The Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2000
© Crown Copyright 2000 All Crown copyrights are reserved. The text is reproducible in all media
and formats and without restriction provided that the text is reproduced
accurately; is not used in a misleading manner; and is accompanied by the
following acknowledgement:
Crown copyright 2000
It should be noted that the right to reproduce the text of Statutory Instruments does not extend to the Royal Arms and the Queen's Printer imprints. The text of this Internet version of the Statutory Instrument has been prepared to reflect the text as it was Made. The authoritative version is the Queen's Printer copy published by The Stationery Office Limited as the The Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2000, ISBN 0 11 085901 4, £3.50 sterling. For details of how to obtain an official copy see How to obtain The Stationery Office Limited titles. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ENGLAND The Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2000
ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS
SCHEDULES
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in exercise of the powers conferred on him 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 all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations: Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation
(2) These Regulations extend to England 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
(b) land which is contaminated land by reason of waste acid tars in, on or under the land; (c) land on which any of the following activities have been carried
on at any time-
(ii) the manufacture or processing of explosives;
(e) land within a nuclear site; (f) land owned or occupied by or on behalf of-
(ii) the Defence Council; (iii) an international headquarters or defence organisation; or (iv) the service authority of a visiting force,
(g) land on which the manufacture, production or disposal of-
(ii) any biological agent or toxin which falls within section 1(1)(a) of the Biological Weapons Act 1974 (restriction on development of biological agents and toxins)[2]; or (iii) any weapon, equipment or means of delivery which falls within
section 1(1)(b) of that Act (restriction on development of biological weapons),
has been carried on at any time;
(i) land to which section 30 of the Armed Forces Act 1996 (land held for the benefit of Greenwich Hospital)[4] applies; and (j) land which-
(ii) is contaminated land by virtue of substances which appear to
have escaped from land of such a description.
(b) were produced as a result of the refining of benzole, used lubricants or petroleum; and (c) are or were stored on land used as a retention basin for the
disposal of such tars.
(4) In paragraph (1)(e) above, "nuclear site"
means-
(b) any site in respect of which, or part of which, after the revocation
or surrender of a nuclear site licence, the period of responsibility of
the licensee has not come to an end;
(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-
Pollution of controlled waters
(b) controlled waters are being affected by the land and, as a result, those waters do not meet or are not likely to meet the criterion for classification applying to the relevant description of waters specified in regulations made under section 82 of the Water Resources Act 1991 (classification of quality of waters)[12]; or (c) controlled waters are being affected by the land and-
(ii) the waters, or any part of the waters, are contained within
underground strata which comprise wholly or partly any of the formations
of rocks listed in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to these Regulations.
4. - (1) A remediation notice shall state (in addition to the matters required by section 78E(1) and (3))-
(b) the location and extent of the contaminated land to which the notice relates (in this regulation referred to as the "contaminated land in question"), sufficient to enable it to be identified whether by reference to a plan or otherwise; (c) the date of any notice which was given under section 78B to the person on whom the remediation notice is served identifying the contaminated land in question as contaminated land; (d) whether the enforcing authority considers the person on whom
the notice is served is an appropriate person by reason of-
(ii) being the owner of the contaminated land in question; or (iii) being the occupier of the contaminated land in question;
(f) the substances by reason of which the contaminated land in question is contaminated land and, if any of the substances have escaped from other land, the location of that other land; (g) the enforcing authority's reasons for its decisions as to the things by way of remediation that the appropriate person is required to do, which shall show how any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 78E(5) has been applied; (h) where two or more persons are appropriate persons in relation
to the contaminated land in question-
(ii) the name and address of each such person; and (iii) the thing by way of remediation for which each such person
bears responsibility;
(j) where the remediation notice is required by section 78E(3) to state the proportion of the cost of a thing which is to be done by way of remediation which each of the appropriate persons in relation to that thing is liable to bear, the enforcing authority's reasons for the proportion which it has determined, which shall show how any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 78F(7) has been applied; (k) where known to the enforcing authority, the name and address
of-
(ii) any person who appears to the enforcing authority to be in occupation
of the whole or any part of the contaminated land in question;
(m) where the notice is to be served in reliance on section 78H(4), that 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 the land, that there is imminent danger of serious harm, or serious pollution of controlled waters, being caused; (n) that a person on whom a remediation notice is served may be guilty of an offence[13] for failure, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any of the requirements of the notice; (o) the penalties which may be applied on conviction for such an offence[14]; (p) the name and address of the enforcing authority serving the notice; and (q) the date of the notice.
