Section 31 Regulations about sulphur content of oil fuel for furnaces or engines.E1

England and Wales

(1)

For the purpose of limiting or reducing air pollution, the Secretary of State may by regulations impose limits on the sulphur content of oil fuel which is used in furnaces or engines.

(2)

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State, before he makes any regulations in pursuance of this section, to consult—

(a)

such persons appearing to him to represent producers and users of oil fuel;

(b)

such persons appearing to him to represent manufacturers and users of plant and equipment for which oil fuel is used; and

(c)

such persons appearing to him to be conversant with problems of air pollution,

as he considers appropriate.

(3)

Regulations under this section may—

(a)

prescribe the kinds of oil fuel, and the kinds of furnaces and engines, to which the regulations are to apply;

(b)

apply standards, specifications, descriptions or tests laid down in documents not forming part of the regulations; and

(c)

without prejudice to the generality of section 63(1)(a), make different provision for different areas.

(4)

It shall be the duty—

(a)

of every local authority to enforce the provisions of regulations under this section within its area, except in relation to a furnace which is

F1(i)

part of a process subject to Part I of the M1Environmental Protection Act 1990 , or

(ii)

part of an installation subject to regulation by the F2appropriate agency under regulations made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999; and

(b)

of the inspectors appointed under that Part to enforce those provisions in relation to F3furnaces within sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (a) above and of the F4appropriate agency to enforce those provisions in relation to furnaces within sub-paragraph (ii) of that paragraph;

but nothing in this section shall be taken to authorise a local authority in Scotland to institute proceedings for any offence.

F5(4A)

For the investigatory powers available to a local authority for the purposes of the duty in subsection (4)(a), see Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

(5)

In this section “oil fuel” means any liquid petroleum product produced in a refinery.

F6(6)

In this section, “appropriate agency” means—

(a)

in relation to England, the Environment Agency;

(b)

in relation to Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 31(4)(a) renumbered as s. 31(4)(a)(i) and s. 31(4)(a)(ii) and word inserted (1.8.2000) by S.I. 2000/1973, reg. 39, Sch. 10 para. 11(a)
F2: Words in s. 31(4)(a)(ii) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 343(2) (with Sch. 7)
F3: Words in s. 31(4)(b) substituted (1.8.2000) by S.I 2000/1973, reg. 39, Sch. 10 para. 11(b)
F4: Words in s. 31(4)(b) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 343(2) (with Sch. 7)
F5: S. 31(4A) inserted (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 53; S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i)
F6: S. 31(6) inserted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 343(3) (with Sch. 7)

Marginal citations

M1: 1990 c. 43.

Extent

E1: This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only