Generators accept new pollution controls

(First Edition)

A NEW control regime was ushered in yesterday for Britain's largest corporate air polluters, more than one and a half years late.

The generating companies PowerGen and National Power have now got the licences to pollute demanded by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

These allow the two companies, which serve England and Wales, to produce a maximum of nearly 800,000 tons of oxides of nitrogen and 1.9 million tons of sulphur dioxide in the year beginning now. These two gases are the main cause of acid rain.

The 29 coal and oil burning power stations are also set individual limits for the pollutant gases and airborne dust they can emit. Operating conditions and standards are set down.

The generators face heavy fines if they breach the terms of their authorisations. Yesterday both said they were confident they could comply.

Friends of the Earth welcomed the concept but said the limits were set too high: 'They will condemn vast tracts of the countryside to damage by acid rain for decades to come.'

The generators applied for the authorisations in March 1991. It should have taken no more than four months to issue them.

The hold-up was caused by the generators insisting on keeping part of their applications confidential, so as not to benefit commercial rivals.

In November last year Michael Howard, Secretary of State for the Environment, rejected PowerGen's appeal for confidentiality but accepted National Power's.