the enforcing authority shall also be entitled to be heard.

Appeals to the High Court
    
13. An appeal against any decision of a magistrates' court in pursuance of an appeal under section 78L(1) shall lie to the High Court at the instance of any party to the proceedings in which the decision was given (including any person who exercised his entitlement under regulation 8(4)(b) to be heard at the hearing of the complaint).

Suspension of a remediation notice
    
14.  - (1) Where an appeal is duly made against a remediation notice, the notice shall be of no effect pending the final determination or abandonment of the appeal.

    (2) An appeal against a remediation notice is duly made for the purposes of this regulation if it is made within the period specified in section 78L(1)[
17] and the requirements of regulation 8(2) and (3) (in the case of an appeal to a magistrates' court) or regulation 9(1) and (2) (in the case of an appeal to the National Assembly for Wales) have been complied with.

Registers
     15.  - (1) Schedule 3 to these Regulations shall have effect for prescribing - 

    (2) The following descriptions of information are prescribed for the purposes of section 78R(2) as information to be contained in notifications for the purposes of section 78R(1)(h) and (j) - 



Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998[
18].


D. Elis-Thomas
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales

12th June 2001



SCHEDULE 1
Regulation 3(c)


SPECIAL SITES


     1. The following families and groups of substances are listed for the purposes of regulation 3(c)(i) - 

     2. The following formations of rocks are listed for the purposes of regulation 3(c)(ii) - 



SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 6


COMPENSATION FOR RIGHTS OF ENTRY ETC.


Interpretation
     1. In this Schedule - 

Period for making an application
     2. An application for compensation shall be made within the period beginning with the date of the grant of the rights in respect of which compensation is claimed and ending on whichever is the latest of the following dates - 

Manner of making an application
     3.  - (1) An application shall be made in writing and delivered at or sent by pre-paid post to the last known address for correspondence of the appropriate person to whom the rights were granted.

    (2) The application shall contain, or be accompanied by - 

Loss and damage for which compensation payable
     4. Subject to paragraph 5(3) and (5)(b) below, compensation is payable under section 78G for loss and damage of the following descriptions - 

Basis on which compensation assessed
     5.  - (1) The following provisions shall have effect for the purpose of assessing the amount to be paid by way of compensation under section 78G.

    (2) The rules set out in section 5 of the 1961 Act (rules for assessing compensation) shall, so far as applicable and subject to any necessary modifications, have effect for the purpose of assessing any such compensation as they have effect for the purpose of assessing compensation for the compulsory acquisition of an interest in land.

    (3) No account shall be taken of any enhancement of the value of any interest in land, by reason of any building erected, work done or improvement or alteration made on any land in which the grantor is, or was at the time of erection, doing or making, directly or indirectly concerned, if the Lands Tribunal is satisfied that the erection of the building, the doing of the work, the making of the improvement or the alteration was not reasonably necessary and was undertaken with a view to obtaining compensation or increased compensation.

    (4) In calculating the amount of any loss under paragraph 4(e) above, expenditure incurred in the preparation of plans or on other similar preparatory matters shall be taken into account.

    (5) Where the interest in respect of which compensation is to be assessed is subject to a mortgage - 

    (6) Compensation under section 78G shall include an amount equal to the grantor's reasonable valuation and legal expenses.

Payment of compensation and determination of disputes
     6.  - (1) Compensation payable under section 78G in respect of an interest which is subject to a mortgage shall be paid to the mortgagee or, if there is more than one mortgagee, to the first mortgagee and shall, in either case, be applied by him as if it were proceeds of sale.

    (2) Amounts of compensation determined under this Schedule shall be payable - 

    (3) Any question of the application of paragraph 5(3) above or of disputed compensation shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

    (4) In relation to the determination of any such question, sections 2 and 4 of the 1961 Act (procedure on reference to the Lands Tribunal and costs) shall apply as if - 



SCHEDULE 3
Regulation 15


REGISTERS


A register maintained by an enforcing authority under section 78R shall contain full particulars of the following matters - 

Remediation notices
     1. In relation to a remediation notice served by the authority - 

Appeals against remediation notices
     2. Any appeal against a remediation notice served by the authority.

