Protecting the environment and public health
Falmouth & Truro Port Health Authority
The Docks, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4NR, Tel 01326 211581, Fax 01326 211548, email: fal@cieh.org.uk ,VHF : 16, 69, 9, 10, 12
The Association of Port Health Authorities.
2.02 Suffolk Enterprise Centre, Felaw Maltings, Felaw St, Ipswich. IP2 8SJ +44 (0) 1473 407040.
2.02 Suffolk Enterprise Centre, Felaw Maltings, Felaw St, Ipswich. IP2 8SJ +44 (0) 1473 407040.
Historically the handling of dusty bulk cargos was controlled under the nuisance provisions of the various Public Health Acts. The basis of this control was that the dust had to cause a nuisance to others before any control could be imposed. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 changed all that and through various regulations bought in the concept of prior authorisation for certain prescribed processes that had potential to cause atmospheric pollution. The Port Health Authority carry a Public Register detailing all Part B Processes authorised under this Act.
There is a detailed procedure to follow before a process becomes authorised and following authorisation regular inspections are carried out to ensure conditions of authorisation are complied with. Industry have to pay an annual fee to retain authorisation. Each process is assessed individually and is categorised as either low, medium or high risk. The annual subsistence fee is then calculated according to the risk factor involved. The fee is set by DEFRA being based on the average predicted costs of Local Authorities. The annual subsistence fee for all Part B process, as of April 2007, is:
Standard Process, LOW risk £766
Standard Process, MEDIUM risk £1,120
Standard Process, HIGH risk £1,641
Activities authorised by this Authority include coal handling at Falmouth docks and Dean Quarry. The Authority also has powers to deal with persistent dark smoke emissions from ships. An example of the Authority's role regarding the control of other types of pollution that may harm the public was illustrated in 1999 by way of the legal action that the Falmouth & Truro Port Health Authority took against South West Water for the pollution of the estuary with crude sewerage.
The Environment
