Clean air—act puts remedy with public

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33241, 2 June 1973, Page 13

Clean air—act puts remedy with public

The obvious assumption drawn from an explanation of the Clean Air Act, 1972, is that in order to make the legislation effective, power appears to have been vested largely in the people.

Although only few realise, the act came into force generally on April I this year, but its provisions will not be enforced until April 1, 1975. In order to alert all members of the public of their various roles, the Department of Health has published a pamphlet (No. 271) entitled “A Charter for Clean Air.” The underlying theme in the pamphlet is the moral and obligatory responsibilities under this act, which members of the public must not only accept themselves but have a right to see that others do as well. INFORMANT ROLE

Examples of action members of the public could take to police the legislation include reporting license numbers of “heavily smoking” vehicles—the act sets a limit on the density of smoke which may be discharged from motor-vehicles,

including diesels—and: informing the local health inspector if one feels that someone else in the community needs further information on the public good. Individually, the pamphlet deals with the various roles to be taken by the householder, the motorist, the industrial manager, farmer or the local government employee. The extent of pollution from domestic sources places an extra burden on the householder. Domestic heating and trash burning will come under closer scrutiny, particularly in areas designated clean-air zones. The zones will not be established until April, 1975, because their introduction requires considerable preliminary work in preparing a scheme suited to the local situation. ROOM TO OBJECT

However, the public will not be overlooked here, objections will be considered. “If you think these extra powers are necessary or desirable in your community it is already time to press your local authority to act accordingly. If you think they are unnecessary and would impose unreasonable restriction on personal freedom or choice, these are added incentives to look at your own contribution to air pollution,” says the pamphlet. To some extent regulations enforcing control on motorists with smokey cars have to wait and follow changes overseas which determine the types of vehicles and engines that can be imported. However, the act has the necessary powers to set emmission limits for visible and invisible pollutants and to control additives such as lead in petrol. Industry has a very important part to play. The requirement to adopt the "best practicable means” has been enforceable on industrial and trade processes since April 1. PROCESS LICENCES Processes which have a significant potential for air pollution will require licensing—not a licence to pollute but a licence which keeps them under observation and test. The processes include most furnaces burning two gallons or more of oil an hour, or equivalent quantities of other fuels. The “best practicable means” phrase also applies to the agricultural, horticultural : and forestry sectors. Lack of ■ care in using chemical sprays, or in top dressing, or with smoke from open burning

ian offence too for orchardists to use fire pots, as a precaution against frosts, without a current licence. Greenhouse heating, tobacco smoking and soil sterilisation come under the same requirements as other forms' of commercial heating and may require licensing. The local authority is the first line of defence against local air pollution. The district office of the Department of Health is the second. As a final resort there is the right to approach directly the Clean Air Council, established under the act. OPEN REGISTERS These bodies, however, also have their own obliga- ; tions and responsibilities. Territorial local authorii ties have the main responsibility for administering the legislation. They will consider the need to establish

clean air zones and will have to satisfy themselves that the best means are being employed to limit emissions from all industrial, commercial and agricultural sources that fall within their territory. This of course means that local authorities will need to make provision for efficient licensing and instigating prior-approval investigations on all scheduled processes. They will be required to keep a register of licences for inspection. All Government activities are subject to the same requirements as private enterprise and are required to obtain licences through the appropriate local authorities. The Department of Health has a special role to play by providing the technical resources to support local authorities and the Clean Air Council. The department is the licensing authority for major industries or those which require special technical supervision. ANNUAL REPORT The over-all progress of the new legislation will be carefully watched by the Clean Air Council. All information supplied by the department, air pollution control officers, from local body reports, interested organisations and the public will be used by the council to assess the progress in air polluiton control. Such progress, if any, will be laid before Parliament in i an annual report by the Minister of Health.

could be offensive. After April, 1975, it will be