     3. Any decision on such an appeal.

Remediation declarations
     4. Any remediation declaration prepared and published by the enforcing authority under section 78H(6).

     5. In relation to any such remediation declaration - 

Remediation statements
     6. Any remediation statement prepared and published by the responsible person under section 78H(7) or by the enforcing authority under section 78H(9).

     7. In relation to any such remediation statement - 

Appeals against charging notices
     8. In the case of an enforcing authority, any appeal under section 78P(8) against a charging notice served by the authority.

     9. Any decision on such an appeal.

Designation of special sites
     10. In the case of the Environment Agency, as respects any land in relation to which it is the enforcing authority, and in the case of a local authority, as respects any land in its area, - 

Notification of claimed remediation
     11. Any notification given to the authority for the purposes of section 78R(1)(h) or (j).

Convictions for offences under section 78M
     12. Any conviction of a person for any offence under section 78M in relation to a remediation notice served by the authority, including the name of the offender, the date of conviction, the penalty imposed and the name of the Court.

Guidance issued under section 78V(1)
     13. In the case of the Environment Agency, the date of any guidance issued by it under subsection (1) of section 78V and, in the case of a local authority, the date of any guidance issued by the Agency to it under that subsection.

Other environmental controls
     14. Where the authority is precluded by virtue of section 78YB(1) from serving a remediation notice - 

     15. Where the authority is precluded by virtue of section 78YB(3) from serving a remediation notice in respect of land which is contaminated land by reason of the deposit of controlled waste or any consequences of its deposit - 

     16. Where, as a result of a consent given under Chapter II of Part III of the Water Resources Act 1991 (pollution offences)[21], the authority is precluded by virtue of section 78YB(4) from specifying in a remediation notice any particular thing by way of remediation which it would otherwise have specified in such a notice, - 



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note does not form part of the Regulations.)


These Regulations, which apply to Wales only, make provision for certain aspects of a new scheme under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 ("the 1990 Act") for the remediation of contaminated land.

Regulations 2 and 3, and Schedule 1, identify those sites (known as "special sites") for which the Environment Agency is to be the authority responsible for enforcing the scheme. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the scheme in the case of any other type of site.

Regulations 4 and 5 provide for the content and service of copies of "remediation notices", that is, notices served by a local authority or the Environment Agency specifying what is to be done by way of remediation and the time for taking any action.

Regulation 6, and Schedule 2, make provision for the compensation which is to be paid in accordance with section 78G(5) of the 1990 Act to a person who grants, or joins in granting, rights of entry etc. required to enable a person to comply with a remediation notice.

Regulations 7 to 14 make provision with respect to appeals against remediation notices, including the grounds of appeal and the procedure to be followed.

Regulation 15, and Schedule 3, prescribe the particulars of matters which are required under section 78R of the 1990 Act to be placed on a register maintained by local authorities or, in the case of special sites, by the Environment Agency.

A regulatory impact assessment of the effect of these Regulations has been prepared and a copy may be obtained from Environment Division, National Assembly for Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff.


Notes:

[1] 1990 c.43. Sections 78A to 78YC were inserted by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995 (c.25). See the definition of "prescribed" in section 78A(9). The functions of the Secretary of State under these provisions were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales under article 2 of and Schedule 1 to, the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672).back

[2] 1974 c.6.back

[3] 1991 c.46.back

[4] See section 1.back

[5] 1965 c.57.back

[6] 1964 c.5.back

[7] 1952 c.67.back

[8] 1996 c.6.back

[9] See section 78A(8) for the meaning of "affected by".back

[10] 1991 c.56back

[11] 1991 c.57.back

[12] Section 78M(1).back

[13] Section 78M(1) and (3).back

[14] For the definition of "person acting in a relevant capacity" see section 78X(4).back

[15] 1980 c.43.back

[16] S.I. 1991/1991 (L.32).back

[17] The period specified in section 78L(1) is the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served.back

[18] 1998 c.38.back

[19] 1961 c.33.back

[20] 1981 c.67.back

[21] 1991 c.57.back



Cymraeg (Welsh)



ISBN 0 11090307 2


  Prepared 8 August 2001


BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII
URL: http://www.bailii.org/wales/legis/num_reg/2001/20012197e.html