London Brick: Brought to book over BATNEEC

A severe disappointment of the integrated pollution control (IPC) regime has been the failure of most companies to demonstrate that they are using the "best available techniques not entailing excessive cost" (BATNEEC). The London Brick Company (LBC) was apparently a rare exception - but an independent review commissioned by HM Inspectorate of Pollution (HMIP) has now called the company's interpretation of BATNEEC seriously into question. Meanwhile, important information about the economic case for abating LBC's emissions is being kept secret, adding to worries that IPC is failing to deliver the promised transparency and accountability.