제 목 : Pollution incidents on the up
일 자 : 1996년 02월
제공처 : SAFETY management
The number of pollution incidents involving the largest and most
complex industrial processes in England and Wales rose by 22 percent
since last April, with the number of processes involved also rising by
over a third.
In total, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP) investigated
751 pollution incidents between April 1995 and September 1995 - an
increase of over a fifth on the number of incidents in the corresponding
period in 1994/95.
According to figures published in HMIP's Quarterly Report, the number
of processes involved was also up by 35 per cent - from 241 in the first
half of last year to 325 in the first half of 1995/96.
The report comes as the advisory committee set up in July 1994 to
examine the efficiency and effectiveness of HMIP has called on the
Increase in reported pollution incidents.
'We note with some concern that there has been a recent increase in
the number of confirmed incidents and the number of regulated processes
involved in such incidents,' concludes the five - strong independent
committee in its Final Report.
'We recommend that HMIP should analyse these reports and the reasons
behind them.'
HMIP has now begun an investigation into the circumstances of
pollution incidents, the results of which will be published later this
year.
Despite a number of recommendations, however, the report concludes
that 'overall, HMIP enjoys a positive, responsive relationship with
industry and the public, and is reasonably effective in explaining its
role and promoting its approach to stakeholders.'
Commenting on the report, HMIP Chief Inspector Allan Duncan said that
the Inspectorate had 'already put in place a set of actions to help
deliver the objectives' set out in the report.
HMIP's Quarterly Report is available free from HMIP on (Tel) 0171 276
8061
He added : 'The report will prove a very useful tool in guiding the
transfer of the pollution regulation function into the Environment
Agency.'
Commenting on the increase in pollution incidents, a spokesman for
HMIP said that the Inspectorate was 'unclear' Why there had been an
increase in both confirmed incidents and the number of processes
involved.
However, he added that 'the public are far more aware now of what we
[HMIP] are doing.
'We think that this is one of the reasons for the increased number of
reported incidents.'
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