Environmental Permit Applications and Modifications
We can assist with applying for environmental permit applications, modifications and surrenders. Our experience helps you get your permit quickly and cost effectively.
Background
An environmental permit is a document prepared by the Environment Agency or local authority (district, borough or unitary council). It states conditions you must follow to prevent harming the environment or human health. You must obtain an environmental permit before carrying out any activities covered by the term “regulated facility”. They replace the PPC (Pollution prevention control), WML (Waste management licencing), Water discharge consents and groundwater permits. If you held one of these permits or licences it automatically became an environmental permit on 6 April 2008.
Regulated Facilities – Who does it apply to?
Regulated facilities include:
- Installations and mobile plants carrying out certain industrial, waste and intensive agricultural activities
- Waste operations
- Water discharge and groundwater activities
- Radioactive substance activities
- Mining waste operations.
Permit types
Standard rules permits: the simplest form of permit issued by the Environment Agency. They are for regulated facilities able to comply with a standard set of predefined rules and have similar environmental hazards, for example waste transfer stations, end of life vehicles and metal recycling facilities. Standard rules permits cannot be changed. If your site is unable to comply with the requirements you will need to apply for a bespoke permit.
Bespoke permits: are specific to a particular site and contain site specific standards and predefined rules that you must comply with. Bespoke permits are more complicated. Because potential environmental risks and impacts must be assessed, they generally take longer to deal with and are more expensive than standard rules permits. The main benefit of this type of permit over standard rules is that it can be tailored specifically to your business needs. It is also an option when complying with a standard rules permit may not be appropriate.
Single site and consolidated permits: are suitable if you have a range of regulated facilities under the same regulator at the same site or if you have more than one environmental permit operating at different sites. It may be possible to consolidate all your operations under a single permit.
What we can do
We can manage the whole application surrender or permit modification process. Alternatively we can provide advice and guidance for specific parts of your project. It really is up to you how involved you would like us to be. We would prefer to be involved as early as possible so we can look at permit requirements and help develop a comprehensive permitting strategy. We will liaise with the regulators, produce and submit paperwork on your behalf and manage the process through to permit issue.
Benefits to you
- Identify the most appropriate type of permit for your facility
- Project management of the application from start to finish
- Expert support and guidance leading toreduced time and cost.