Deirdre Clune
Question:20 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the measures in place to control the land spreading of slurry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31017/01]
Written Answers. - Water Supply Contamination.
Primary responsibility for protecting water against pollution arising from the landspreading of agricultural waste rests with the person carrying on the landspreading activity. It is also an offence under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts for a person to cause or permit polluting matter to enter waters, directly or indirectly. It is an offence under the Waste Management Acts for a person to hold, recover or dispose of waste in a manner which causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution. A code of good agricultural practice, issued in 1996 jointly by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, provides clear guidance to farmers in relation to the storage and spreading of slurry and related activities.
Primary responsibility among public authorities for the protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. Powers are available under the Acts to local authorities to serve advice, prevention or warning notices. Some local authorities have made bye-laws to protect water quality against pollution caused by agricultural activities.
The environmental protection agency has relevant powers and duties in the context of its licensing and other functions under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. The EPA's IPC licensing system has been progressively extended in recent years to apply to intensive pig-rearing and poultry-rearing installations.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development promotes good agricultural practice in the context of the REP scheme and the administration of agri-assistance schemes generally.
In the context of ongoing implementation of EU and national waste legislation, I am examining the need for additional, enforceable statutory controls in relation to the recovery of animal manure and related agricultural activities. The recovery of such organic wastes is generally exempted from the licensing requirements of the Waste Management Act, 1996, and is not yet the subject of general statutory provisions which directly address these activities. Draft regulations in preparation in my Department at present will address issues such as the landspreading of slurry, the storage of organic waste and related agricultural activities.
In the context of ongoing implementation of Directive 91/676/EEC – the Nitrates Directive – there is a need to develop and implement action programmes to protect water quality against pollution by agricultural activities, with a primary emphasis on better management of manures and other fertilisers. These action programmes must be implemented in relation to the whole country or to areas designated as ‘vulnerable zones' ie areas where waters are significantly affected by nitrates from agriculture. I will shortly finalise proposals as to the areas to which the directive will be applied.