AQW 4867/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 15/06/2020
Answered On Date: 24/06/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) when the regulation procedure for slurry tanks was last reviewed; and (ii) , in the interests of environmental protection and water quality, whether he has any plans to review this procedure in the future.

Answer:

Slurry storage tanks are regulated under the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) which was last reviewed in 2019. The current Nutrients Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 came into effect on 11 April 2019, and are in place for the period 2019 – 2022. As a result of the 2019 review, additional requirements to the previous NAP 2015- 2018 were introduced for above ground slurry tanks constructed after 1 January 2020. These requirements are for new above ground slurry tanks to be sited at least 50m from any waterway into which slurry could enter if it were to escape and for the tanks to be covered.

The NAP is reviewed every four years and the next review is planned for 2022.