To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what emissions standards are applied to air emissions from steel works; and what the maximum levels are of regulated pollutants allowed. (97825)

Installations for the production of steel with a production capacity of more than 2.5 tonnes per hour are subject to the integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) Directive (96/61/EC), which is transposed through the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000.

Under those Regulations, the regulator (the Environment Agency in most cases, the local authority in the remainder) has to set emission limits for any pollutant likely to be emitted in significant quantities. The regulator has to do so on the basis of the application at the installation of the best available techniques (BAT) and taking into account the installation’s technical characteristics, location and the local environmental conditions.

Emission limits therefore vary between installations. Each installation’s limits are set out in its permit issued under the Regulations. A copy of each permit is held on the public register maintained by the regulator.