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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARY
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 15th FEBRUARY 2011
Question
Can the Minister advise members whether she or her Department have been consulted over the decision of Transport and Technical Services not to conduct any baseline or in-operation screening of residents living near, or workers at, the new Energy from Waste Plant?
Answer
My officers were involved in the evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), submitted by the developer, as part of the planning application process for the Energy from Waste plant (EFW). In addition, they commissioned an independent Health Impact Assessment (HIA). The HIA was undertaken by leading experts at the University of Liverpool. It included a detailed literature review of waste incineration world-wide, numerous public meetings and public telephone surveys on health matters.
Both the EIA and HIA considered the health impact associated with the construction, commissioning and operational phases of the EFW. Based on them my department has concluded that population health surveillance and screening is not necessary
The EIA and HIA processes looked at the existing baseline parameters for ambient (outdoor) air quality and made a considered and robust assessment of the likely impact of the EFW on human health and the environment. This included the stack, fugitive and road transport emissions. The assessments, which were validated with monitoring data, showed that none of the health standards set by the EU are being, or are likely to be breached.
In is important to note that the EFW must operate in accordance with a Waste Management Licence and conform to the EU Waste Incineration Directive which places extensive and significant controls on waste incineration and associated operations.
Whilst my department is entirely satisfied that health surveillance or screening is not required we will, as part of our regulatory obligations, continue to monitor the situation closely.
Health surveillance for employees at the EFW is a matter for the Health and Safety Inspectorate who regulate issues relating to occupational health.