Land Contamination: Technical Guidance on Special Sites: Acid Tar ...

1. INTRODUCTION1.1 BackgroundThis report is one of a series of technical guidance documents relating to Special Sites that arepart of the statutory regime for contaminated land introduced by the implementation of s.57 ofthe Environment Act 1995 that added Part IIA into the 1990 Environmental Protection Act(EPA 1990). The application of this primary legislation is via the Contaminated <strong>Land</strong>(England) Regulations 2000 and the accompanying DETR Circular 02/2000.This report provides technical information relevant to acid tar lagoons.Within the Contaminated <strong>Land</strong> (England) Regulations 2000 this category of Special Site isdefined as:−land which is contaminated land by reason of waste acid tars in, on or under the land.For the purposes of this definition, “waste acid tars” are tars which contain sulphuricacid, were produced as a result of the refining of benzole, used lubricants orpetroleum and are or were stored on land used as a retention basin for the disposal ofsuch tars.This report serves as a supplement to, and should be used in conjunction with, the followingEnvironment Agency documents to provide supporting information relevant to the discharge ofEnvironment Agency responsibilities for Special Sites:• Part IIA EPA 1990 Process Documentation ; and• DETR/Environment Agency. CLR11. Model Procedures for the Management ofContaminated <strong>Land</strong> (in preparation).In addition, the reader is directed to other documents published by the Environment Agency,the DETR and others in the references and bibliography section of this report.1.2 The Role of the Environment Agency in Relation to Special SitesFull details of Environment Agency regulatory roles, responsibilities and procedures fordealing with Special Sites are provided in the Part IIA process documentation, and only abrief overview is included here.The principal regulators for Part IIA (EPA 1990) are Local Authorities. The EnvironmentAgency has an important complementary regulatory role with specific responsibilitiesincluding the provision of information and advice, and acting as enforcing authority inrelation to Special Sites.Local Authorities are responsible for identifying land in their areas which meets the statutorydefinition of contaminated land under Part IIA (EPA 1990). In doing so, Local Authoritieswill seek information from the Environment Agency, and advice in respect of pollution ofcontrolled waters. Part IIA (EPA 1990) provides for certain land that meets the definition ofR&D <strong>Technical</strong> Report P5-042/TR/04 1