(b) how, within what period and on what grounds an appeal may be made; and (c) that a notice is suspended, where an appeal is duly made, until
the final determination or abandonment of the appeal.
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-
(b) any person who was required to be consulted under section 78H(1) before service of the notice; (c) where the local authority is the enforcing authority, the Environment Agency; and (d) where the Environment Agency is the enforcing authority, the
local authority in whose area the contaminated land in question is situated.
Compensation for rights of entry etc.
(b) for prescribing the manner in which, and the person to whom, such an application may be made; and (c) for prescribing the manner in which the amount of such compensation
shall be determined and for making further provision relating to such compensation.
7. - (1) The grounds of appeal against a remediation notice under section 78L(1) are any of the following-
(ii) whether by reason of such a failure or otherwise, unreasonably
identified all or any of the land to which the notice relates as contaminated
land;
(ii) whether by reason of such a failure or otherwise, unreasonably
required the appellant to do any thing by way of remediation;
(d) subject to paragraph (2) below, that the enforcing authority unreasonably failed to determine that some person in addition to the appellant is an appropriate person in relation to any thing required by the notice to be done by way of remediation; (e) that, in respect of any thing required by the notice to be done by way of remediation, the enforcing authority failed to act in accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 78F(6); (f) that, where two or more persons are appropriate persons in relation
to any thing required by the notice to be done by way of remediation, the
enforcing authority-
(ii) whether, by reason of such a failure or otherwise, unreasonably
determined the proportion of the cost that the appellant is to bear;
(h) that, where the notice was served in reliance on section 78H(4) without compliance with section 78H(1) or (3), the enforcing authority could not reasonably have taken the view that the contaminated land in question was in such a condition by reason of substances in, on or under the land, that there was imminent danger of serious harm, or serious pollution of controlled waters, being caused; (i) that the enforcing authority has unreasonably failed to be satisfied, in accordance with section 78H(5)(b), that appropriate things are being, or will be, done by way of remediation without service of a notice; (j) that any thing required by the notice to be done by way of remediation was required in contravention of a provision of section 78J (restrictions on liability relating to the pollution of controlled waters); (k) that any thing required by the notice to be done by way of remediation was required in contravention of a provision of section 78K (liability in respect of contaminating substances which escape to other land); (l) that the enforcing authority itself has power, in a case falling within section 78N(3)(b), to do what is appropriate by way of remediation; (m) that the enforcing authority itself has power, in a case falling within section 78N(3)(e), to do what is appropriate by way of remediation; (n) that the enforcing authority, in considering for the purposes
of section 78N(3)(e), whether it would seek to recover all or a portion
of the cost incurred by it in doing some particular thing by way of remediation-
(ii) whether by reason of such a failure or otherwise, unreasonably
determined that it would decide to seek to recover all of the cost;
(p) that a period specified in the notice within which the appellant is required to do anything is not reasonably sufficient for the purpose; (q) that the notice provides for a person acting in a relevant capacity[15] to be personally liable to bear the whole or part of the cost of doing any thing by way of remediation, contrary to the provisions of section 78X(3)(a); (r) that service of the notice contravened a provision of section
78YB (interaction of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
with other enactments), and-
(ii) in a case where subsection (3) of section 78YB is relied on,
that it ought reasonably to have appeared to the enforcing authority that
the powers of a waste regulation authority or waste collection authority
under section 59 might be exercised; or
(b) the notice is served on him as the owner or occupier for the time being of the contaminated land in question and he claims to have found some other person who is an appropriate person by virtue of that subsection; or (c) the notice is served on him as the owner or occupier for the
time being of the contaminated land in question, and he claims that some
other person is also an owner or occupier for the time being of the whole
or part of that land.
Appeals to a magistrates' court
(2) An appellant shall, at the same time as he
makes a complaint,-
(ii) any person named in the remediation notice as an appropriate person; (iii) any person named in the notice of appeal as an appropriate person; and (iv) any person named in the remediation notice as the owner or occupier
of the whole or any part of the land to which the notice relates;
(c) file a statement of the names and addresses of any persons falling
within paragraph (ii), (iii) or (iv) of sub-paragraph (a) above.
