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You are here >> About the PLA >> Environmental Policy

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Environmental Policy

As a statutory harbour authority, licensing authority and significant landowner for the Thames, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has environmental duties under the Harbours Act 1964 and is a competent authority under the Conservation (Natural habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Government policy, set out in “Modern Ports”, also requires harbour authorities to strike an appropriate balance between the long-term protection of the environment and the securing of sustainable economic growth.

In discharging its roles, the PLA remains committed to its continuing compliance with all applicable environmental legislation and other relevant requirements in the pursuit of its duties and powers and will take these fully into account in its actions and decisions, alongside its pursuit of the sustainability objectives established by government.

To this end it is Board policy that the PLA shall:

• Maintain an Environmental Management System (EMS) to assess the impacts of the PLA’s activities on the environment, including the establishment of a suite of environmental measures.
• Monitor the EMS and its effectiveness through a detailed environmental monitoring programme for all significant PLA properties and areas of activity.
  Audit the EMS regularly, specifying both qualitative and quantitative objectives for the environmental programme and clearly focusing on the PLA’s activities and services that may impact on the environment.
• Follow best environmental practice in regard to its own activities and provide appropriate management of those parts of its own estate within designated conservation sites.
• Be guided by the principles contained within the European Sea Ports Organisation’s Environmental Code of Practice.
• Communicate with relevant authorities, regulators and stakeholders, consulting where there are areas of common interest.
• Communicate this environmental policy to all staff, contractors and suppliers and provide guidance and appropriate training where necessary.
• Work to prevent environmental damage and maintain a high level of preparedness to reduce the effects of occurrences within the port, with particular reference to oil pollution.
• Work to pursue efficiency in energy and waste management reductions where practicable.
• Publish periodic environmental data.

The PLA is committed to continuous improvement in its performance, in its use of resources to accomplish this, and to maintaining registration under the ISO 14001:2004 environmental standard.

This environmental policy was approved by the PLA Board on 3 March 2009 and will be reviewed at no longer than three-yearly intervals.