Permitting Process Overview

1
Permitting Process Overview

• Alasdair McKellar
• PPC Compliance Officer
• Environment Agency

2
Introduction

• Permit Application and Determination Processes
• Consider Inter-relationship with IPC
• Context of Environmental Permitting of
  Incinerators

3
Using the I Word

• Incinerators are often described as
• Energy from Waste Plant
• Energy Recovery Facility
• Resource Recovery Parks
• But this is
• Less Transparent
• Stigmatises Incineration

4
European Directives

• Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
  (IPPC)
• No Significant Pollution (includes risk to human
  health)
• Apply Best Available Techniques
• Minimise Waste
• Prevent Accidents and Limit Their Consequences
• Return Land to Satisfactory State
• Waste Incineration (WID)
• Sets Mandatory Minimum Standards for Emission
  Limit Values, monitoring and various operating
  conditions
• Must comply with Both

5
Permit Determination Process

• Pre-Application Discussions
• Submit Application (20/10/10)
• Duly Making
• Advertising and Consultation
• Evaluation
• Further Information
• Determination
• Draft Decision
• Second Round of Consultation
• Decision

6
What Needs to be in an Application

• Non Technical Summary
• BAT Assessment
• Description of the process and how it is
  controlled
• Emissions to the Environment (Air, Water, Sewer,
  Land Waste)
• Efficient Use of Materials, Water and Energy
• Noise and Odour
• Management
• Accident Prevention
• Monitoring of Emissions
• Protection of the Land Site Condition Report
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Air Dispersion Model
• Health Risk Assessment

7
Consultation and Engagement

• As part of the determination process we consult
  with
• The Local Authority, (Planning and
  Environmental Health)
• The Primary Care Trust,
• Natural England,
• The Food Standards Agency,
• Health and Safety Executive
• Others as necessary
• And
• Local People by advertising in the local paper
  and on our website, both at application and draft
  decision stages.

8
Responding to Public Concerns

• Recognise that local people have genuine concerns
  and these need to be addressed without being
  dismissive.
• Complex or technical information can be presented
  clearly and honestly without trivialising the
  issue.
• Myths and misinformation do however need to be
  challenged.
• Be clear about what is within our remit and what
  is not and how we reach decisions.
• Be aware that some will have other agendas
  Recognise that local opinion could be very well
  informed and even expert.
• Recognise that local people will know their area
  and its history better than we do.
• It All Takes Time

9
Development Consent Order and Environmental
Permit

• Both are needed to operate
• Dont need a DCO to issue an incinerator permit
• Can apply sequentially or twin track
• EA and LA are consultees to each others process
• We exchange information
• with the IPC

10
Planning Policy Statement 23

• Government policy on planning and pollution
  control
• States that the two systems are separate but
  complementary
• Planning deals with land use and location
• Pollution control deals with the processes and
  control of emissions

11
Summary

• Incineration is not a dirty word
• Plant must comply with IPPC and WID
• Application at the Duly Making Stage
• High public interest site
• Two stages of consultation
• Permit determination process will be thorough and
  painstaking likely to take up to a year
• Planning and Environmental Permitting separate
  but complementary

12
How do I find out more?

• From our website
• Incineration
• http//www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/lib
  rary/position/103220.aspx
• Permitting
• http//www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sec
  tors/117141.aspx
• consultation link
• http//www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/libr
  ary/consultations/consultations.aspx
• From Defra website - Permitting
• http//ww2.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/permi
  tting/