Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what standards or frameworks are used to assess when ongoing environmental monitoring is required following the release of plastics, foam, or other persistent materials into the marine environment.

The National Contingency Plan (NCP) has been developed to ensure there is a timely, measured and effective response to incidents of, and impact from, marine pollution, arising from both marine and terrestrial sources. The NCP sets out the role of the Environment Group, who provide public health and environmental advice to all response units with a role in responding to a significant maritime pollution incident. The Pollution Response in Emergencies: Marine Impact Assessment and Monitoring group (PREMIAM) is a UK-wide collaborative initiative, coordinated by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), focused on improving post-spill monitoring and response for oil and chemical incidents in the marine environment by developing guidelines, integrating Government agencies, and building a network of experts and service providers. In the event of a significant pollution incident the PREMIAM Monitoring Coordination Cell (PMCC) is stood up. The PMCC is the group responsible for the overall conduct and integrated coordination of monitoring and impact assessment activities following a significant marine incident, ensuring these activities are in line with the PREMIAM post-spill monitoring guidelines. In England the PMCC is chaired by Cefas.