Plans to boost pollution-busting laws have won cross-party support in the House of Assembly. Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said amendments to the Clean Air Act would give Government more powers to deal with polluters and would also close some loopholes.

Sections of the current act would be cleared up, she told the House yesterday, including the definition of movable and portable plant machinery such as sand sifters, rock crushers and electrical generators.

She said the case for Government needing wider powers to protect the environment was highlighted in a recent dispute at Devonshire Marsh.

Lawyers for a trucking firm denied a permit renewal and accused of illegally operating a sand sifter and rock crusher focused on the wording of the Clean Air Act. They argued that the firm was operating portable machinery and so did not need a licence. Ms Butterfield said the amendments, which were discussed at the second reading stage yesterday, were aimed at clarifying the law on portable equipment, in an apparent bid to prevent further legal challenges.

Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons said the United Bermuda Party backed the proposed changes. But he called for stricter dust controls on building sites which he said were a threat to neighbouring residents.

He also demanded action at East Broadway, which research has highlighted as the Island?s pollution hot spot, mainly because of car fumes. Ms Butterfield said dust controls would be considered.

Maxwell Burgess, UBP, warned about ?24/7? use of plant machinery and said some were even in use on Sundays. ?We do not want them revved up at 6 a.m. in the morning until 7 p.m. at night and you can?t do anything because it?s deemed portable.?

The Minister urged Mr. Burgess to contact her with reports of round-the-clock operations, and she assured the House that hours of work at Ferry Reach, St. George?s were restricted and regulated by enforcement officers.

Ottiwell Simmons, of the Progressive Labour Party, said residents and visitors to Bermuda were entitled to breath ?clean, wholesome air?.

Calling for the community involvement, he said polluters needed educating. ?I?m appealing for people who know better to do something about it,? he added, stating that the glut of construction work in Bermuda ? and environmental concerns tied to that work ? was probably unprecedented.