(4) On an appeal under section 78L(1) to a magistrates'
court-
(ii) the service of documents; (iii) the submission of evidence; and (iv) the order of speeches;
(c) the court may refuse to grant a request by the appellant to abandon
his appeal against a remediation notice, where the request is made after
the court has notified the appellant in accordance with regulation 12(1)
of a proposed modification of that notice.
(6) In this regulation, "file" means deposit with the justices' clerk. Appeals to the Secretary of State
(b) the grounds on which the appeal is made; and (c) whether the appellant wishes the appeal to be in the form of
a hearing or to be disposed of on the basis of written representations.
(ii) any person named in the remediation notice as an appropriate person; (iii) any person named in the notice of appeal as an appropriate person; and (iv) any person named in the remediation notice as the owner or occupier
of the whole or any part of the land to which the notice relates;
(b) serve a copy of the remediation notice to which the appeal relates
on the Secretary of State and on any person named in the notice of appeal
as an appropriate person who is not so named in the remediation notice.
(4) The Secretary of State 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 Secretary of State at any time after the Secretary of State has notified the appellant in accordance with regulation 12(1) of a proposed modification of that notice. (5) Where an appeal is abandoned, the Secretary of State 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
(b) cause a local inquiry to be held,
(2) The persons entitled to be heard at a hearing
are-
(b) the Environment Agency; and (c) any person (other than the Agency) on whom the appellant was
required to serve a copy of the notice of appeal.
(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 Secretary of State to delegate his functions of determining appeals) to determine the appeal, make a report in writing to the Secretary of State which shall include his conclusions and his recommendations or his reasons for not making any recommendations. Notification of Secretary of State's decision on an appeal
(2) The Secretary of State shall, at the same time as he 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
(b) permit any persons so notified to make representations in relation to the proposed modification; and (c) permit the appellant or any other person on whom the remediation
notice was served to be heard if any such person so requests.
Appeals to the High Court
Suspension of a remediation notice
(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)[18] 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 Secretary of State) have been complied with. Registers
(b) other matters in respect of which such a register shall contain
prescribed particulars pursuant to section 78R(1)(l).
(b) the name and address of the person who it is claimed has done each of the things by way of remediation; (c) a description of any thing which it is claimed has been done by way of remediation; and (d) the period within which it is claimed each such thing was done.
(b) where the enforcing authority is the Environment Agency, its
office for the area in which the contaminated land in question is situated.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State
Michael Meacher
2nd February 2000
SCHEDULE 1 SPECIAL SITES
1. The following families and groups of substances are listed for the purposes of regulation 3(c)(i)- organohalogen compounds and substances which may form such compounds in the aquatic environment; organophosphorus compounds; organotin compounds; substances which possess carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic properties in or via the aquatic environment; mercury and its compounds; cadmium and its compounds; mineral oil and other hydrocarbons; cyanides. 2. The following formations of rocks are listed for the purposes of regulation 3(c)(ii)- Pleistocene Norwich Crag; Upper Cretaceous Chalk; Lower Cretaceous Sandstones; Upper Jurassic Corallian; Middle Jurassic Limestones; Lower Jurassic Cotteswold Sands; Permo-Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group; Upper Permian Magnesian Limestone; Lower Permian Penrith Sandstone; Lower Permian Collyhurst Sandstone; Lower Permian Basal Breccias, Conglomerates and Sandstones; Lower Carboniferous Limestones.
SCHEDULE 2 COMPENSATION FOR RIGHTS OF ENTRY ETC.
Interpretation
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-
(b) where an appeal is made against a remediation notice in respect of which the rights in question have been granted, and the notice is of no effect by virtue of regulation 14, twelve months after the date of the final determination or abandonment of the appeal; or (c) six months after the date on which the rights were first exercised.
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-
(b) a description of the exact nature of any interest in land in respect of which compensation is applied for; and (c) a statement of the amount of compensation applied for, distinguishing
the amounts applied for under each of sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of paragraph
4 below, and showing how the amount applied for under each sub-paragraph
has been calculated.
