asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 December 2007 (WA 170–1), whether they will review the application of pollution risk appraisal methodologies to oil terminals, oil distribution depots and warehouses. [HL1484]

The Environment Agency is extending the use of operator and pollution risk appraisal to cover other legislative regimes within its remit.

These plans do not include oil terminals, oil distribution depots and warehouses as named activities or sectors, unless specifically included within the scope of the regulations being considered.

For instance, oil terminals, oil distribution depots and warehouses that form part of an installation regulated by the Environment Agency under the pollution prevention and control regime are covered by the operator and pollution risk appraisal methodology.

Where oil terminal, oil depots and warehouses fall within the scope of the control of major accident hazard regulations, due to the quantities of hazardous materials, they are regulated by a joint competent authority comprising the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.

At present the competent authority is not planning to use the operator and pollution risk appraisal methodology to cover sites regulated under the control of major accident hazard regulations.