asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether further action is required by the Environment Agency to deal with the unauthorised dumping by chemical companies of toxic waste in landfill sites, following the initial investigation into the Brofiscin Quarry case in South Wales in February 2007. [HL1313]

When the Environment Agency becomes aware of any unauthorised deposit of waste at an operating landfill site, it will fully investigate and consider what enforcement actions are appropriate in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy.

Where historically contaminated landfill sites, like Brofiscin Quarry, Groesfaen, have been designated by the local authority as a special site under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency will follow a sequence set out by legislation which involves establishing who is responsible for the remediation, consulting those responsible to decide the best remediation options, and recording remediation activities, notices and appeals on a public register. In certain circumstances, the Environment Agency can carry out remediation work itself.