WRITTEN QUESTION E-2133/01 by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission. Aircraft cabin air quality.
Date: 2001-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, air transport, aircraft, transport regulations

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/195

(2002/C 40 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2133/01

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(17 July 2001)

Subject: Aircraft cabin air quality

The problem of aircraft cabin air quality seems to be widespread. Not enough companies are being as
careful as they might on monitoring air quality in aircraft cabins. It seems that some even ignore the well-
being of their passengers by not running the air conditioning systems just to save money. Passengers
should be able to rely on minimum standards.

Is the EU doing preliminary work on producing European standards of aircraft cabin air quality?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2001)

The Commission is supporting two research projects on conditions in aircraft cabins, which are now in
progress. The first (Asica) deals with changes in air conditioning to improve comfort and the second
(Cabinair) investigates the effects of cabin conditions on health. Once completed in 2003, the results of
these studies could serve as a basis for European pre-standards.

The Commission, moreover, is following a major research programme on Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT),
which the World Health Organisation is organising. The objective of this research programme is to
describe in detail the relation between DVT and air transport, as well as the importance of individual
predisposing factors and the effectiveness of precautionary measures. The whole programme will last five
years but should give useful preliminary results.

The Commission will inform the Parliament of the results of these projects.

(2002/C 40 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2134/01

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(17 July 2001)

Subject: Coal mine methane

A large number of small former mining sites emit methane into the atmosphere. The coal mine methane
industry taps CMM from disused mines to use it to generate electricity.

The UK Government refused to include CMM in the renewables obligation introduced under the Utilities
Act 2000. The German Parliament, however, has included CMM in its Renewables Sources Act 2000. As a
result, in Germany, a 5p/kWh incentive is given to mine gas and it is reported that more than 80 planning
applications have already been made for CMM power plants on abandoned sites.

What measures does the EU intend to take to support the use of CMM?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The final report of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) (available at http://europa.eu.int/
comm/environment/climat/eccp.htm) organised by the Commission recognised that recovery of methane, a
potent greenhouse gas, from disused coal mines contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
However, while methane recovered from landfill sites can be regarded as renewable, this can hardly be
considered to be the case for methane derived from coal in either abandoned or operating mines, as coal