Industrial Pollution

Background

Emissions from certain processes and activities carried out at industrial and commercial facilities have the potential to cause harm to the surrounding environment. The Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regime provides a robust integrated regulatory framework which reduces and controls the potential for impact of these emissions to air, water and land.

The PPC Regulations prescribe that certain activities must operate under a permit issued by the relevant regulator. Operators of these activities must employ the Best Available Techniques (BAT) to control and manage the risk of pollution from their facility, whilst maintaining a balance between costs to the operator and environmental benefits.

The legislation applicable to the regime is outlined in the Regulatory Framework page.

The Regulators

The Industrial Pollution and Radiochemical Inspectorate of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) are responsible for Part A and B Activities. Further information is available on the NIEA’s website.

District Councils regulate Part C Activities - Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC) regime - which is concerned with emissions to air only. The Planning and Environmental Policy Group of the DoE administer the LAPPC regime, providing technical support and develop guidance and regulations. Contact details are provided if you wish to contact any of these authorities.

LAPPC

Latest News and Current Issues

Six Year Review of PG Notes

The periodical review of the current set of Process Guidance (PG) Notes for the LAPPC regime will be getting underway in the near future. An indicative timetable for the review of the PG Notes  has recently been published by Defra.

DoE Funding to EA Local Authority Unit

To underline our commitment to working in an integrated manner with the regulatory and administrative bodies across the UK, the Department has provided funding assistance to the Environment Agency’s Local Authority Unit (LAU). The LAU provides technical support and assistance to Local Authorities on issues specifically related to the LAPPC regime.

Consolidated PPC Regulations

A consolidated version of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (PPC regulations) was produced to incorporate amendments made up to December 2009.

Consolidated PPC Regulations (532KB) .

Please be advised, it is intended that the consolidated version of the PPC regulations should be used as a guide only and whilst great care has been taken in producing the document, no liability will be accepted by the Department for any misinterpretation caused by omissions or inaccuracies in the consolidated regulations. A list of the amending legislation is available to download below

PPC Consolidated Regs - Note to users (144KB) .

Current PG Notes and General Guidance

The Department has issued a range of PG notes relevant to activities carried out across Northern Ireland. The NIPG notes form statutory guidance on what constitutes the Best Available Techniques (BAT) for Part C / LAPPC installations for each of the installations regulated.

The General Guidance Manual issued by the Department is the principal guidance on the administration of the LAPPC regime by the Local Authorities in Northern Ireland.

Fees and Charges

Operators of prescribed activities are required to pay a fee to the regulating authority to cover expenditure associated with the administration of the LAPPC regime for their premises. This incorporates the ‘Polluter Pays’ key principle, where the operator bears the cost of any measures to prevent harm that they may otherwise cause by their actions.

The levels of fees and charges are set out in the current LAPPC Charging Scheme (32KB) .

Link to Current Consultations

A consultation document on proposed amendments to the Pollution Prevention and Control (District Councils) Charging Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2010 was published on 30th November 2009, and can be accessed below

Pollution Prevention and Control (District Councils) Charging Scheme Consultation (129KB).

The new charging scheme sets out the proposed charges for 2010/11 and also sets out the proposed new risk based charging scheme proposed for 2011/12. The charges have been increased for the first time since 2005 and a new charge for operating without a permit has been introduced.

The consultation period ends 22nd February 2010.

RESPONSES TO POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2009 CONSULTATION PAPER

Synopsis of Responses (16KB).