Environmental permitting

Environmental Permitting Regulations, 2007 SI 3538  

Environmental permitting is a single, risk-based system for regulating business activities that could have an impact on the environment.

It provides a streamlined system for managing environmental permits, including:

• a single application form;
• common procedures for appeals, changes and transfers; and
• simplified guidance.

You must have an environmental permit if you operate a regulated facility, including:

• installations or mobile plant carrying out part A(1), A(2) and B activities
• waste operations
• waste mobile plant
• mining waste operations.

You can be fined or sent to prison if you operate a regulated facility without an environmental permit.

An installation is a stationary technical unit used for listed activities, such as a self-contained building, permanent structure or fixed plant. Mobile plant is plant that can be moved and is used for listed activities.

Listed activities include:

• chemicals: manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals or explosives, storing chemicals in bulk
• energy: burning fuel, gasification, liquification and refining activities
• metals: manufacturing and processing metals
• minerals: manufacturing lime, cement, ceramics or glass
• solvents: using solvents
• waste: incinerating waste, operating landfills, recovering waste
• other: manufacturing paper, pulp and board, treating timber products, coating, treating textiles and printing, manufacturing new tyres, intensive pig and poultry farming.

Listed activities are split into three categories - part A(1), part A(2) and part B:

• Part A(1) processes - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)
  
  Regulates emissions to air, land and water and the impacts of noise, waste and energy efficiency.
  
  The Environment Agency control A(1) activities, which are the larger more polluting and complex industries for example power stations. 
  
  Part A(1) permits control activities with a range of environmental impacts, including:         
• • accident prevention
  • emissions to air, land and water
  • energy efficiency
  • noise, vibration and heat
  • raw materials consumption
  • waste reduction
    
    
• Part A(2) processes - Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC)
  
  Regulates emissions to air, land and water and the impacts of noise, waste and energy efficiency.
  
  These tend to be less complex than A1 activities. 
  
  
• Part B processes - Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC).
  
  Regulates emissions to air only.
  
  Part B permits control activities that have less potential to cause pollution and include activities such as vehicle re-spraying, crematoria, small foundries, coating processes and unloading of petrol. They are regulated by your local authority.
  
  Local authorities deal with about 80 different types of installation. Glassworks and foundries, rendering plant and maggot breeders, petrol stations and concrete crushers, sawmills and paint manufacturers, are among the sorts regulated. The Defra website has a list of all process guidance notes relevant for part B.

Who can apply for a permit?

You can only apply for an environmental permit if you control the operation of a regulated facility. If you are unsure whether you need and environmental permit please contact the local authority.

Who do you apply to?

You must apply to your regulator for an environmental permit.    

* If your waste operation or waste mobile plant is carried out as part of your Part A(2) or B installation or mobile plant, your local council is your regulator.  

Where can you find application forms?

• Environment Agency Part A application form
• Part B Application form (PDF 90Kb)

For more information contact Environmental Health and Housing Services:

Environmental Health and Housing Services
West Suffolk House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YU

Phone: 01284 757053
Email: Env.Health@stedsbc.gov.uk