Legal provisions of COM(1980)831 - Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTlVE on methods for the surveillance and monitoring of the environments affected by wastes from the titanium dioxide industry (Presented by the Commission to the Council)

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Article 1

This Directive lays down, pursuant to Article 7 (3) of Directive 78/176/EEC, the procedures for the surveillance and monitoring of the effects on the environment, having regard to its physical, chemical, biological and ecological aspects, of the discharge, dumping, storage on, tipping on or injection into the ground of waste from the titanium dioxide industry.

Article 2

For the purpose of this Directive: - 'environments affected' means the water, the land surface and underground strata and the air in or into which waste from the titanium dioxide industry is discharged, dumped, stored, tipped or injected,

- 'sampling point' means the point at which samples are taken.

Article 3

1. The parameters applicable for the surveillance and monitoring referred to in Article 1 are specified in the Annexes.

2. Where a parameter appears in the 'mandatory determination' column in the Annexes, sampling and analysis of the samples must be carried out in respect of the environmental components indicated.

3. Where a parameter appears in the 'optional determination' column in the Annexes, the Member States shall, if they consider it necessary, have the sampling and analysis of samples carried out for the environmental components indicated.

Article 4

1. Member States shall carry out surveillance and monitoring of the environments affected and of a neighbouring zone deemed to be unaffected, special account being taken of local environmental factors and the manner of disposal, i.e. whether intermittent or continuous.

2. Except where otherwise specified in the Annexes, Member States shall determine on a case-by-case basis the exact sites from which samples are to be taken, the distance of these sites from the nearest pollutant disposal point and the depth or height at which the samples must be taken.

The samples must be taken at the same location and depth and under the same conditions in the course of successive sampling operations, for example in the case of tidal waters, at the same time in relation to high tide, tidal coefficient.

3. For the monitoring and inspection of the environments affected, Member States shall determine the frequency of sampling and analysis for each parameter listed in the Annexes.

For parameters where determination is mandatory, the frequency of sampling and analysis must not be less than the minimum frequencies indicated in the Annexes. However, once the behaviour, fate and effects of the waste have, as far as possible, been established, and provided there is no significant deterioration in the quality of the environment, Member States may provide for a frequency of sampling and analysis below these frequencies. Should there subsequently be any significant deterioration in the quality of the environment as a result of the waste or of any change in the disposal operation, the Member State shall revert to sampling and analysis at a frequency not less than that specified in the Annexes. If a Member State considers it necessary or advisable, it may distinguish between different parameters, applying this subparagraph to those parameters where no significant deterioration in the quality of the environment has been recorded.

4. For the monitoring and inspection of an appropriate neighbouring zone deemed to be unaffected, the laying down of the frequency of sampling and analysis shall be assessed by the Member States. When a Member State finds that it is not possible to identify such a neighbouring zone, it shall inform the Commission to that effect.

Article 5

1. The reference methods of measurement for determining the parametric values are specified in the Annexes. Laboratories using other methods must ensure that the results obtained are comparable.

2. The containers used to carry the samples, the agents or methods used to preserve a part sample with a view to analysis of one or more parameters, the transport and storage of samples and their preparation for analysis must be such that they do not significantly affect the analytical results.

Article 6

For the surveillance and monitoring of the environments affected, Member States may, at any time, lay down other parameters in addition to those laid down by this Directive.

Article 7

1. The report which the Member States are required to forward to the Commission pursuant to Article 14 of Directive 78/176/EEC shall contain details of the surveillance and monitoring operations carried out by the bodies appointed in accordance with Article 7 (2) of that Directive. These details shall, in respect of each environment affected, include the following information: - a description of the sampling point, including its permanent features, which may be coded, and other administrative and geographical information. This information shall be provided only once when the sampling point is designated,

- a description of the sampling methods used,

- the results of the measurements of the parameters whose determination is mandatory and, where Member States consider it useful, also those of parameters whose determination is optional,

- the methods of measurement and analysis used and, where appropriate, their limit of detection, accuracy and precision,

- changes, adopted in accordance with Article 4 (3), in the frequency of sampling and analysis.


2. The first set of data to be communicated pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be that gathered during the third year following notification of this Directive.

3. The Commission shall, with the prior agreement of the Member State concerned, publish a summary of the information supplied to it.

4. The Commission shall assess the effectiveness of the procedure for the surveillance and monitoring of the environments affected and shall - no later than six years after notification of this Directive - place before the Council, if appropriate, proposals to improve this procedure and, if necessary, to harmonize the methods of measurement including their limit of detection, accuracy and precision and the sampling methods.

Article 8

Member States may derogate from this Directive in the event of flooding or natural disaster or on account of exceptional weather conditions.

Article 9

The requisite amendments to adapt the contents of the Annexes as regards: - parameters listed in the 'optional determination' column,

- reference methods of measurement,


to scientific and technical progress shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 11.

Article 10

1. A committee on adaptation to technical progress (hereinafter referred to as 'the committee'), consisting of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a Commission representative, is hereby set up.

2. The committee shall draw up its rules of procedure.

Article 11

1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, the matter shall be referred to the committee by its chairman, either on his own initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State.

2. The Commission representative shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee shall give its opinion on the draft within a time limit set by the chairman having regard to the urgency of the matter. Opinions shall be delivered by a majority of 45 votes, the votes of the Member States being weighted as provided in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty. The chairman shall not vote.

3. (a) Where the measures envisaged are in accordance with the opinion of the committee, the Commission shall adopt them.

(b) Where the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall, without delay, submit to the Council a proposal on the measues to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.

(c) If the Council has not acted within three months of the proposals being submitted to it, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.

Article 12

Point (c) of Article 8 (1) of Directive 78/176/EEC is hereby replaced by the following:

"(c) if the results of the monitoring which the Member States are obliged to carry out on the environment concerned reveal a deterioration in the area under consideration, or".

Article 13

Where waste elimination requires that, in accordance with Article 4 (1) of Directive 78/176/EEC, the competent authorities of more than one Member State should issue prior authorizations, the Member States involved shall consult each other on the content and the implementation of the monitoring programme.

Article 14

1. The Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive within two years following its notification. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

Article 15

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.