Health Impact from current Power Plants

Summary

A request was made for calculations regarding the public health impact and societal cost of NOx and SOx emissions from Pulrose and Peel power stations. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture responded that the information is not held as no such calculations have been undertaken.

Key Facts

• The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture does not hold calculations on the health effects of Pulrose and Peel power stations.
• The authority stated it is not required to create or derive information from existing data to answer hypothetical questions.
• The requester was advised to direct future inquiries to the Cabinet Office Public Health or Manx Utilities.
• A previous FOI response from Manx Utilities regarding emissions records (case 1028829) was suggested as a potential resource.
• The request was formally closed on 1 July 2024.

Data Disclosed

• 3944937
• 2024-06-28
• 2024-07-01
• 1028829
• 01624 685854
• 01624 685851
• IM4 3AS

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held
• No requirement to create or derive information

Original Request

Have there been any calculations on the effect of Pulrose and peel power stations on public health? especially the impact of NOx and SOx emitted from both sites, in terms of cost to society.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 3944937 1 July 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 28 June 2024, which states:

"Have there been any calculations on the effect of Pulrose and peel power stations on public health? especially the impact of NOx and SOx emitted from both sites, in terms of cost to society."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. This is because the Department has not undertaken any calculations on the effect of Pulrose and Peel power stations on public health.

Please note the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), does state the public have the right to access information held by public authority. However, section 9 (5) of the Act is very clear that an Applicant must provide (a)(iii) an adequate description of the information requested, and be completed in such a way as to (b)(ii) be capable of subsequent reference - this does not necessarily translate when asking for generalised/hypothetical questions or explanations. The Act also confirms a request is for information a public authority holds at the time of the request, yet there is no requirement to create or derive information from information that it holds.

You may wish to reconsider your request, how your questions have been framed, and focus on what information is likely to be held. Then direct the relevant FOI request by a new application to either Cabinet Office Public Health, or Manx Utilities who may be able to help you.

To offer some further advice and assistance Manx Utilities have in the past published a Freedom of Information response that related to ‘emissions record and analysis for CCGT Power Station’ this can be found by searching FOI case 1028829 here: https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/search

Please quote the reference number 3944937 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.