The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2000

Made: 31st March 2000

Laid before the Scottish Parliament: 31st March 2000

Coming into force: 8th May 2000

The Scottish Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:

PART I — GENERAL

Citation, commencement and extent

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• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on 8th May 2000.

• (2) These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

Interpretation and notices

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• (1) In these Regulations–

• “the 1995 Act” means the Environment Act 1995 ;

• “applicant” means a person who applies for registration under regulation 6;

• “contaminated equipment” means any equipment (including any transformer, capacitor or receptacle containing residual stocks) which–contains PCBs; orhaving contained PCBs, has not been decontaminated,other than one which contains a total volume of PCBs, not exceeding 5 dm3, and for the purposes of this definition–the PCB volume of a power capacitor shall be measured by reference to all of the separate elements of a combined set; andany thing of a type which may contain PCBs shall be treated as containing PCBs unless it is reasonable to assume the contrary;

• “decontamination” means all operations which enable equipment, objects, materials or fluids contaminated by PCBs to be reused, recycled or disposed of under safe conditions, and which may include replacement, meaning all operations in which PCBs are replaced by suitable fluids not containing PCBs;

• ...

• “disposal” means any of the operations D8, D9, D10, D12 (only in safe, deep, underground storage in dry rock formations and only for equipment containing PCBs or used PCBs which cannot be decontaminated) and D15 provided for in Part II of schedule 4 of the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations;

• “holder” means the person who is in possession of PCBs, including any used PCBs or of any equipment;

• “PCBs” means any of the following substances:–polychlorinated biphenyls;polychlorinated terphenyls;monomethyl-dibromo-diphenyl methane;monomethyl-dichloro-diphenyl methane;monomethyl-tetrachlorodiphenyl methane,

• and, except in regulations 4(3A), (3C) and (4), 5(3) and (4), and 9(3), includes any mixture containing any of those substances in a total of more than 0.005% by weight;

• “registered holder” means a person registered with SEPA in accordance with regulation 6, and a registered holder is a registered holder in relation to particular equipment if a description of that equipment, including its location, has been furnished to SEPA;

• “SEPA” means the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, established under section 20 of the 1995 Act;

• “transformer” includes ancillary equipment, that is to say, equipment that is an integral part of the site of which the transformer is part, including radiators, bushings, through-wall bushings, and capacitors on air blast circuit breakers;

• “used PCBs” mean any PCBs which are waste within the meaning of section 75(2)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as read with section 75A of that Act.

• (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (3) Any reference in these Regulations to a numbered regulation is a reference to the regulation so numbered in these Regulations and any reference to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph so numbered in the regulation of which that paragraph forms part.

• (4) Section 123 (service of documents) of the 1995 Act shall apply to any notice required or authorised by these Regulations to be served as it applies to notices required or authorised to be served by that Act.

PART II — HOLDING, LABELLING, DECONTAMINATION AND DISPOSAL

Prohibition on holding without registration

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• (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), no person shall hold any contaminated equipment after 31st July 2000, unless that person is a registered holder of that equipment.

• (2) A person may hold contaminated equipment, notwithstanding that such person is not a registered holder, for the purposes of, or in the course of, any business, manufacturing process or trade concerned with the decontamination or disposal of such equipment.

• (3) A person who applies for registration, in accordance with regulations 6(1) and (2) and 12, no later than 22nd May 2000 but whose application has not been finally determined by 31st July 2000 shall be treated as a being a registered holder until 14 days after his application is finally determined.

• (4) A person who first holds contaminated equipment on or after 8th May 2000 shall be treated as being a registered holder from the date on which that person firstholds such equipment until 14 days after the application by that person for registration is finally determined, if that person applies for registration, in accordance with regulations 6(1) and (2) and 12, no later than 28 days after the date on which that person becomes the holder of contaminated equipment.

• (5) For the purposes of this regulation, an application is finally determined–

• (a) where it is granted under regulation 6(3), on the date on which it is granted;

• (b) where it is refused under regulation 6(3), on the date on which SEPA gives notice under regulation 6(5);

• (c) where it is deemed by regulation 6(6) to be refused–

• (i) where the period allowed for appealing against that refusal under regulation 8(2)(a) expires without an appeal being brought, on the expiry of that period;

• (ii) where an appeal to the Scottish Ministers is taken within that period, on the expiry of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the determination or earlier withdrawal of that appeal, without an appeal being taken to the sheriff under regulation 8(5);

• (iii) where an appeal to the sheriff is taken under regulation 8(5), on the expiry of the time period for any further appeal following determination without such further appeal being taken or, if there is no further right of appeal, the date of final disposal of the matter (or in either case the date of withdrawal of the appeal).

