New publications this month:
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
How the Environment Agency meets the Regulators’ Code
This document describes how the Environment Agency meets the Regulators’ Code.
Recording non-compliance using the CCS
This document sets out how permit non-compliances are to be recorded by Environment Agency staff.
Fire prevention plans: environmental permits
This document provides guidance to organisations storing combustible wastes at permitted facilities. It has been updated to reference documents associated with the consultation on fire prevention plans.
Guidance for Water Companies
Waste water treatment works: treatment, monitoring and compliance limits
This guidance explains the compliance limits for waste water treatment works and how to treat and monitor discharges to meet permit conditions.
Calculating dry weather flow (DWF) at waste water treatment works
This guide is targeted towards operators of waste water treatment works that receive sewage and rainwater from combined sewers. It explains how to calculate dry weather flow as part of an environmental permit application or to vary an existing permit.
Water companies: environmental permits for storm overflows and emergency overflows
The guidance has been produced in order to help water companies submit appropriate permit applications for storm overflows and emergency overflows.
Water companies: control of chemicals used for dosing at waste water treatment works
This guide is for water companies who want to carry out chemical dosing at waste water treatment works and explains when they need to apply to change their environmental permit.
Water companies: water treatment works discharge limits for environmental permits
The guide is for operators of water treatment works (WTW) and explains how the EA control and set limits at a WTW for chlorine, aluminium, polyelectrolytes, suspended solids (inc. activated carbon fines) and iron.
Water companies: operator self-monitoring (OSM) environmental permits
Guidance on OSM management and operation rules for water companies. It is also of interest to other operators of standalone water discharge and groundwater activities, if they are required to carry out OSM.
Site-specific quality numeric permit limits: discharges to surface water and groundwater
This guide is for operators of standalone water discharge activity and point source groundwater activity permits. The guidance lays out how the EA sets and assesses discharge quality numeric limits in environmental permits.
Domestic sewage: discharges to surface water and groundwater
The guide explains when waste water discharges are classed as domestic sewage and is aimed at applicants for environmental permits and operators of septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants that meet the general binding rules.
Regulatory Position Statements (RPSs)
RPS 212: Relaxation of certain waste regulatory requirements for volunteers and waste sites involved in voluntary litter collection
This RPS sets rules for volunteers and waste sites on storing, transporting and accepting litter from voluntary litter collection.
RPS 211: Excavated waste from utilities installation and repair
Conditions are set out where a hazardous waste classification will not be required for excavated wastes.
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Air Quality: Explaining Air Pollution – At a Glance
Brief guidance is provided on air quality, sources of pollution and action being taken against this issue.
Tree Health Resilience Strategy 2018
This strategy describes action being taken to reduce the risk of pest and diseases affecting trees, while improving the resilience of our trees.
SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (SEPA)
Biodegradable Municipal Waste Landfill Ban
Guidance has been published on the ban on landfilling Biodegradable Municipal Waste.
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (Scotland) 2018
Guidance is provided for parties who are required to keep roads clean and land clear of litter and refuse under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Companies agree to pay enforcement undertakings of £30,000 to a Norfolk charity after admitting their respective roles in a river pollution incident
A potato product supplier and the landlord of a warehouse have entered into enforcement undertakings of a combined value of £30,000 in relation to a pollution incident.
Lamb Weston/Meijer UK Ltd was using a warehouse leased from Ralph Harrison & Co Ltd for the storage of potatoes. Rotting potatoes within the warehouse at Little Snoring Airfield generated liquids, which entered a nearby river.
The liquid entered surface water drains and passed into a tributary of the River Stiffkey. Environment Agency officers found that liquids released had reduced dissolved oxygen in the water, resulting in the death of fish and invertebrates in a 1km stretch.
No written lease agreement was in place between the parties and no risk assessment had been prepared to set out what action would be taken to prevent the escape of polluting liquid.
Due to the localised nature of the environmental harm, proactive action taken to prevent any further occurrences and the companies’ lack of previous convictions; the Environment Agency entered into enforcement undertakings with the companies.
In response to the incident, Lamb Weston/Meijer UK Ltd arranged an ecological survey, created a template emergency action plan, improved staff training and employed a new storage manager with responsibility for environmental management. The company also improved potato storage processes and temperature management.
Ralph Harrison & Co Ltd dredged the watercourse to remove remaining pollution and installed new valve and pump systems to prevent future incidents.
Enforcement Undertakings
Lamb Weston/Meijer UK Ltd offered to donate £23,100 to the Norfolk Rivers Trust for use in its projects around the River Stiffkey.
Ralph Harrison Co Ltd offered to donate £5,000 to the same charity.
Lamb West/Meijer UK Ltd reimbursed Ralph Harrison & Co Ltd’s clean-up costs of £26,476.
Natural Resources Wales issues warning to waste companies following £292,000 compensation order
The three directors of a North Wales waste management company (Patricia Gaffey, Joseph Gaffey and Michael Gaffey) have been sentenced for running an illegal waste operation.
Breaches
Porthmadog Skip Hire was found to be in breach of its environmental permit and was prosecuted for illegally storing waste.
Penalty
The directors were each sentenced to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay a total of £292,000 in compensation, payable within three months, under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or face further prison sentences.
The fine was based on the potential value at auction of the company’s assets and the personal assets of all three directors.
Manufacturing firm pays £37,000 to a charity under an Enforcement Undertaking for not meeting its packaging supply obligations
A Nottinghamshire-based manufacturer and distributor of adhesives and paints has entered into an enforcement undertaking after it was found that it had not met its obligations under the Producer Responsibility (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007, as amended.
Sanglier Ltd made a pro-active offer of an enforcement undertaking after it identified that it had not met its producer responsibilities.
An investigation by the Environment Agency identified that the company had not met its obligation as a producer between 2005 and 2015. The company subsequently registered with a compliance scheme for the first time in September 2016.
Sanglier Ltd donated £37,450 to the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The undertaking will be used to fund an initiative to motive and support volunteers across the UK to take action against litter. The undertaking also financed litter picking equipment.
Sanglier Ltd also paid the Environment Agency’s costs.
