New publications this month:
EUROPEAN INTEGRATED POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL BUREAU
Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference (BREF) Document for Large Combustion Plants
A revised BREF document has been published for large combustion plants. This document provides BAT, supporting data and information on these techniques.
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
WR253: Long duration water abstraction licences
This note has been updated to reflect recent consultations on reforms to abstraction licensing.
Guidance on low risk waste activities
This document has been updated to include a low risk position on the washing of food grade intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).
Regulatory Position Statements (RPSs)
RPS 50: Burning waste on campfires and bonfires
This RPS allows the burning of waste on campfires and bonfires without a permit, subject to conditions set. The RPS has been extended until 31 January 2020.
RPS 65: Dewatering street sweepings
This RPS allows dewatering of street sweepings without an environmental permit, subject to the conditions set. This RPS has been extended until 31 August 2020.
RPS 91: Use of clay in slurry lagoons or irrigation reservoirs
This new RPS allows the use of waste clay in slurry lagoons or irrigations without an environmental permit, subject to conditions.
RPS 112: Small-scale heat treatment of waste plastics for reuse
This RPS allows the use of heat generated through the small-scale treatment of waste plastic without a permit, where the attached conditions are met. The RPS has been extended until 30 April 2019.
RPS 202: LPG flaring at end-of-life vehicle sites
This RPS allows the flaring of LPG removed from end-of-life vehicles without a permit, provided the conditions set are met. This RPS has been extended until 30 September 2020.
RPS 205: Temporary storage of ELVs at a motor manufacturer’s dealership
This RPS allows motor manufacturers to store end-of-life vehicles temporarily at dealerships without an environmental permit. The RPS has been extended until 30 September 2020.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DAERA)
RPS: Technical Competence for Operators of Authorised Waste Facilities
This RPS sets out an interim position on the continuing competence test for waste operators in Northern Ireland, while this test is unavailable. The RPS states that operators will not be required to sit the two yearly test as long as they remain compliant with all other elements of their waste authorisation.
RPS: Revised Waste Framework Directive - Regulation of Excluded Wastes
This RPS aims to clarify how the Northern Ireland Environment Agency approach the regulation of waste management activities excluded from Article 2 of the revised Waste Framework Directive.
Company fined for polluting brook with hazardous chemicals
Firth Rixson Metals Ltd has been fined for polluting a watercourse in Glossop in during 2015.
An Environment Agency investigation of the incident, which was reported by a member of the public, identified a large number of dead fish within a 500 metre stretch. Samples taken from the Shelf Brook identified highly alkaline liquid contaminating the watercourse.
The investigation found that a valve supplying water to a scrubber unit had been left open and that staff failed to respond properly to alarms. Additionally a pump, which should have returned the solution, failed to activate. This led to a highly alkaline solution overflowing from a containment bund serving the scrubber. Liquid overflowed into a nearby drain, entering the brook.
The Environment Agency identified that more than 600 litres of a solution of hydrochloric acid, caustic soda and water had been released.
The court also heard that the company had failed to cap the drain, despite recent advice from local authority inspectors.
Breach
Firth Rixson Metals Ltd pleaded guilty to causing a water discharge activity not under and to the extent authorised by an Environmental Permit, breaching the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010
Penalty
Firth Rixson Metals Ltd was fined £80,000 for the incident.
Coach firm fined for polluting river with toilet waste
A luxury coach company has been fined after it was found that toilets had been emptied into surface water drains, rather than taking it to an approved site for disposal.
Monitoring devices operated by the Environment Agency identified the pollution incident, which affected the River Crane. Officers traced the source of the pollution to Symphony Chauffeurs Ltd’s premises.
The investigation also found that dirty water and cleaning chemicals had been discharged to surface water drains after vehicles were washed on the premises.
The company was charged for allowing poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into the River Crane, between May 2015 and February 2016, and failing to provide the Environment Agency with documents relating to their activities.
Symphony Chauffeurs Ltd was fined £18,000 with £12,113.62 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.
The Sole Director of the firm was also fined £3,134 for allowing Symphony to commit the offences and also had to pay a victim surcharge of £142.
Enforcement Undertaking secures environmental benefits financing for communities impacted by Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) pollution
SEPA has accepted its first major enforcement undertaking offered under the Environmental Regulation (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Order 2015. This is only the fourth undertaking accepted since these powers were introduced in June 2016.
The enforcement undertaken was offered by the joint venture construction company building the AWPR in relation to a series of silt pollution incidents affecting the rivers Dee and Don in Aberdeenshire.
The offer of enforcement undertaking was developed through consultation with local stakeholders and provides funding across eight community initiatives.
Funding Offered
AWPR B-T Construction Joint Venture offered to pay £280,850 to eight community organisations.
The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board will receive the largest contribution of £150,000 for improvement projects relating to diffuse pollution and to fund an Agricultural Officer for 2 years to assist farm owners in reducing diffuse pollution.
In addition to the offer, SEPA will receive £47,958 to cover their costs.
