Pollution Control Monitoring

Pollution Control Monitoring Reports

This site provides an inventory of information about pollution control monitoring in relation to maintaining a public register of environmental monitoring undertaken for the purposes of:

Water Pollution Act 1993 Part 1 – Inland and Coastal Waters

Public Health Act 1990 Part IV – Refuse Disposal

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Due to measurement of very low levels of PCBs discharging from the historic Raggatt landfill and public concerns raised all publicly available reports in respect of this matter are available on this webpage. The discharge of PCBs from the Raggatt site is well below the targets of both Isle of Man and UK Environmental Quality Standards and also below the OSPAR Environmental Assessment Criteria.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are man-made organic compounds which pose risks to human/animal health, such as cancer and reproduction problems, due to their toxic and bio-accumulative properties. Their use in production has been illegal in the UK since 1987.

The Isle of Man government is seeking to reduce the discharge of PCBs from the Raggatt by treatment of the discharge through a Sewage Treatment works for Peel, the resulting sewage sludge from which will be dried and incinerated. Independent advise from Phoenix Engineering (Downloadable Document) is that this would represent the Best Available Technology (BAT) to manage and control emissions of PCBs present in Raggatt landfill leachate to the marine environment in Peel.

The UK government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reviewed the current approach of discharge directly to sea to manage and control emissions of PCBs present in Raggatt landfill leachate to the marine environment in Peel and also the proposed future discharge through a Sewage Treatment works. They have confirmed this approach is in line with the UK government's responsibilities under the OSPAR and ASCOBANS Conventions and have concluded:

“The Isle of Man government are applying Best Available Technology (BAT) to manage and control emissions of PCBs present in landfill leachate to the marine environment. The UK government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reviewed the approach taken by the Isle of Man on PCBs to ensure it is in line with the UK government’s responsibilities under the OSPAR Convention, and are satisfied the Isle of Man government is taking all possible steps to prevent and eliminate pollution of PCBs from land-based sources entering the marine environment in line with Article 3 of the OSPAR Convention.

The Isle of Man Government are fully committed to striving to achieve zero PCBs entering the environment in the Isle of Man through addressing the relevant legacy issues, such as historic landfill sites created before the current state of awareness of pollution risks.”

The Chair of the UK Man and Biosphere (MAB) Committee in UNESCO has also reviewed and confirmed there are no grounds for concern with regard to the criteria for a biosphere reserve in relation to discharges of PCBs from the Raggatt site in Peel (buffer zone = care area). The response received from UNESCO is available as a Downloadable Document.

If you have any queries in respect of this matter please contact call +44 1624 685892 or email environmentalprotection@gov.im