Environment Law Bulletin - Institute of Environmental Management ...

“The report is likely to be a precursor to a white paperto be released later in 2003, covering the futuredevelopment of the aviation industry in the UK overthe next 30 years.”considering the most effective economicinstruments to reduce the impact of theaviation industry on the environment. Thereport provides estimates of aviation’sexternal environment costs including itscontribution to greenhouse gases in theatmosphere and local air and noise pollution.The report is likely to be a precursor toa white paper to be released later in 2003,covering the future development of theaviation industry in the UK over the next 30years. This will include the Government’sdecision on airport development and environmentalframework aimed at ensuringthat air transport in the UK is sustainable.The Government’s current view is thateconomic instruments can be a useful wayto reduce the environmental impact of airtransport by encouraging the use of cleanerand quieter aircraft.(Department for Transport, March 2003)The Department for Transport has reissuedits consultation document seeking views onthe development of air transport in thesouth east of England. The reissue follows aHigh Court decision that it was wrong toexclude the option of developing a newrunway at Gatwick Airport. As a result,although the content is very similar to thefirst consultation document, information isnow included on options for new runwaysat Gatwick. The original consultation periodhad been due to end on 30 November2002 but has now been extended to 30June 2003. The paper is one of six consultationdocuments relating to differentregional areas of the UK.(Department for Transport, February 2003)HedgerowsThe Government is consulting on reformingthe legislation relating to hedgerows. Anew draft guide relating to the law andgood practice for amendments to theHedgerows Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No1160) has been published. The Regulationscontain the criteria for determiningwhether a hedgerow is ‘important’. Localplanning authorities can order the retentionof such hedgerows, although they are notrequired to legally do so. However, underthe Regulations most countrysidehedgerows cannot be removed without firstnotifying the local planning authority. Areview of the Regulations began in May1997 on how the system of hedgerowprotection might be strengthened. In particularit considered whether the localauthority should be given more time torespond to hedgerow removal notices andhow the definition of important hedgerowsmight be improved. The new proposals inthe consultation document include newpowers to allow local planning authoritiesto prevent the removal of certainhedgerows that form an essential part ofan area. These were identified by theCountryside Agency in 1999. DEFRA is alsoattempting to make the practical applicationof the Regulations more simple byproposing to relax the requirement for sitevisits by inspectors. Responses to theconsultation paper must reach DEFRA by18 April 2003.(DEFRA, January 2003)EMASThe EA has announced that a chemicalcompany has been suspended from theEco-Management and Audit Scheme(EMAS), the voluntary EU environmentalmanagement system introduced byRegulation 761/2001. The suspensionfollows an unauthorised release of aharmful solvent. An investigation by the EArevealed that staff had been given noproper training on running the system,which had contributed to the release. Thisis the second occasion on which a UKcompany has been suspended from EMASfor contravening environment regulations.The EA is under a duty to take action toensure that companies’ EMAS registration isremoved when such a breach occurs.(EA News, 7 March 2003)Sustainable consumptionand productionDEFRA has announced the launch of a UKstrategy for Sustainable Consumption andProduction (SCP). The strategy arose fromthe Johannesburg Summit held inSeptember 2002 and will be developed overthe next few months for publication in thesummer of 2003. Containing the steps totake forward commitments made inJohannesburg, it will set out a frameworkfor future action by Government and business.The strategy will be linked to existingand proposed UK and EU policies includingthe Strategy Unit’s report on waste and theEnergy White Paper. While concentrating ontwo major policy areas – energy and waste– the strategy will set out the economic,social and environmental rationale for longterm policy planning to uncouple economicgrowth and environmental degradation.(DEFRA, 6 February 2003)Environment awarenessA survey published by the EA has foundthat there is a general lack of environmentawareness among SMEs. The survey wasconducted across a range of businesssectors which together are responsiblefor up to 80% of pollution incidents. Ofthe 1,175 SMEs surveyed, 86% did not41Environment Law BulletinApril 2003