The Alkali, & c. Works Order (Northern Ireland) 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

The discharge of certain noxious or offensive gases from certain types of works is subject to control under the Alkali, and c. Works Regulation Act 1906 (“the Act of 1906”). Article 25(9) of the Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 empowers the Department to make orders amending or extending both the list of gases and the list of works in the Act of 1906. The existing list of such gases is set out in section 27(1) of that Act, as extended and amended by the Alkali, and c. Works Order (Northern Ireland) 1987, and the existing list of works is set out in the First Schedule to that Act, also as extended and amended by that order. This order further extends and amends both these lists, and revokes the order of 1987.

By virtue of Article 3 and Schedule 1 acrylic acid, glass fibres, isocyanates, mineral fibres, phenols, phosphorus or its compounds, styrene, and fumes containing asbestos, gallium, nickel, platinum, silver, sulphur, tellurium, thallium or tin have been added to the list of noxious or offensive gases for the purposes of section 27(1) of the Act of 1906.

Schedule 2 extends the classes of premises from which emissions into the atmosphere may be controlled under the Act of 1906 to include premises on which certain asbestos works, large combustion works, electricity works above a specified capacity, fibre works, glass works, large paper pulp works and large general purpose incinerators (including those owned and operated by public authorities) are carried on.

This order takes account of Council Directive 84/360/EEC (O.J. No. L188, 16.7.84, p. 20) on the combating of air pollution from industrial plants and Council Directive 87/217/EEC (O.J. No. L85, 28.3.87, p. 40) on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos, and makes certain other provisions for the control of air pollution. Plants belonging to the categories listed in Annex I to Council Directive 84/360/EEC, and certain other plants, which were not previously subject to air pollution control under the provisions of the Act of 1906, are by this order made subject to such control.

Copies of the relevant Directives and of extracts from the Official Journal of the European Communities may be obtained from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 80 Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 4JY.