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Action programme for River Ythan nitrate vulnerable zone
05/02/2001
A consultation exercise on an Action Programme to reduce nitrate pollution from agricultural sources in the Ythan Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) has been announced today by Environment Minister Sam Galbraith.
The proposed measures would control the timing and rate of applications of fertilisers and manures in the area around the River Ythan, designated as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone in May last year.
Responding today to a Parliamentary Question, Mr Galbraith said:
"We must tackle the problem of excess nitrate lost from agriculture. It can affect the quality of our drinking water supplies, and presents a risk to the ecological balance in rivers and the sea. Many farmers recognise the need to adopt sustainable practices which do not lead to environmental problems, but under European law all farmers in areas vulnerable to nitrate pollution are required to take action to deal with this type of diffuse pollution.
"The Action Programme measures we propose for the Ythan NVZ would require farmers to control the timing and rate of applications of nitrogen fertiliser and manures. These measures take into account environmental conditions within the catchment and the latest scientific and technical information.
"It is important that farmers understand the rules and what they need to do to comply with them and we will provide help in the form of guidance booklets in order to assist farmers in this process."
BACKGROUND
1. The EC Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC) is an environmental measure designed to protect waters against pollution caused by nitrate from agriculture. It aims to reduce the level of nitrate losses in the catchments of polluted waters, and to prevent further new pollution from arising. The Directive requires Member States to designate Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) where surface freshwaters or groundwaters exceed, or could exceed, 50 mg/litre of nitrates and where waters are or may become eutrophic, and to establish mandatory "action programme" measures within the NVZs.
2. The Ythan NVZ was designated on 8 May 2000. Currently there is only one other NVZ in Scotland at Balmalcolm in Fife. It was designated in 1996 after water from the public drinking water borehole exhibited nitrate levels approaching the 50mg/l limit. An action programme was implemented in the Balmalcolm NVZ during December 1998.
3. The proposed measures for the Ythan NVZ will control the timing and rate of application of both inorganic (chemical) nitrogen fertilisers and organic manures (including sewage sludge). A closed period will apply to the application of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser over the autumn/winter, and applications of slurry, poultry manure and liquid digested sludge on shallow and sandy soils will also be subject to a closed period. For organic manures, farm-based limits of 250 kg N/ha on grassland and 210 kg N/ha on arable land will apply to the overall area of the farm within the NVZ. The figure for arable land will be reduced to 170 kg N/ha from 19 December 2002. In addition, a field-based limit of 250 kg N/ha will also be applied to applications of organic manure to individual fields.
4. The proposals also require farmers to maintain records of their cropping and stocking, together with details, in the form of fertiliser and manure plans, of all applications of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers and organic manures.
5. The Ythan NVZ Action Programme consultation paper is available from the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/views/consult.asp. Copies can also be obtained from the Environmental Protection Unit, at Area 1-H, The Scottish Executive, Environmental Protection Unit, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH 6 6QQ (Tel: 0131-244-7438; e-mail, ythannvz@scotland.gsi.gov.uk). The consultation period closes at noon on Friday 27 th April 2001.
News Release: SE0248/2001
5 Feb 2001