Vol. 515 No. 4
135 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the regulations regarding the reporting of oil spills including domestic tank spillages; and the measures, if any, in place or planned to enforce reporting. [6271/00]
As regards legislation for which my Department is responsible, the principal provisions of relevance are contained in the Water Pollution Acts, 1977 and 1990 and the Waste Management Act, 1996.
The Water Pollution Acts include a general prohibition on entry of polluting matters to waters; powers for local authorities to require measures to be taken to prevent water pollution, and to prevent and abate pollution themselves in certain circumstances; and a requirement that as soon as practicable after the occurrence of an accidental discharge, spillage or deposit of any polluting matter which enters or is likely to enter any waters or a sewer, the person responsible must notify the local authority in whose functional area the discharge, spillage or deposit occurs. Failure to comply with this provision constitutes an offence which is liable to a fine on summary prosecution by the local authority.
Under the Waste Management Act, 1996, a holder of waste is required, without delay, to inform the relevant local authority of any loss, spillage, accident or other development concerning that waste which causes, or is likely to cause, environmental pollution. In the case of waste oils, which are deemed to be hazardous waste, both the local authority and the environmental protection agency must be informed. It is an offence to contravene this requirement.
Enforcement of these provisions is a matter for the authorities concerned.
