Environmental Update (March 2010)

Environmental Permitting Extended

Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 will extend the system of environmental permits to cover water discharge consents, groundwater authorisations and radioactive substances regulation.

The first phase of the environmental permitting programme (known as 'EPP1') covering industrial activities and waste management came into force in April 2007. This was later extended to cover waste batteries and mining waste. The government is keen to extend this single system of permitting in England and Wales.

The next phase (known as 'EPP2') will cover:

• Water discharge consents, groundwater authorisations and radioactive substances regulation; and
• Water abstraction and impoundment, and waste carriers and brokers.

Draft regulations have been published and are expected to come into force on 6 April 2010.

Who will be affected?

EPP2 will affect all businesses that:

• Discharge to rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters etc.
• Discharge substances to groundwater.
• Use or dispose of radioactive substances or wastes.

What do you have to do?

In most cases, very little. If you currently hold a water discharge consent, groundwater authorisation or radioactive substances authorisation you will NOT have to re-apply. Your consent or authorisation will automatically become an environmental permit when the new regulations come into force.

The permitting framework created under EPP1, which includes applying for environmental permits, registering exemptions, offences, penalties, public registers, and the Environment Agency's regulatory powers will remain the same.

If you have any questions relating to environmental permitting then please contact the Mentor 24/7 Advice line on 0800 634 7006.