ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (DISPOSAL OF PCBs AND OTHER DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES) (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2000

This legislation translates EC Directive 96/59/EC into Scottish National law. The regulations govern polychlorinated Biphenol (PCB) contaminated material whose volume exceeds 5 dm3 and whose level of contamination is greater than 50ppm by weight. It is an offence to hold such material unless a company operates in the PCB decommissioning industry or if the contaminated equipment is a transformer whose level of PCB contamination is below 500ppm. In all other cases, PCBs and contaminated equipment must be disposed of or decontaminated by 31 December 2000. There are some exemptions to this rule.

It is a requirement of the regulations for all PCB contaminated equipment to be registered with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). Contaminated equipment must be re-registered with SEPA by 31st July each year. Additionally, in certain circumstances, derogations may be issued by SEPA, but only with consent of Scottish Ministers. Derogation will allow some types of equipment to remain in operation until 1st January 2008 at the latest.  

The legislation requires all equipment containing PCBs to be clearly labelled with an inventory of their locations and contents forwarded to SEPA. Failure to comply with this legislation can lead to a fine of up to £5000 in a magistrate's court or an unlimited fine and up to two years imprisonment in a higher court.

Applicability

This legislation is applicable to the Portland site in Irvine only.

The site representative has confirmed that there are no PCBs at any of the sites.

Related Aspects
PCB: Electricial Substation