Waste Management: Brofiscin Quarry

The Countess of Mar
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Where are the 34-page original witness statement and accompanying original documents connected with the investigation into Brofiscin Quarry, including originals of (a) a Freshfields memorandum dated February 1972, (b) the final report dated 12 October 1972 covering investigations at Brofiscin between March 1968 and August 1972, (c) an affidavit dated and sworn on 8 December 1972 and lodged in Cardiff Crown Court in December 1972, and (d) a copy of a letter from Dr Papageorge of Monsanto dated 8 July 1970, prepared and signed by Mr Douglas Gowan on 4 August 2006, receipt of which was acknowledged by Mr Hillier of the Environment Agency Wales. [HL3261]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker)
I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that the original 34-page witness statement and any accompanying original documents received by the Environment Agency from Mr Gowan were returned to him on the 13 December 2007.

The Countess of Mar
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which original documents were returned to Mr Douglas Gowan by Brabners Chaffe Street on 13 December 2007, as stated by the Environment Agency Wales. [HL3262]

Lord Rooker
I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that all original documents received by the Environment Agency from Mr Gowan have been returned to him.

The Countess of Mar
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 10 March (WA 217), whether any copies of original documentation supplied by Mr Douglas Gowan were seen by Lovells. [HL3263]

Lord Rooker
I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that the Environment Agency has provided Lovells with all relevant information required to carry out its instructions.

The Countess of Mar
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Rooker on 11 December 2007 (WA 49), 27 March (WA 124), 31 March (WA 141–2), 2 April (WA 183–4 and 186–8) and 22 April (WA 295) and by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 17 December 2007 (WA 109), upon what basis the Environment Agency or the Environment Agency Wales could pursue Monsanto for the costs of remediation of Brofiscin Quarry and other landfill sites in the United Kingdom. [HL3264]

Lord Rooker
I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that when looking at securing remediation or recovering the cost of remediation at Brofiscin Quarry from any appropriate persons it has identified, the Environment Agency will have regard to the principles and approaches for cost recovery that are set out in Chapter E of the Welsh Assembly Government's Part 2A Statutory Guidance on Contaminated Land (2006).