The Environment Agency’s roles & responsibilities
We have an important role to play in protecting land and restoring damaged, contaminated land to sustainable use. We aim to protect and prevent damage to the land from the multiple uses to which we put it. We will promote schemes and implement strategies that bring about better soil management and more sustainable agricultural practices.
We will help local authorities to identify and improve contaminated land sites, securing the necessary funding and managing the improvement programmes. We will enforce permits that remove 50% of acid rain pollutants from power stations, to bring a reduction in soil acidification. We will work closely with local planning authorities and developers so that our views are reflected in development strategies and planning decisions.
Policy/position statements
See links below for additional information.
Information and advice from us
Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA, see below) is a scientifically based framework for the assessment of risks to human health from land contamination, developed by Defra and the Environment Agency. For additional information, see the links below for:
- Soils
- Soil Moisture 2004
- IPPC
- Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (DEFRA)
- Risk Assessment Factsheets
- Agriculture
- Land Quality
See links below for additional information.
Key environmental problems:
- Diffuse pollution from agriculture
- Contaminated land
- Contamination of crops.
Our long-term objective
Healthy soils
Our land and soils in the countryside and towns will be exposed far less to pollutants. They will support a wide range of uses, including production of healthy, nutritious food and other crops, without damage to wildlife or human health. Contaminated and damaged land will be restored and protected.
Mitigation opportunities
- Remediation
- Dealing with contaminated land
- Policy wording
- Refined Alternatives
- Pollution Prevention Guidance Notes
See links below for additional information.
