View report page

Clean Air Act, 1968 — Chimney Heights
During the year ten applications for approval of the height
of chimneys serving a furnace or furnaces were received.
In eight instances the chimney heights were approved but in
two cases conditions were imposed in order to comply with
statutory requirements.
Clean Air Act, 1963
The outstanding provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1968, came
into operation on the 1st October, 1969. From then it became an
offence to emit dark smoke, from any industrial or trade premises
including premises on which material is burnt in connection with
any industrial or trade processes. Dark smoke from chimneys is
already being controlled by the terms of the Clean Air Act, 1956.
Other sections of the Act brought into operation concerned
the fitting of plant to prevent grit and dust emissions from
furnaces. At present furnaces burning pulverised fuel or large
furnaces burning solid fuel have to be fitted with Local Authority
approved arrestment plant. This requirement will be extending
to smaller furnaces and to those burning oil and gas.
In addition the Minister is empowered to apply the Grit and
Dust Provisions of the Clean Air Acts to fumes, e.g. smallerthan-dust
solid particles which are given off by certain processes
in industrial premises.
The law relating to air pollution is now becoming somewhat
complex and I feel that a few notes on this subject will be
informative.
The principal legislation is contained in the Clean Air Acts,
1956 and 1968. The 1968 Act supplements, extends and in part
repeals the provisions of the 1956 Act, known as the principal Act.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government has also
exercised the powers conferred on him by these Acts by making
numerous Orders and Regulations.
Several amendments to the Domestic (Smoke Control Area)
Provisions of the principal Act were included in the Housing
Act, 1964.
114