In a report of Senate passing new clean air regulations, an incorrect statement about backyard burning was wrongly attributed to Sen. Wendell Hollis. The report should have said that under the regulations, only plant waste can be burned without a permit, and only then if it does not disturb the neighbours.

Senators unanimously passed new clean air laws yesterday despite accusations they had been rushed through Parliament without enough public discussion.

They approved a Clean Air Act amendment and new regulations which set limits for pollution in the air around controlled plants.

Belco, the incinerator, and hotels with boilers will have to apply for operating licences. If they do not meet air quality standards, they will have to provide a plan to do so.

Operators will have to report uncontrolled air emissions.

And Government environment spokesman Sen. Wendell Hollis (UBP) said residents will only be able to burn plant waste with a permit, and only then if it does not disturb their neighbours.

Flexibility is built in so officials can allow exceptions to the rules or tighten them even further.

Sen. Ira Philip (PLP) asked for information on tests done to discover air quality prior to the incinerator starting up.

He feared the rules could be used as a "weapon'' to defend "entrenched interests''. Bermuda was not a genuinely competitive society and he did not want to see the regulations used as an excuse to clamp down on entrepreneurs, for example a fish processing co-op.

He said it almost seemed like the regulations were being railroaded through.

Government had shown heavy-handed action in the past in the name of the environment. Fishermen were an example of the victims.

Air quality information should be provided to the public in an easily-understood way, he said.

Opposition Senate leader Sen. Alex Scott said public discussion of the rules was handicapped by the apparent haste of the process.

"It's the Government taking the initiative without the public necessarily being on board,'' he said.

Such strict regulations might be needlessly costly, he added, and plants might pass that cost on to the public.

And although the public might be willing to pay the cost, it had not been made clear to them.

The regulations were stricter than Canada's but Bermuda was a non-industrial country surrounded by water, he said.

He wondered if Government was being hasty so it could point to the legislation when it came to an election.

Sen. Jerome Dill said he was "mystified'' by allegations of indecent haste.

The rules had been in the works two or three years, he said.

"If you ask anyone who lives in the vicinity of Belco whether Government is moving far too quickly on this issue they will give you a resounding `No','' he said.

Bermuda needed a clean, pristine environment to attract international business and tourism.

Sen. Hollis , said pre-incinerator air tests were being done. A summary had been offered to the public but there had been only 10 requests.

The technical, scientific nature of the information could not be changed.

Public health was more important than cost, he said. And poor health eventually cost more.

Bermuda had to be more careful with air quality than industrial countries. He praised the introduction of lead-free gas. Since October the amount of lead in the air had gone down 98 percent.

Sen. Joe Johnson (Ind) said the Ministry should work with Information Services and produce an air pollution "dos and dont's'' brochure for residents.

Sen. Trevor Woolridge (PLP) wondered if the new measures would lead to new jobs for Bermudians.

Sen. Norma Astwood (Ind) agreed there should have been a publicity campaign on the new rules.

She called for controls on unnecessary wrappers and other packaging imported into the Island. And she pointed out Government could burn things the public could not, without being prosecuted.

Summing up, Sen. Hollis said releases would be sent to the media on the new laws, and ads taken out. This could not be done until the legislation had been put into law.

There would be a six-month delay for the public to become aware of the new rules, he added.

Sen. Wendell Hollis Sen. Ira Philip.