Pollution Offences It is an offence to permit a pollutant to enter waters. There are several other offences in relation to the breach of water pollution and trade effluent licences. Breaches of licence conditions are offences. Where a company is guilty of an offence under water pollution legislation, its directors, managers or secretaries may be liable if the offence is […]
Various Applicable Laws There is no single law dealing with the control of noise. There are a number of distinct pieces of legislation which may be relevant in relation to the abatement of noise. Many of these are monitored and enforced by the local authority. There is a mechanism by which the local authority can serve a notice requiring the […]
Electric Equipment and Vehicles Electrical and electronic equipment put on the market after July 2006 is subject to collection, treatment and recycling obligations. The regulations apply to goods running on mains or battery power up to a certain voltage. Certain categories of materials are excluded. Producers have to register with authorities. Certain goods must be labelled. Materials must be collected […]
Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is a national agency. It has responsibility for promoting high standards of environmental protection, promoting sustainable and economic use, sound development, applying the polluter pays principle and balancing development and environmental needs. The Agency has broad environmental functions, including licensing and control of particularly serious polluting activities (integrated pollution control licences); monitoring […]
Integrated Pollution Contol The Protection of the Environment Act 2003 introduced a wider concept of integrated pollution control, implementing updating EU Directives. The IPC licence seeks to control all emissions to air, water, and land, and also noise emissions, in an integrated manner. It also provides for energy usage, minimising waste and measures for site protection. It is wider in […]
Designation Planning authorities must include a record of Protected Structures in their Development Plan. Specified features of the structures may be recorded and protected. Where a structure is designated as protected, the generally applicable exempt development regulations are severely limited or totally dis-applied. There is no compensation for the refusal of planning permission nor for the imposition of conditions in […]
Waste Management Plan Local authorities must prepare a waste management plan for non-hazardous waste. It deals with the prevention, minimisation, collection, recovery and disposal of non-hazardous waste. It must also deal with matters in relation to hazardous waste for which they are responsible. Joint plans may be made by councils. The plans must be reviewed as often as necessary and […]
Environmental Impact Assessment Threshold development is development of the type set out in the schedule to the Planning and Development Act as requiring an environmental impact assessment if it exceeds the quantity, conditions, areas and limits applicable to that class of development. Where an environmental impact statement is not included and the planning authority is of the opinion that the […]