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The Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (Amendment to Schedule 5) Regulations 2018 / Rheoliadau Deddf Treth Trafodiadau Tir a Gwrthweithio Osgoi Trethi Datganoledig (Cymru) 2017 (Diwygio Atodlen 5) 2018

Link:

The Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (Amendment to Schedule 5) Regulations 2018 / Rheoliadau Deddf Treth Trafodiadau Tir a Gwrthweithio Osgoi Trethi Datganoledig (Cymru) 2017 (Diwygio Atodlen 5) 2018

Source: Legislation .gov.uk

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The Enterprise Act 2002 (Part 9 Restrictions on Disclosure of Information) (Specification) Order 2018

Part 9 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (“the Act”) restricts the disclosure of “specified information” which relates to the affairs of an individual or any business of an undertaking. Specified information is information which comes to a public authority in connection with the exercise of its functions under certain Parts of the Act or under certain other specified legislation (see section 238 of the Act). Section 241(3) of the Act provides that a public authority may disclose specified information to any other person for the purpose of facilitating the exercise of functions that person has under or by virtue of the Act, an enactment specified in Schedule 15, or any subordinate legislation specified for the purposes of section 241(3)(c).

Link: The Enterprise Act 2002 (Part 9 Restrictions on Disclosure of Information) (Specification) Order 2018
Source: Legislation .gov.uk

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Press release: Chemicals disposal investigation: findings published

Sellafield Ltd has today published the findings of an internal investigation into the disposal of potentially hazardous chemicals at our site last year.

In October 2017, a chemicals inventory check in our Analytical Services building identified potentially hazardous chemicals requiring safe disposal.

In line with industry best practice, we requested the assistance of the Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to assist with these disposals.

The EOD disposed of the identified chemicals, along with other potentially hazardous chemicals subsequently identified, using the recognised safest method: controlled detonation on the Sellafield site.

Following the safe conclusion of these operations, we initiated an internal investigation to understand the root causes and recommend steps to improve our future handling of these substances.

The investigation has now concluded. It found the following:

There were 2 root causes:

  1. Our approach to conventional (non-radiological) safety is not always tailored to the risks and hazards of individual facilities
  2. Priority was not given to the disposal of redundant chemicals. This was because they were out of the conscious awareness of the majority of people within Analytical Services

Additional findings:

  • All of the redundant chemicals involved were on our chemical inventory but there was a lack of recognition of the risk associated with their degradation
  • A strong nuclear safety culture resulted in the risk being identified by employees

The investigation proposed recommendations:

  1. A site-wide review of potentially hazardous chemicals identified as requiring non-immediate action following last year’s inventory check. This will clarify who is responsible and will develop and implement a new approach for future chemical disposal.
  2. An external benchmarking exercise to understand best practice for the management of complex chemical inventories.
  3. A review of existing contracts to ensure specialist chemical advice and ongoing support is in place.
  4. A new system for the oversight and control of chemical inventories.

Steve Bostock, Sellafield Ltd chief operating officer, said:

The Sellafield site is home to some of the oldest and most complex risks and hazards anywhere in the world.

It is our responsibility to make sure these hazards are managed in a way that protects our workforce, the local community and the environment.

We take this responsibility very seriously, which is why I initiated an investigation into last year’s chemicals disposal event at the earliest opportunity.

I’m confident we now have a full understanding of the circumstances and an improved approach to the management of chemicals, which will also inform our approach to other potential hazards on our site.

Chemical disposals investigation report

PDF, 28.4KB, 3 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a
version of this document in a more accessible format, please email info@sellafieldsites.com.
Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

For more information, please contact:

Matt Legg: +44 (0) 19467 83566 matt.legg@sellafieldsites.com

Ruth Hutchison: +44 (0)19467 86227 ruth.hutchison@sellafieldsites.com


Link: Press release: Chemicals disposal investigation: findings published
Source: Gov Press Releases

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Press release: Suspended jail term for landowner over illegal landfill site

The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a landowner and two men who blighted 19 acres of Cheshire farm land by dumping and landfilling tens of thousands of tonnes of waste.

Mr Eric Hale of Bank Top Farm near Frodsham was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for 12 months ordered to work 200 hours unpaid and have a curfew of 8pm to 6am for three months after pleading guilty to operating an illegal waste site without an environmental permit and dumping and landfilling controlled waste on the land.

Mr Hale also paid £100,000 in contributions towards the Environment Agency’s costs. Mr Dennis Whiting and Mr Stefan Street each received a Conditional Discharge for two years after pleading guilty to dumping and landfilling controlled waste.

The Environment Agency brought the case against Mr Eric Hale, Mr Dennis Whiting and Mr Stefan Street after a lengthy investigation. The investigation identified that significant amounts of waste were being brought on to the farm, which did not have an environmental permit.

The Environment Agency identified that the operation of the illegal site was closely connected with a waste company Eric Hale Skip Hire Ltd. The prosecution for the Environment Agency stated that the majority of waste collected by the company was illegally dumped and landfilled at Bank Top Farm instead of being taken to a legitimate waste site.

Tracey Rimmer, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

This operation demonstrates how the Environment Agency works in partnership to tackle serious waste crime. We have worked closely with the police and local authorities to pursue these criminals and bring them to justice. Waste crime is a serious issue diverting as much as £1 billion per year from legitimate business and the treasury.

During the course of the investigation Eric Hale, Steffan Street and Dennis Whiting were seen driving large waste vehicles which delivered, deposited and disposed of mixed waste, demolition waste including plasterboard and other waste including carpets and mattresses.

Trommel fines, which are a by-product produced during the recycling process and consist of materials such as wood, aggregate, glass, ceramics and organics, were also dumped at Bank Top Farm. The unregulated deposit of waste has the potential to cause harm to the environment.

The Judge on sentencing said:

Eric Hale was driven by greed to continue the illegal operation.

Also the court did not accept any of the mitigation of the offending put forward but Eric Hale’s substantial personal mitigating circumstances were acknowledged by the court.

If you see waste crime report it by calling our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Waste crime can cause serious pollution to the environment put communities at risk and undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that go with it. You can call the Environment Agency on 0370 850 6506 to find out how to responsibly manage any waste your business produces or visit www.gov.uk/managing-your-waste-an-overview/overview.

Link: Press release: Suspended jail term for landowner over illegal landfill site
Source: Environment Agency