The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000

Prohibition on holding irrespective of registration

4.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), (5) and (9), no person shall, after 31st December 2000, hold—

(a) any PCBs, including any used PCBs; or

(b) any equipment (whether or not that equipment is contaminated equipment)—

(i) which contains PCBs, or

(ii) which, having contained PCBs, has not been decontaminated.

(2) A person may hold—

(a) PCBs, including any used PCBs, or equipment for the purposes of, or in the course of any business, manufacturing process or trade concerned with the decontamination or disposal of PCBs or such equipment;

(b) PCBs, including any used PCBs, which are manufactured, supplied or used solely for the purposes of analysis, or of research connected with the properties and effects of PCBs, and any equipment used as a receptacle for those PCBs, provided that any such PCBs and equipment are disposed of as soon as possible after the PCBs are no longer required for those purposes.

(3) A transformer in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that the fluids contain 0.05% by weight, or less, of PCBs—

(a) may be held until the end of its useful life; and

(b) shall then, unless decontaminated in accordance with paragraph (4)(b) to (d), be disposed of as soon as possible.

(4) A transformer in respect of which it is reasonable to assume that the fluids contain more than 0.05% by weight of PCBs shall be decontaminated under the following conditions—

(a) the objective of the decontamination must be to reduce the content of PCBs in the fluid to less than 0.05% by weight and, if possible, to no more than 0.005% by weight;

(b) the replacement fluid not containing PCBs must entail markedly lesser risks;

(c) the replacement of the fluid must not compromise the subsequent disposal of the PCBs; and

(d) the labelling of the transformer after its decontamination must be replaced by the labelling specified in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

(5) The Agency may, on an application in writing made by a holder and if it is satisfied as to the matters specified in paragraph (7), by a direction in writing given to the holder before 31st December 2000, provide that paragraph (1) shall not apply in relation to such equipment as is specified in the direction until such date, being after 31st December 2000 but before 1st January 2008 as shall be specified in the direction; but no such direction shall have effect—

(a) as respects equipment at a location in England, unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State;

(b) as respects equipment at a location in Wales, unless it is confirmed by the Welsh Assembly.

(6) A direction under paragraph (5) may be confirmed with or without modifications.

(7) The matters referred to in paragraph (5) are—

(a) that the equipment will be replaced as part of a major programme for the replacement of an installation or plant of which the equipment is part (“the programme”);

(b) that the programme was approved by the owners or other persons in control of the operation of the installation or plant before the date on which these Regulations are made;

(c) that the equipment will be disposed of by the date to be specified in the direction;

(d) that to require the disposal of the equipment before that date would disrupt the programme to a significant extent; and

(e) that all reasonable precautions have been taken to secure that PCBs cannot escape from the equipment pending its disposal.

(8) Equipment in respect of which a direction is given under paragraph (5) shall, unless decontaminated or disposed of before the date specified in the direction, be disposed of on that date.

(9) Any equipment containing PCBs—

(a) which is equipment to which none of paragraphs (2), (3) and (5) applies;

(b) which is not contaminated equipment; and

(c) which is part of another piece of equipment which is also not contaminated equipment,

may be held until that other piece of equipment is taken out of use, recycled or disposed of; and shall then, where reasonably practicable, be removed and collected separately from that other equipment.