Environmental Impact Of The Closure Of Easington And Vane Tempest Collieries

EDM number 1357 in 1992-93, proposed by Chris Mullin on 09/02/1993.

That this House notes with concern the report by Dr Paul Younger of the University of Newcastle on the Probable Environmental Impact of the Closure of Vane Tempest and Easington Collieries; notes in particular Dr Younger's assessment that a failure to continue pumping would result in catastrophic pollution of the River Wear; further notes that sections 88-9 of the Water Resources Act 1991 could be used to exempt British Coal from liability for the consequences of a cessation of pumping; and calls on the Government (a) to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that pumping continues regardless of the outcome of the review of pit closures and (b) to include the costs of continued pumping in its assessment of viability of pits in the Durham coalfield.

This motion has been signed by a total of 56 MPs.