Environmental Permitting Regulations introduced ...
The Environmental Permitting Regulations introduced on 6th April 2008 streamline and consolidate the existing waste and pollution control (PPC) regimes into a single permit.
The new regulations replace over 40 existing pieces of legislation creating a simpler regime for business and the regulators.
Which activities are affected
The activities which will need an environmental permit include:
- An installation carrying out the activities listed in Schedule 1 of the EP Regulations, including energy, metals, minerals, chemicals and waste sectors.
- A waste operation operation involving the disposal or recovery of waste which is not exempt under the regulations.
- A mobile plant carrying out one of the above activities or operations.
All of the above operations were covered under the previous Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regime which the EM Regulations replace.
For operators who currently hold a PPC permit or waste licence, these automatically become environmental permits on 6 April 2008.
The Environment Agency and local authorities will enforce the EP Regulations across England and Wales.
Extending the EP regime
A second phase to the regime aims to extend the single system by integrating and streamlining further environmental permitting regimes, possibly including:
- Water discharge consenting
- Groundwater authorization
- Water abstraction and impoundment
- Radioactive substances regulation and
- Some waste carriers and brokers
It could also provide a straightforward way of introducing the permitting and compliance requirements of forthcoming regulatory regimes such as those relating to batteries and mining waste.
Further information is available from:
- The EPP website www.defra.gov.uk/environment/epp
- In the EP guidance (available from the defra website)
- On the Environment Agency’s website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/epr
For further information call 01773 820143
