Decision Document for Permit Number P0422/13A (William Fleck)
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 77,000 birds which will be housed in 3 sheds (2 sheds are existing and 1
will be newly constructed). Litter will be exported for mushroom composting or combustion in authorised facilities.
There is no storage of litter on site other than in the houses awaiting cleanout.
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
As 1 of the houses will be newly constructed there are a number of 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.
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 William Fleck or another 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 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.
2.3.4 Litter storage
Litter may not be stored on site other than in the houses prior to clean-out. Trailers will be loaded close to the poultry
shed doors.
2.3.5 Litter utilisation
No litter will 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
625T per year
2.3.6 Odour
This is a standard condition. An odour management plan has been provided as part of application. The IPRI Odour
Screening Tool indicates that the predicted odour level at the nearest third party dwelling (250m South West of the
site) will be below the guideline value (i.e. 3.0 OU/m3 as set out in the Environment Agency H4 Odour Management
Guidance, March 2011). Due to the distances involved, the type of ventilation (high speed roof fans) being used and
the size of the site the odour impacts from this site is not considered likely to be significant.
2.4 Discharges to Groundwater
This is a standard condition. No list I or II substances will be applied to land i.e. are unlikely to cause problems.
2.5 Avoidance, recovery and
disposal of wastes, including
carcasses
Permit condition 2.9.1.10 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
A number of design features are incorporated into the broiler houses to reduce energy consumption e.g. high level of
insulation in walls and roofs. 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 carryout 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 250m away further noise control
measures are not considered necessary.
Decision Document for Permit Number P0422/13A (William Fleck)
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.
Ballymena 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.
NIEA 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 AQMAU (Air Quality Modelling and Assessment Unit –
Environment Agency) ammonia 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 incombination 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
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”).
ASSIs
The closest ASSI is Garron Plateau ASSI at 7.5 Km. The 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. 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”).
Other environmental receptors
Improvement condition IMP8 has been added to ensure the construction of a swale, this should help ensure that
Decision Document for Permit Number P0422/13A (William Fleck)
CONSULTEE COMMENTS
People
Overall BAT demonstration.
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.
The nearest third party dwelling is located approximately 250m from the installation. Given the size of the
installation 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 (i.e. 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 have been 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 (P0422/13A) is that a permit should be granted.
Completed by:
Date:
Philip Mayes
09 September 2013