Clause 87 - Control of water from coal mines
Water Bill [Lords]
9:45 am
Ms Candy Atherton (Falmouth and Camborne, Labour)
I beg to move amendment No. 162, in
clause 87, page 102, line 3, at end insert—
'4D Powers of the Authority with respect to any abandoned mine
All the statutory powers conferred on the Authority in respect of coal mine water discharge may at the discretion of the Authority be exercised in respect of any water discharge from any abandoned mine other than a coal mine on payment to the Authority of such fee and subject to such conditions (if any) as the Authority may consider appropriate.'.
I represent a mining area with a heritage of mining. However, we often overlook the fact that not all mines are coal mines. As in coal mining areas, we are faced with a costly legacy as the mines fall into disuse and decay. The amendment seeks to provide the Coal Authority with a permissive power to deal with non-coal mines so that areas such as mine are not overlooked. The problem of pollution from non-coal mines can be serious. In 1992 there was a serious case of pollution at Wheal Jane in Cornwall. The Environment Agency stepped in on that occasion and has worked with the Coal Authority to tackle the problem.
However, there is a distinction to be made between the Agency's role as regulator and the need for remedial action. There is a need for a more concerted approach to tackle pollution from all mines. There are hundreds of small seepages from metal mines in this country that currently have no mechanism for clean-up. There are also problems identifying who is responsible for the pollution. This is where the Coal Authority can step in. It has a history of expertise and a wealth of skills at its disposal. Indeed, the authority has an impressive track record in the hitherto neglected area of environmental work.
Cleaning up pollution from non-coal mines is also a requirement of the water framework directive, so the amendment would help us to meet our requirements under that directive.