Prohibition on holding irrespective of registration

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• (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (3D), (5) and (9) to (12), no person shall, after 31st December 2000, hold–

• (a) any PCBs, including any used PCBs; or

• (b) any equipment (whether or not that equipment is contaminated equipment)–

• (i) which contains PCBs; or

• (ii) which, having contained PCBs, has not been decontaminated.

• (2) A person may hold–

• (a) PCBs, including any used PCBs, or equipment for the purposes of, or in the course of any business, manufacturing process or trade concerned with the decontamination or disposal of PCBs or such equipment;

• (b) PCBs, including any used PCBs, which are manufactured, supplied or used solely for the purposes of analysis or research connected with the properties and effects of PCBs, and any equipment used as a receptacle for those PCBs, provided that any such PCBs and equipment are disposed of as soon as possible after the PCBs are no longer required for those purposes.

• (3A) Paragraph (3B) applies to a transformer in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that it contains—

• (a) 0.005% by weight, or less, of PCBs within the fluids containing PCBs, or

• (b) a total volume of 0.05 dm³, or less, of fluids containing PCBs.

• (3B) A transformer to which this paragraph applies—

• (a) may be held until the end of its useful life, and

• (b) must then be decontaminated in accordance with paragraph (4)(b) to (d), or disposed of, as soon as possible.

• (3C) Paragraph (3D) applies to a transformer in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that it contains—

• (a) more than 0.005% but no more than 0.05% by weight of PCBs within the fluids containing PCBs, and

• (b) a total volume of more than 0.05 dm³ of fluids containing PCBs.

• (3D) A transformer to which this paragraph applies—

• (a) may be held until the end of 31 December 2025, and

• (b) must then be decontaminated in accordance with paragraph (4)(b) to (d), or disposed of, as soon as possible.

• (4) A transformer in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that the fluids contain more than 0.05% by weight shall be decontaminated under the following conditions:–

• (a) the objective of the decontamination must be to reduce the content of PCBs in the fluid to 0.005% by weight, or less, or to reduce the total volume of fluids containing PCBs to 0.05 dm³, or less;

• (b) the replacement fluid not containing PCBs must entail markedly lesser risks;

• (c) the replacement of the fluid must not compromise the subsequent disposal of the PCBs; and

• (d) the labelling of the transformer must be replaced by the labelling specified in Schedule 2 to these Regulations after its decontamination.

• (5) SEPA may, on an application in writing (or in an electronic form acceptable to SEPA) made by a holder and if they are satisfied as to the matters specified in paragraph (7), by a direction in writing (or in electronic form) given to the holder before 31st December 2000 provide that paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to such equipment as is specified in the direction, until such date, being after 31st December 2000 but before 1st January 2008, as shall be specified in the direction; but no such direction shall have effect, unless it is confirmed by the Scottish Ministers.

• (6) The Scottish Ministers may confirm a direction under paragraph (5) with or without modifications or may refuse to confirm it.

• (7) The matters referred to in paragraph (5) are–

• (a) that the equipment will be replaced as part of a major programme for the replacement of an installation or plant of which the equipment is part (“the programme”);

• (b) that the programme was approved by the owner or other person in control of the operation of the installation or plant before the date on which these Regulations are made;

• (c) that the equipment will be disposed of by the date to be specified in the direction;

• (d) that to require the disposal of the equipment before that date would disrupt the programme to a significant extent; and

• (e) that all reasonable precautions have been taken to secure that PCBs cannot escape from the equipment pending its disposal.

• (8) Equipment in respect of which a direction is given and has effect under paragraph (5) shall, unless decontaminated or disposed of before the date specified in the direction, be disposed of on that date.

• (9) Paragraph (10) applies to any equipment containing PCBs—

• (a) which is equipment to which none of paragraphs (2) to (3D), (5) and (11) to (12) applies,

• (b) which is not contaminated equipment, and

• (c) which is part of other equipment which is also not contaminated equipment.

• (10) Equipment to which this paragraph applies—

• (a) may be held until that other equipment referred to in paragraph (9)(c) is taken out of use, recycled or disposed of, or until the end of 31 December 2025, whichever occurs earlier, and

• (b) must then, where reasonably practicable, be removed and collected separately from that other equipment.

• (11) Paragraph (12) applies to any equipment containing PCBs—

• (a) which is equipment to which none of paragraphs (2) to (3D), (5) and (9) to (10) applies,

• (b) which is relevant equipment, and

• (c) which is part of other equipment which is also relevant equipment.

