BRITAIN鈥檚 pollution watchdog, the Environment Agency, has been lax and
secretive in controlling emissions from cement kilns, says the House of Commons
Select Committee on the Environment. In a report, the committee also accuses the
agency of failing 鈥渢o command public confidence鈥�.
The committee鈥檚 investigation was prompted by public anxiety over the growing
number of cement kilns that burn waste industrial solvents to reduce their fuel
costs (鈥淏ending the rules on toxic fuels鈥�, New 杏吧原创, 23 March
1996, p 14). The Environment Agency promises 鈥渟tronger and more consistent
regulation of cement processes in the future鈥�.