Written question asked by Llew Smith (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 July 2000. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what assessments he has made of the increase in (a) heavy vehicle traffic, (b) vermin and (c) noise levels arising from the operation of a landfill site. - Inc ref to 'The Control of Noise at Surface Mineral Workings', 'The Environmental Effects of Traffic Associated with Minerals Workings' and a consultation draft of Mineral Planning Guidance Note 11, 'Controlling and Mitigating the Environmental Effects of Minerals Extraction in England'.

Answer: Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessments he has made of the increase in (a) heavy vehicle traffic, (b) vermin and (c) noise levels arising from the operation of a landfill site. [129969] Mr. Meacher: The Government have not made such assessments for individual sites. An assessment of the impact of an individual site is made when a development planning application is made. The Government have published two relevant studies. "The Control of Noise at Surface Mineral Workings" was in 1990, and "The Environmental Effects of Traffic Associated with Minerals Working" in 1998. While they refer to surface mineral workings, the contents are applicable to landfilling. The Department issued in May 2000 a consultation draft of Mineral Planning Guidance Note 11, "Controlling and Mitigating the Environmental Effects of Minerals Extraction in England". This provides guidance on noise, with specific reference to the issue of waste disposal sites. Vermin should be controlled by the operator and regulated by suitable conditions in the waste management licence.

Secondary information