Defra has announced a decision to    
review the Statutory Guidance which underpins the contaminated land    
regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.     
   
This decision follows work over the last year to examine the    
implementation of the current regime, and input from a wide range of    
stakeholders.  It is now ten years since the Statutory Guidance was first    
introduced and we believe that there is a strong case for considering where    
it could be amended to reflect experience in delivering the regime and    
developments in our scientific understanding.    
   
Over the next few months Defra will be meeting with key stakeholders in    
the contaminated land sector to discuss where improvements to the    
Guidance could be made with the aim of formally consulting on proposals    
to amend the Statutory Guidance later this year.  While this work    
proceeds, Local Authorities should continue to fulfil their legal duty to    
identify and deal with contaminated land.   
   
Given the potential for changes to the Statutory Guidance, Defra will be    
postponing the publication of the proposed best practice guidance on    
contaminated land decision making (announced in the recently published    
Soil Strategy) until after any changes to the Statutory Guidance are made.   
   
Link:  http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/index.htm  
  
Comment from Environmental protection UK:  
http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk//news/?id=2370