10 February 2011
This section revises the definition of “contaminated land” for the purposes of Part 3 of the 1997 Order. The contaminated land regime now covers substances causing significant harm in, on or under the land and significant pollution of waterways and waters within underground strata in the saturation zone but does not cover those waters in direct contact with the ground or subsoil within the unsaturated zone.
This section provides for an appeal against a remediation notice, issued by either the Department or a council, to be heard by the Planning Appeals Commission. It also provides for an appeal fee to be charged.
This section means that the contaminated land regime cannot be used in circumstances where land has been contaminated by the final deposit of controlled waste and enforcement action can be taken under Regulations 24 and 26(2) of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.