4. Subject to paragraph 5(3) and (5)(b) below, compensation is payable under section 78G for loss and damage of the following descriptions-
(b) depreciation in the value of any other interest in land to which the grantor is entitled which results from the exercise of the rights; (c) loss or damage, in relation to any relevant interest to which
the grantor is entitled, which-
(ii) does not consist of depreciation in the value of that interest; and (iii) is loss or damage for which he would have been entitled to
compensation by way of compensation for disturbance, if that interest had
been acquired compulsorily under the Acquisition of Land Act 1981[20]
in pursuance of a notice to treat served on the date on which the rights
were granted;
(e) loss in respect of work carried out by or on behalf of the grantor
which is rendered abortive by the grant of the rights or the exercise of
them.
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-
(b) no compensation shall be payable in respect of the interest of
the mortgagee (as distinct from the interest which is subject to the mortgage).
Payment of compensation and determination of disputes
(2) Amounts of compensation determined under this
Schedule shall be payable-
(b) where the appropriate person and the grantor or mortgagee agree that payment is to be made in instalments at different dates, on the date agreed as regards each instalment; and (c) in any other case, subject to any direction of the Lands Tribunal
or the court, as soon as reasonably practicable after the amount of the
compensation has been finally determined.
(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-
(b) references in section 4 of that Act to the acquiring authority
were references to the appropriate person.
SCHEDULE 3 REGISTERS
A register maintained by an enforcing authority under section 78R shall contain full particulars of the following matters- Remediation notices
(b) the location and extent of the contaminated land to which the notice relates (in this paragraph referred to as the "contaminated land in question"), sufficient to enable it to be identified whether by reference to a plan or otherwise; (c) the significant harm or pollution of controlled waters by reason of which the contaminated land in question is contaminated land; (d) the substances by reason of which the contaminated land in question is contaminated land and, if any of the substances have escaped from other land, the location of that other land; (e) the current use of the contaminated land in question; (f) what each appropriate person is to do by way of remediation and the periods within which they are required to do each of the things; and (g) the date of the notice.
2. Any appeal against a remediation notice served by the authority. 3. Any decision on such an appeal. Remediation declarations
5. In relation to any such remediation declaration-
(b) the matters referred to in sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of
paragraph 1 above.
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-
(b) the matters referred to in sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of
paragraph 1 above.
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
(b) the provisions of regulation 2 or 3 by virtue of which the land is required to be designated as a special site; (c) any notice given by the Environment Agency under section 78Q(1)(a) of its decision to adopt a remediation notice; and (d) any notice given by or to the enforcing authority under section
78Q(4) terminating the designation of any land as a special site.
11. Any notification given to the authority for the purposes of section 78R(1)(h) or (j). Convictions for offences under section 78M
Guidance issued under section 78V(1)
Other environmental controls
(b) the matters referred to in sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of paragraph 1 above; and (c) any steps of which the authority has knowledge, carried out under
section 27, towards remedying any significant harm or pollution of controlled
waters by reason of which the land in question is contaminated land.
(b) the matters referred to in sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of paragraph 1 above; and (c) any steps of which the authority has knowledge, carried out under
section 59, in relation to that waste or the consequences of its deposit,
including in a case where a waste collection authority (within the meaning
of section 30(3)) took those steps or required the steps to be taken, the
name of that authority.
(b) the location and extent of the contaminated land in question, sufficient to enable it to be identified whether by reference to a plan or otherwise; and (c) the matters referred to in sub-paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of
paragraph 1 above.
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which extend to England 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 the Land Quality Team, Marine, Land and Liability Division, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Zone 3/B4, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE.
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 Secretary of State can exercise the powers under these sections only in relation to England; see article 2 of and Schedule 1 to the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672) and section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46).back [2] 1974 c. 6.back [3] 1991 c. 46.back [4] 1996 c. 46.back [5] See section 1.back [6] 1965 c. 57.back [7] 1964 c. 5.back [8] 1952 c. 67.back [9] 1996 c. 6.back [10] See section 78A(8) for the meaning of "affected by".back [11] 1991 c. 56.back [12] 1991 c. 57.back [13] Section 78M(1).back [14] Section 78M(1) and (3).back [15] For the definition of "person acting in a relevant capacity " see section 78X(4).back [16] 1980 c. 43.back [17] S.I. 1991/1991 (L.32).back [18] The period specified in section 78L(1) is the period of twenty-one days beginning with the day on which the notice is served.back [19] 1961 c. 33 (9 & 10 Eliz. 2).back [20] 1981 c. 67.back [21] 1991 c. 57.back
ISBN 0 11 085901 4 |