• (12) Equipment to which this paragraph applies—

• (a) may be held until that other equipment is taken out of use, recycled or disposed of, and

• (b) must then, where reasonably practicable, be removed and collected separately from that other equipment.

• (13) In paragraph (11), “relevant equipment” means any equipment (including any capacitor or receptacle containing residual stocks) which—

• (a) contains PCBs, or

• (b) having contained PCBs, has not been decontaminated,

other than equipment which contains a total volume of PCBs exceeding 0.05 dm³.

• (14) For the purposes of paragraph (13)—

• (a) the PCB volume of a power capacitor shall be measured by reference to all of the separate elements of a combined set, and

• (b) any thing of a type which may contain PCBs shall be treated as containing PCBs unless it is reasonable to assume the contrary.

Labelling of contaminated equipment

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• (1) The registered holder of any contaminated equipment in respect of which an inventory is to be, or has been, made under regulation 9 shall affix to that equipment and to the doors of premises where such equipment is located an indelible sign and, subject to regulation 4(4)(d), shall take reasonable steps to secure that the sign remains so affixed while that equipment remains at that location.

• (2) Subject to paragraph (3), such sign shall record that the equipment is, or the premises contain equipment that is, contaminated by PCBs.

• (3) Equipment in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that ...—

• (a) within the equipment the fluids contain between 0.05% and 0.005% by weight of PCBs, or

• (b) the equipment contains between 5dm³ and 0.05dm³ of fluids containing PCBs,

may be labelled as “PCBs contaminated <0.05% or <5dm³.

• (4) Equipment in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that ...—

• (a) within the equipment the fluids contain 0.005% by weight, or less, of PCBs, or

• (b) the equipment contains a total volume of 0.05 dm³, or less, of fluids containing PCBs,

may be labelled as “PCBs contaminated <0.005% or <0.05 dm³.

PART III — REGISTRATION OF HOLDERS OF CONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT

Registration

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• (1) An application for registration shall, subject to paragraph (2)–

• (a) be made in writing on a form provided by SEPA; and

• (b) contain the following particulars:–

• (i) the name and address of the applicant;

• (ii) a description of the contaminated equipment, identifying its location or intended location;

• (iii) a description of the PCBs which are or were contained in the equipment, so far as can reasonably be identified without excessive cost;

• (iv) so far as can reasonably be ascertained without excessive cost, the quantity of such of those PCBs as have been identified; and

• (v) every date on which treatment or replacement was carried out or is envisaged, specifying in each case the nature of the treatment or replacement.

• (2) Information of the descriptions–

• (a) in paragraph (1) may be provided in an electronic form acceptable to SEPA;

• (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• (3) An application for registration shall be granted where the applicant has complied with paragraph (1) and shall otherwise be refused.

• (4) Where an application for registration is granted, SEPA shall register the applicant and, in respect of the applicant, the other particulars furnished under paragraph (1)(b) and shall, within 28 days of it being granted, confirm in writing (or in electronic form) that the applicant is registered with it.

• (5) Where an application for registration is refused, SEPA shall give notice in writing (or in electronic form) of the refusal to the applicant within 28 days of the refusal; and the notice shall be accompanied by a statement of the reasons for the decision and as to the circumstances in which an offence under regulation 13(1) may be committed.

• (6) Where SEPA fails to determine the application within 56 days of the date on which the application was made, the application shall be deemed to have been refused at the end of that period.

Cancellation of registration or particulars

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• (1) SEPA may cancel the registration with it of a holder where it appears to them that the applicant supplied false information in connection with that application for registration or has failed to comply with regulation 10(1) or (2) or a notice under regulation 10(4) (whether or not proceedings are instituted under regulation 13).

• (2) SEPA shall cancel the registered particulars in respect of a particular location if it appears to them that the registered holder does not hold contaminated equipment there.

• (3) Before any cancellation under paragraph (1) or (2) takes effect, SEPA shall, subject to paragraph (4), serve on the registered holder notice in writing (or in electronic form) of–

• (a) its decision to cancel;

• (b) the reasons for the decision; and

• (c) the date when the cancellation will take effect, being not earlier than 28 days from the date of service of the notice.

• (4) Nothing in paragraph (3) shall require SEPA to give notice of a cancellation which gives effect to information supplied by a registered holder pursuant to regulation 10(1) and (2) or a notice under regulation 10(4).

Appeals

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• (1) A person may, by notice given in writing (or in electronic form) to the Scottish Ministers, appeal to the Scottish Ministers against–

• (a) the deemed refusal under regulation 6(6) of an application for registration; or

• (b) the cancellation of a registration under regulation 7.

• (2) An appeal–

• (a) under paragraph (1)(a) shall be brought within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the application is deemed to be refused;