Permitting Process
Overview
Alasdair McKellar
PPC Compliance Officer
Environment Agency
Introduction
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Permit Application and Determination Processes
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Consider Inter-relationship
with IPC
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Context of Environmental
Permitting of Incinerators
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
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
Permit Determination Process
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Pre-Application Discussions
Submit Application (20/10/10)
Duly Making
Advertising and Consultation
Evaluation
Further Information
Determination
Draft Decision
Second Round of Consultation
Decision
What Needs to be in an Application
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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
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.
Responding to Public Concerns
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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
Development Consent Order
and Environmental Permit
Both are needed to operate
 Don’t need a DCO to issue an incinerator permit
 Can apply sequentially
or twin track
 EA and LA are consultees
to each other’s process
 We exchange information
with the IPC
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
Summary
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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
How do I find out more?
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From our website
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Incineration
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/library/position/103220.aspx
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Permitting
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/117141.aspx
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consultation link
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/library/consultations/consultations.aspx
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From Defra website - Permitting
http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/permitting/