Environmental Protection Act 1990

[F1 78YB Interaction of this Part with other enactments. E+W

[F2 (1) This Part shall not apply if and to the extent that—

(a) any significant harm, or pollution of controlled waters, by reason of which land would otherwise fall to be regarded as contaminated, is attributable to the operation of a regulated facility; and

(b) enforcement action may be taken in relation to that harm or [F3 significant] pollution.]

(3) If, in a case falling within subsection (1) or (7) of section 59 [F4 , section 59ZA(1), 59ZB(1) or (8) or 59ZC(1)] above, the land in question is contaminated land, or becomes such land by reason of the deposit [F5 , keeping or disposal] of the controlled waste in question, a remediation notice shall not be served in respect of that land by reason of that waste or any consequences of its deposit [F5 , keeping or disposal], if and to the extent that it appears to the enforcing authority that the powers of a waste regulation authority or waste collection authority under [F6 section 59, 59ZA, 59ZB or 59ZC (as the case may be)] may be exercised in relation to that waste or the consequences of its deposit [F5 , keeping or disposal].

(4) No remediation notice shall require a person to do anything the effect of which would be to impede or prevent the making of a discharge in pursuance of [F7 an environmental permit] or, in relation to Scotland, in pursuance of a consent given under Part II of the M1 Control of Pollution Act 1974.

[F8 (5) In this section—

• “enforcement action” means action under regulation 36, 37 or 42 of [F9 the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154)] ;

• “regulated facility” has the meaning given in regulation 8 of those Regulations.]]

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 2A (ss. 78A-78YC) inserted (in force at 21.9.1995 for certain purposes only, at 1.4.2000 for E. in so far as not already in force, at 14.7.2000 for S. for certain purposes and otherwise 14.7.2000) by 1995 c. 25, s. 57, (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/1983, art. 3; S.I. 2000/340, art. 2(a); S.S.I. 2000/180, art. 2(1)(a)(2); S.I. 2000/1986, art. 2

F2 S. 78YB(1) substituted (E.W.) (6.4.2008) for s. 78YB(1)-(2C) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3538), reg. 73, Sch. 21 para. 18(a) (with reg. 72, Sch. 4)

F3 Word in s. 78YB(1)(b) inserted (E.W.) (6.4.2012) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 86(7), 105(3); S.I. 2012/264, art. 2; S.I. 2012/284, art. 2

F4 Words in s. 78YB(3) inserted (E.W.) (9.5.2018) by The Waste Enforcement (England and Wales) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/369), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 5(a) (with reg. 4(2))

F5 Words in s. 78YB(3) inserted (E.W.) (9.5.2018) by The Waste Enforcement (England and Wales) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/369), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 5(b) (with reg. 4(2))

F6 Words in s. 78YB(3) substituted (E.W.) (9.5.2018) by The Waste Enforcement (England and Wales) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/369), reg. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 5(c) (with reg. 4(2))

F7 Words in s. 78YB(4) substituted (E.W.) (6.4.2010) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/675), regs. 1(1)(b), 107, Sch. 26 para. 5(10)(a) (with Sch. 4)

F8 S. 78YB(5) inserted (E.W.) (6.4. 2008) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3538), reg. 73, Sch. 21 para. 18(b) (with reg. 72, Sch. 4)

F9 Words in s. 78YB(5) substituted (E.W.) (1.1.2017) by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1154), reg. 1(1), Sch. 29 para. 6(5) (with regs. 1(3), 77-79, Sch. 4)

Marginal Citations

M1 1974 c. 40.

78YB Interaction of this Part with other enactments. S

(1) A remediation notice shall not be served if and to the extent that it appears to the enforcing authority that the powers of the appropriate Agency under section 27 above may be exercised in relation to—

(a) the significant harm (if any), and

(b) the [F10 significant pollution of the water environment] (if any),

by reason of which the contaminated land in question is such land.

[F11 (1A) A remediation notice shall not be served if and to the extent that it appears to the enforcing authority that—

[F12 (a) the significant harm (if any), or the significant harm to the water environment (if any), by reason of which the contaminated land in question is such land, is as a result of any activity to which the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”) apply, and]

[F13 (b) one or more of the following sub-paragraphs apply—

(i) the activity is authorised under the 2018 Regulations,

(ii) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has served, or has advised the enforcing authority that it intends to serve, either a notice under regulation 31 (revocation notice), regulation 46(2) (regulatory notice), or paragraph 14(2) of schedule 1 (surrender notice of the 2018 Regulations requiring steps to be taken to prevent, mitigate or remedy the harm referred to in sub-paragraph (a)),

(iii) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has taken, is taking or has advised the enforcing authority that it intends to take, steps to prevent, mitigate or remedy the harm in question (or has secured, is securing, or has advised the enforcing authority that it intends to secure, the taking of such steps) under regulation 62 (action by SEPA) of the 2018 Regulations,

(iv) an order has been made under regulation 75 (powers of the court to order offence to be remedied) of the 2018 Regulations requiring steps to be taken to remedy or mitigate the harm.]

F14 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F15 (2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16 (2B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (2C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) If, in a case falling within subsection (1) or (7) of section 59 above, the land in question is contaminated land, or becomes such land by reason of the deposit of the controlled waste in question, a remediation notice shall not be served in respect of that land by reason of that waste or any consequences of its deposit, if and to the extent that it appears to the enforcing authority that the powers of a waste regulation authority or waste collection authority under that section may be exercised in relation to that waste or the consequences of its deposit.

F18 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in s. 78YB(1)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.2006) by The Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (S.S.I. 2005/658), regs. 1, 2(11)(a)

F11 S. 78YB(1A) substituted (S.) (8.3.2016) by The Water Environment (Amendment of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Contaminated Land) (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/99), regs. 1, 2

F12 S. 78YB(1A)(a) substituted (S.) (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 2(6)(a) (with sch. 23)

F13 S. 78YB(1A)(b) substituted (S.) (1.11.2025) by The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 2(6)(b) (with sch. 23)

F14 S. 78YB(2) omitted (S.) (1.11.2025) by virtue of The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 2(6)(c) (with sch. 23)

F15 S. 78YB(2A) omitted (S.) (1.11.2025) by virtue of The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 2(6)(c) (with sch. 23)

F16 S. 78YB(2B) omitted (S.) (1.11.2025) by virtue of The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 2(6)(c) (with sch. 23)

F17 S. 78YB(2C) omitted (S.) (1.11.2025) by virtue of The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 2(6)(c) (with sch. 23)

F18 S. 78YB(4) omitted (S.) (1.11.2025) by virtue of The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/165), reg. 1(2), sch. 22 para. 2(6)(c) (with sch. 23)