Advertisement for Environmental Permit Application Submission by Samworth Brothers Limited at LE4 1WX location - Reference Number: EPR/CP3430WV/V002
The Environment Agency, a UK government body responsible for protecting and improving the environment, consults the public on applications for various types of operations, including waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge, groundwater activities, medium combustion plants, and specified generators.
Public participation is a key aspect of the decision-making process for these operations, and the Environment Agency's Public Participation Statement outlines the arrangements for public involvement.
Key points of the public participation process and requirements include:
- Notification and Advertising: The Agency publishes a notice of the application on its website and in local newspapers for a defined period. The notice includes where and when the public can view the application and related documents.
- Access to Documents: Copies of the application and all relevant documents are placed on the Agency’s Public Register and made available online. The public can view and arrange to obtain copies of these materials freely.
- Consultation with Interested Bodies: The Environment Agency sends copies of applications to key stakeholders, including local authorities, environmental protection departments, and other bodies with which it has cooperation agreements.
- Legal Framework: The process complies with the Aarhus Convention and national legislation such as the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. The Agency considers consultation mandatory where appropriate to involve interested persons and meets these legal obligations.
- Scope and Timing: The consultation is part of the Environment Agency’s determination process under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (EPR 2016) and Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), meaning that public participation occurs prior to final permit decisions and during relevant technical assessments.
- Pre-application Engagement (Scotland example): There is a trend, especially noted in Scottish Environmental regulations, requiring prospective applicants to engage in public consultation at the pre-application stage to improve participation and transparency early in the permitting process.
- Types of Variations and Consultation: For administrative-only variations, the Environment Agency may not carry out full public consultation as these changes are not substantive. However, for variations involving technical assessment or consultation requirements, public participation remains part of the process.
In summary, the Environment Agency ensures public participation via timely public advertisement of applications, easy access to all relevant documentation, direct consultation with stakeholders, and compliance with international and domestic legislation governing public involvement in environmental permitting decisions.
The notices provided by the Environment Agency also detail the deadline for public comments, ensuring that the public has ample opportunity to voice their concerns or support for the proposed operations. If approved, the Environment Agency will specify conditions for the permit.
[1] Environment Agency. (n.d.). Public Participation Statement. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-participation-statement [2] Scottish Environment Protection Agency. (n.d.). Pre-application Consultation. Retrieved from https://sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/permits/pre-application-consultation/ [5] Environment Agency. (n.d.). Variations to Permits. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-variation-to-an-environmental-permit
- The Environment Agency's public participation process in environmental-science matters, such as medium combustion plants and specified generators, includes making application details readily available to the public, allowing them to voice their opinions through the stated deadline, and abiding by the Aarhus Convention and other applicable domestic laws.
- In instances relating to the energy sector, like waste or mining waste operations, the Environment Agency collaborates with industry, finance, and environmental protection departments, ensuring that the public's concerns are considered while adhering to the legal framework established within the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (EPR 2016) and the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).
