IPPC A general overview Nigel Barraclough Policy Adviser

IPPC A general overview Nigel Barraclough Policy Adviser Industrial Pollution Control Branch Air and Environment Quality Division. Taiwanese Environmental Protection Administration 5 th December 2007

IPPC: A general overview Content • Origins. • IPPC: purpose, general principals. • IPPC: applications and guidance. • Amendments and future actions.

IPPC origins (1) • 1976 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommendation that a body be created with responsibility for ensuring that wastes were disposed so as to minimise effects in all three media.

IPPC origins (2) • Environment Protection Act 1990 - Integrated Pollution Control (“IPC”) - single regulator - authorisation for each process - Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEEC)

IPPC origins (3) • Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (“IPPC”), • Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 • Pollution Prevention and Control (England Wales) Regulations 2000 (“PPC Regulations”) • Similar legislation in Scotland Northern Ireland.

UK Regulators • The Scottish Environment Protection Agency • The Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service • The Environment Agency • Local authorities in England Wales (for small installations)

IPPC: purpose • `to achieve a high level of protection for the environment taken as a whole’. So • IPPC permits must include emission limit values (ELVs) for pollutants likely to be emitted in significant quantities.

IPPC general principles • Preventive, Best Available Techniques (“BAT”) measures against pollution • No significant pollution • Waste avoided, recovered or safely disposed • Energy used efficiently • Accident prevention • Site restoration to baseline condition

“Best Available Techniques” • incorporates consideration of the economic viability of implementing a technique, taking into account the `costs and advantages’ of implementation, when deciding whether that technique is available.

Economic criteria for BAT decisions • • • market structure industry structure resilience of the sector BAT costs as a percentage of total costs speed of implementation.

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) • In England Wales • about 3 800 installations in 48 individual industrial sectors have been permitted by implementation deadline October 2007. • Phased in from December 2000 to March 2007: - delivers environmental improvements; and - avoids “big bang” last-minute permit rush

IPPC applications (1) Overview • Good relationship needed between regulator and operator to deliver benefits of IPPC. • Pre-application discussions necessary. • Guidance documents are needed! • Charge is made, including “maintenance” – proportional to complexity of operation. • Process should be “self funded” – no aid from central Government.

IPPC applications (2) Process • Applications submitted to regulator by operator • Consultation with “statutory consultees” – including Food Standards Agency and Primary Care Trust • Charge made to operator – initial fee and annual “maintenance” charge. • Permit issued

IPPC applications (3) Content • Applications must include: • Details of operation and process carried out, • Impact assessment compliant with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, • Site report.

IPPC applications (4) EIA Directive • Article 9(2) of IPPC Directive refers specifically to the EIA Directive. • In case of a “new” or “substantial” change requirements of EIA Directive must be fulfilled. • Public Participation Directive (PPD) required wider public involvement in EIA and IPPC Directives.

IPPC Guidance (1) • • • Generic guidance – Environment Agency Practical Guide & Process Guidance Notes - Defra IPPC sector guidance notes were developed. Technical Guidance notes – Environment Agency All UK regulators involved, together with industry.

IPPC Guidance (2) • UK Guidance will be both developed from and feed into European BREFs. (BAT Reference). • Well qualified and highly motivated inspectors necessary to apply and help develop guidance.

Amendments to the Regulations • Number of changes have been made, including to implement other Directives - Waste Incineration Directive, Public Participation Directive • April 2008 expected that PPC Regulations will be combined with Waste Management Licensing – the “Environmental Permitting Regulations”.

The Future of the IPPC Directive • Continue…….

Future Actions (1) • The Commission has been carrying out a review of of the IPPC Directive. UK been taking an active role. • Draft revised Directive expected Jan 2008. • It is expected that the Waste Incineration and Large Combustion Plant Directives will be incorporated into a revised IPPC Directive.

Summary: The purpose is to achieve a high level of protection of the environment including human health.

Contact Details and Further information Nigel Barraclough Tel: +44(0)20 7238 1686 nigel. barraclough@defra. gsi. gov. uk http: //defraweb/environment/ppc/index. htm