To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when his Department was informed of (a) the dumping of toxic waste and (b) the leaching of toxins into groundwater at Brofiscin Quarry; what steps have been taken to (i) remove the waste and (ii) prevent further leaching; and if he will make a statement. (191180)

All records relating to the former Welsh Office on this issue have been transferred to the Welsh Assembly Government. However, I understand the Welsh Office was aware of the contamination in 1975 from a report prepared by the Water Pollution Research Laboratory on behalf of the then Department for the Environment. The Welsh Office was also referred to in earlier publications concerning Brofiscin. In addition, the Welsh Office carried out a survey into contaminated land in Wales, including Brofiscin quarry in 1988.

The Environment Agency has been liaising with the Welsh Assembly Government and local authority in respect of Brofiscin Quarry since the implementation of Part 2A Contaminated Land legislation in 2001 in Wales. The site was determined as contaminated land in March 2005 by the local authority. The Environment Agency is currently conducting a remedial options appraisal in accordance with the relevant legislation and statutory guidance.