After wide consultation, Section 57 of the Environment Act 1995 as amended the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by introducing a new sub-section titled Part IIA, specifically regulating for contaminated land and supplemented by other statutory guidance. This current guidance from DEFRA is 04/2012.

Part IIA

In April 2000, Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990 came into force and introduced a new regime for the regulation of contaminated land in England. Part IIA addresses the legacy of land contamination, and its main purpose is to:

• provide an improved system for the identification of land that is posing unacceptable risks to health or the environment
• secure remediation where such risks cannot be controlled by other means

Part IIA aims to identify land affected by contamination that presents an unacceptable risk in its present state. Where land is identified as posing an unacceptable risk, Part IIA tries to ensure that, where possible, work is carried out to make the level of risk acceptable. This would take into account the cost of risk reduction, practical considerations, and the potential benefits. Part IIA is intended to complement other regimes; for example those aimed at preventing new contamination. The government’s intention is that Part IIA will:

• improve the transparency and focus of regulatory controls
• ensure that regulators take a strategic approach to land contamination problems
• increase consistency in regulatory approaches
• provide a more tailored regulatory mechanism, including liability rules that is able to reflect the complexity and range of circumstances found on individual sites

Local authorities regulate part IIA, and the key responsibilities for Chesterfield Borough Council are as follows.

1. prepare an inspection strategy setting out how the authority intends to inspect its area for the purpose of identifying contaminated land

2. determine whether particular areas of land are contaminated land in accordance with the Secretary of State’s guidance

3. decide whether any contaminated land is also required to be designated as a Special Site in consultation with the Environment Agency as appropriate

4. identify and notify owners and occupiers of the land, those who may be liable and the Environment Agency that the land is contaminated land and whether it is a Special Site

5. undertake urgent remediation action where there is imminent danger of serious harm

6. determine who may be liable to bear responsibility for remediation of contaminated land and what proportion of the costs they should bear

7. ensure that appropriate remediation takes place, either by encouraging voluntary action or, unless restrictions apply, by serving a remediation notice on those responsible

8. take further action if remediation is not carried out or is not effective

9. maintain a public register containing details of regulatory action taken under Part IIA and though other means

10. provide information on contaminated land under Part IIA to the Environment Agency to allow preparation of the State of Contaminated Land Report

Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy

(PDF 899 KB)

Further information

If you would like further information please do not hesitate to contact the Environmental Protection Team:

Chesterfield Borough Council
Environmental Services
Town Hall
Rose Hill
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S40 1LP
Phone: 01246 345767
Fax: 01246 345760
Email: pollution@chesterfield.gov.uk