Decision Document for Permit Number P0424/13A (Seamus & Nicola Kane)
CONDITION(S)
JUSTIFICATION
1.1The permitted activities
The Permit covers the rearing of poultry for meat production (broilers) and the storage of wastes including carcasses.
Bird numbers quoted in the application are 78,000 birds which will be housed in 2 sheds. Litter will be exported for
mushroom composting or combustion in authorised facilities. There is also planned storage of litter on site.
1.2.1 The site
The site boundary is as shown on the site plan.
1.3 Overall Management
These are standard conditions.
1.4 Pre-operation conditions
Condition 1.4.1 requires the operator to inform the Chief Inspector 14 days prior to the 40,000 bird capacity being
exceeded and therefore the permit becoming effective. Conditions 1.4.2, 1.4.3 and 1.4.4 will ensure that a tank is in
place to store dirty wash water and that the systems are in place to route dirty water to the tank from the yard and
houses. Condition 1.4.5 requires the operator to provide collision protection for LPG storage tanks. Condition 1.4.6
ensures that suitable bunding is provided for the generator and associated fuel storage. Condition 1.4.7 ensures that a
suitable store is provided for pesticides and veterinary medicines and condition 1.4.8 ensures that there is sufficient
metering of all water used on the site.
1.5 Off site conditions
There are no off-site conditions.
1.6 Minor operational changes
These are standard conditions.
2.1 Farm Management
Techniques
These are standard conditions. Under IMP4 Seamus Kane or some other responsible person in control of the
installation, will be required to complete training on Pollution Prevention and Control (e.g. Lantra IPPC Course) and
will pass on the knowledge gained to others on the installation.
These are standard conditions. Improvement condition IMP1 has been added to ensure that an audit of water use is
undertaken within 3 years of the effective date of the permit.
2.2.1 – 2.2.3 Raw Materials and
Water
2.3.1 Feed delivery, milling and
preparation
These are standard conditions. Feed will be blown into new, fully covered and sealed bins.
2.3.2 Storage of agricultural fuel
oils and other materials
Pre operation condition 1.4.6 has been added to ensure that the generator installation and incinerator fuel storage are
bunded. Pre operation condition 1.4.7 requires the operator to provide a suitable store for storage of pesticides and
veterinary medicines.
2.3.3 Minimising emissions from
housing
Arrangements for isolating contaminated run-off and diverting it to the waste tank as required by condition 2.3.3.3.
Swale(s) as described in the application and as discussed during the site visit will be constructed to treat lightly
contaminated storm run-off. Yard drainage will be diverted to the swale (lightly contaminated) or the waste water
tank (heavily contaminated) by means of two diverter manifolds and drain blockers. Waste water tank(s) for the
storage of house and yard washings will be constructed in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Control of Pollution
(Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. Condensate from the heat exchanger
system will be routed to the wash water tank.
2.3.4 Litter storage
Litter may be stored in a constructed litter store as well as in the houses prior to clean-out. Trailers will be loaded
close to the poultry shed doors.
2.3.5 Litter utilisation
No litter shall be spread to land on or off the farm. Litter will be exported from the site for use in mushroom
composting or combustion in authorised facilities. The operator estimates the litter produced on the site to be up to
660T per year.
2.3.6 Odour
These are standard conditions.
The closest third party dwelling is approximately 120m South East of the poultry site. The NIEA odour screening
tool predicted that the odour guideline value of 3OU/m3 98th percentile 1 hour value (as set out in the Environment
Agency H4 Odour Management Guidance, March 2011) is not expected to be exceeded at any of the closest existing
3rd party dwellings.
Measures described in the odour management plan provided with the application shall be implemented. A
satisfactory complaints procedure was submitted with the odour management plan. It is considered that people
should not be unduly affected by odour emissions from the poultry unit provided the conditions set out in the permit
are strictly adhered to.
This is a standard condition. No list I or II substances will be applied to land i.e. are unlikely to cause problems.
2.4 Discharges to Groundwater
2.5 Avoidance, recovery and
disposal of wastes, including
carcasses
Permit condition 2.9.1.9 requires records of wastes to be kept and wastes to be avoided or minimised. Improvement
condition IMP2 has been added to ensure that a waste audit is undertaken within 36 months of the effective date of
the permit. Carcasses are disposed of by rendering in an approved rendering facility or incineration on site in a
DARD approved incinerator.
2.6 Energy Use
The installation is not part of a Climate Change Levy Agreement (CCLA) but may join the scheme in the future.
Assuming the installation becomes part of a CCLA no further conditions are required here, however if the operator
fails to register with a CCLA an energy audit will be required within 36 months of the effective date of the permit
(IMP3).
2.7 Accident Prevention and
Management
2.8 Noise and vibration
These are standard conditions. The plan provided with the application was satisfactory.
2.9.1 Recording
These standard conditions state the requirements for recording.
2.9.2 Emissions
No specific controls are required on either emissions to air or water.
2.10 Site Closure and
Decommissioning
A site closure plan was submitted with the application and conditions 2.10.1 and 2.10.2 ensure that this plan is
maintained and reviewed.
IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAMME
IMP1 has been added to reinforce the need for a water audit to be undertaken within 36 months of the effective date
of the permit. IMP2 requires a waste minimisation audit to be undertaken within 36 months of the effective date of
the permit. IMP3 ensures that the operator will either become part of a CCLA or submit an energy audit within 36
months. IMP4 will ensure that the operator, or another responsible person working on the installation, will complete
training in Pollution Prevention and Control. IMP5 requires the operator to carry out and submit a review of the site
drainage plan after the site is constructed. IMP6 will ensure that a swale(s) is constructed to treat the lightly
contaminated roof and yard drainage prior to stocking the houses.
A noise management plan was provided and the conditions enforce the requirement to keep this up to date. Standard
conditions with limits on the timing of feed deliveries have been added to enforce what is stated in the noise plan.
Given the restriction in feed delivery times and the fact that the nearest receptor is 120m away further noise control
measures are not considered necessary.
Decision Document for Permit Number P0424/13A (Seamus & Nicola Kane)
CONSULTEE COMMENTS
The Public Health Agency
District Council
The Public Health Agency expressed no particular concerns about the proposed installation. No additional conditions
are considered necessary.
Antrim Borough Council raised no concerns about the proposed installation. No further conditions are thought
necessary.
Food Standards Agency
The FSA state that provided the operator complies with the relevant technical guidance, it is unlikely that there will
be any unacceptable effects on the human food chain as a result of the operations at this facility.
Conservation Designations &
Protection (CDP)
CDP have stated that the impact of ammonia from the proposed farm on nearby habitats (Antrim Hills SPA at
6700m) should not exceed 10% of the critical level. The Environment Agency Air Quality Modelling and
Assessment Unit (AQMAU) screening tool (v4) predicts that the contribution from the farm will be 0.6% of critical
level. This impact is not considered to be significant and is below the threshold (4%) above which an in-combination
assessment would be required with other PPC installations in the area (as set out in the Environment Agency
guidance document “Assessing the impact of ammonia releases from new and expanding intensive farms on nature
conservation sites”).
IMPACTS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT
European sites
ASSIs
The closest European Sites is Antrim Hills SPA which is located approximately 6.7 Km from the installation. The
impact from the proposed farm at this distance is predicted to be 0.6% of the critical level. This impact is not
considered to be significant and is below the threshold (4%) above which an in-combination assessment would be
required with other PPC installations in the area (as set out in the Environment Agency guidance document
“Assessing the impact of ammonia releases from new and expanding intensive farms on nature conservation sites”).
The closest ASSI is Garron Plateau ASSI at 7.5 Km. The Environment Agency AQMAU Ammonia Screening Tool
V4.1 predicts the impact of ammonia from the farm to be <0.6% of the critical level for the habitat and is not
considered significant. This impact is not considered to be significant and is below the threshold (4%) above which
an in-combination assessment would be required with other PPC installations in the area (as set out in the
Environment Agency guidance document “Assessing the impact of ammonia releases from new and expanding
intensive farms on nature conservation sites”).
Decision Document for Permit Number P0424/13A (Seamus & Nicola Kane)
CONSULTEE COMMENTS
Other environmental receptors
People
Overall BAT demonstration.
Improvement condition IMP8 has been added to ensure the construction of a swale, this should help ensure that
emissions to water will be adequately controlled. The installation will be well maintained having clean yard
surfaces. House wash water will be conveyed directly to waste tanks in a fail safe manner. Emissions to the
atmosphere will be low due to good litter quality, and the design of the roof fans expels exhaust air into the
atmosphere in a manner that should not result in dust deposition on roofs. This also ensures that odours from this
installation should not be noticeable at sensitive receptors. Pre-operation conditions will ensure that facilities for fuel
and chemical storage will be secure so reducing the risk from storage of potentially hazardous products.
Heat exchangers will be installed which will return some of the heat to the sheds which would otherwise be lost
through ventilation, and therefore will reduce energy inputs.
The nearest third party dwelling is located approximately 120m from the installation. Given the size of the
installation, the proposed house ventilation type (i.e. ridge high speed fans) and the distances involved people should
not be affected by dust, odours, noise or other emissions from this installation, provided that the odour and noise
management plans are implemented. The IPRI Odour Screening Tool predicts that the guideline value for odour (3.0
OU/m3 as set out in the Environment Agency H4 Odour Management Guidance, March 2011) is unlikely to be
exceeded at any of the third party dwellings in the area.
The application and additional information submitted indicates that appropriate measures be taken to control the risk
of pollution of waterways and that procedures are in place for the control of the handling/storage of waste materials
on the site. The site is designed with a high level of containment. The releases to air from the poultry farm are
predicted to be low. The installation is not a major energy user and is not likely to give reasonable cause for
annoyance due to noise. The combination of measures proposed in the application and required by the permit is
considered to represent the Best Available Techniques for an installation of this nature.
The determination of this application (P0424/13A) is that a permit should be granted.
Completed by:
Date:
Philip Mayes
10 October 2013