Local Environment

Click on a question below to view the answer.

• Is the Steelwork Industry the cause of the particulate problem in Scunthorpe?
• Who regulates the steelworks?
• What are the steelworks doing to the reduce particulates?
• Can the public see the permits and the operators' compliance with their conditions?
• If the steelworks is responsible for the particulate problems, will the Environment Agency take enforcement action?
• When will the problem be resolved?

Is the steelwork industry the cause of the particulate problem in Scunthorpe?

The steelworks industry undoubtedly contribute to the particulate problem in Scunthorpe but there are a number of other contributing factors such as traffic in the town and the possibility of agricultural or sea derived particles. Monitoring by the North Lincolnshire Council suggests that the steelworks site is the main source of the particulates. Identifying a specific area of the site or activity as the main source is complicated by the sheer scale of the operations and the number of different companies operating on the site.

Who regulates the steelworks?

The majority of the site is regulated by the Environment Agency. They have issued permits under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (PPC) to a number of companies who together operate the steelworks. North Lincolnshire Council also regulates some of the processes on site under a different part of the same regulations. The most significant permit is the one issued to TATA for the main iron and steel making process. This permit was issued in June 2004 and is regulated by the Environment Agency. The Agency use a range of methods to assess whether companies are working to their permit conditions including site inspections, major audits, and reviews of procedures and monitoring data.

What are the steelworks doing to reduce particulates?

The permits place a number of legal requirements on the companies to monitor and reduce particulates coming from their activities.  Each company within the steelworks has over 100  permit conditions, a number of which relate directly to reducing particulates. The most significant condition requires the steelwork industries to carry out a site survey to identify and measure sources of particulates from different plant areas.

Can the public see the permits and the operators' compliance with their conditions?

Yes. A copy of all the permits and all the responses made by the regulated companies are held on the public register and available to view at North Lincolnshire Council website ( for Part A2 and Part B permits) and  in relation to Part A processes regulated by the Environment Agency at the  Church Square House office. All the inspection reports, major audit reports and warnings issued by the Environment Agency are also available to the public at this office.

If the steelworks is responsible for the particulate problems will the Environment Agency take enforcement action?

In order for the Environment Agency to take enforcement action against any regulated company they have to be in breach of their permit conditions. The Agency considers a number of factors when deciding on the appropriate enforcement outcome following a breach of permit. They will look at the impact on the environment and human health, the foresee ability, the compliance history and the attitude of the offender. The enforcement actions available are: warning, enforcement notice, prohibition notice, formal caution, suspensions and prosecution.

When will the problem be resolved?

Resolving the particulate problem will take a number of years. The timescale will be dependent on a clear identification of the source of the particulates. The work is being undertaken by the steelworks industry who will identify and quantity the sources on their site. There are other areas of the steelworks site where there are no permitted activities taking place but there may still be a contribution to the particulate problem. These areas will need to be assessed. Local operators use data to decide if pollution levels are too high and then, if possible, make changes to their operations on a day-to-day basis.