DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTA, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA)

Animal by-products legislation for England: exemptions

Defra has published an updated list of derogations from Animal By-Product controls in England.
 

European Landscape Convention guidelines

This document provides guidance on the integration of the European Landscape Convention into plans, policies and strategies.

NORTHERN IRELAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIROMENT

Regulatory Position Statement: Reducing fire risk at sites storing waste and other combustible materials

This statement provides guidance on the storage of waste and other combustible materials at sites subject to a waste authorisation.
 

Drinking Water Inspectorate – Enforcement and Prosecution Policy

This document outlines how enforcement and prosecutions are to be undertaken against persons responsible for ensuring compliance with the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009, as amended.
 

Updated General Map showing all designated Sensitive Areas in Northern Ireland

This map presents areas classified as sensitive under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive in Northern Ireland.
 

Guidance Note for Landowners/Landlords - The risks and responsibilities when consenting to waste activities on your property

Consent form from Landowner for a Waste Management Licence / Exemption

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Marine Litter Strategy for Scotland

This document sets out how Scotland intends to tackle marine litter in its seas and deliver the obligation to achieve good environmental status in marine waters by 2020.
 

Community and Renewable Energy Scheme - Overview of Support

This document summarises advice and support available via the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).
 

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Report to Parliament 2011 - 2013

This report reviews progress against targets under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

Water Framework Directive

The Scottish Government has issued a series of Directions, which direct SEPA on environmental standards to be achieved in river basin management and classification schemes to assess progress against these.

• Solway Tweed River Basin District (Standards) (Scotland) Directions 2014

• Scotland River Basin District (Standards) Directions 2014

• Solway Tweed River Basin District (Status) (Scotland) Directions 2014

• Scotland River Basin District (Status) Directions 2014
  
   

Implementing the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003: Assessing Scotland’s water environment – use of environmental standards, condition limits and classification schemes

Guidance is provided on how the Scotland River Basin District and Solway Tweed River Basin District Status Directions 2014 and Standards Directions 2014 should be used by SEPA.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE (DECC)

Water source heat map

This map communicates opportunities for larger scale heat pump technology in England.
 

Government and Ofgem Action Plan: Challenger Businesses (Independent Energy Suppliers)

This action plan details commitments by DECC and Ofgem to address concerns raised by independent energy suppliers.
 

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Guidance

DECC has published a series of documents on CCS and a possible phase 2 of its deployment.
 

CfDs for non-UK renewable electricity projects

This document concerns the possible application of the Contract for Difference (CfD) regime to projects outside the UK.

Waste management firm convicted of continued licence breaches

A Falkirk-based waste management firm has been convicted for repeated breaches of conditions to their waste management licence. Oran Environmental Solutions was found guilty of two charges concerning operations at their Falkirk waste transfer station.

The charges brought against Oran Environmental Solutions concerned failures to control their operations to prevent the establishment of pests and the storage non-putrescible unsegregated waste awaiting treatment for more than seven days.

SEPA received a number of complaints regarding the presence of flies, gulls and rats. Investigations by SEPA identified that the company had been in breach of their licence for the period between July and September 2012.

The company was charged for breaches under Section 33(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Sentencing will take place later in the year

• Section 33(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 makes it an offence to deposit controlled waste or knowingly cause or knowingly permit it to be deposited on any land unless suitably authorised.

Cambridgeshire Energy Company fined for effluent leak

An energy company based in East Cambridgeshire has been charged following silage effluent leaks. Leaks affected over two kilometres of two tributaries of the River Cam.

The Environment Agency traced the source of the leak to stocks of maize, which was being stored in advance of its use of anaerobic digestion. Stocks had been stored outside of containment on concrete runway at the former Waterbeach Barracks and had not been notified to the Environment Agency. Effluent from the stockpile entered surface water drains.

In a separate incident, effluent from a field silage heap resulted in ongoing pollution between November 2012 and 2013.

The company was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to contribute towards costs of £10,000 and a £200 victim surcharge.

Concrete bunding and sumps have now been installed for stocks of maize. Effluent storage tanks are now in place for both the stocks and silage heap.

County Tyrone farmer fined for pollution offence

A farmer in County Tyrone has been fined following an incident in March 2013 when a milky discharge affected a waterway.

Water Quality Inspectors identified the discharge from within surface water drainage at a farm. Further investigation identified that the discharge had affected around 700m of the waterway.

The inspectors sampled the discharge and identified that it contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, which was potential harmful to organisms in the receiving waterway.

The farmer was charged under Article 7(1)(a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, which makes it an offence to discharge or deposit any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter so that it enters a waterway or water contained in any underground strata.