57.—(1) If the regulator considers that a risk of serious pollution exists as a result of the operation of a regulated facility or an exempt facility, it may arrange for steps to be taken to remove that risk.
(2) The regulator may arrange for steps to be taken to remedy the effects of pollution if—
(a)the commission of an offence under regulation 38(1), (2) or (3) causes pollution, or
(b)the regulator suspects that an offence under that regulation is being or has been committed and that pollution is being or has been caused as a result.
(3) If the regulator intends to arrange for steps to be taken under paragraph (2), it must notify the operator of the steps not less than 5 working days before they are taken.
(4) If the regulator arranges for steps to be taken under this regulation, it may recover the cost of taking those steps from the relevant person.
(5) But costs are not recoverable under paragraph (4)—
(a)if the steps referred to in paragraph (1) are taken and the relevant person shows that there was no risk of serious pollution, or
(b)to the extent that the relevant person shows that the costs were unnecessarily incurred by the regulator.
(6) In this regulation, “the relevant person” means—
(a)an operator,
(b)an establishment or undertaking carrying on an exempt waste operation, or
(c)a person carrying on a water discharge activity or groundwater activity.