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Defra launches two consultations on air pollution regulation

   

INFORMATION BUILLETIN

Ref: 364/08
Date: 14 November 2008

Defra is consulting on a review of the air pollution regulations in England.

Air quality in England has improved considerably over the last few decades due to tighter controls over the emissions of harmful pollutants from industry, transport and households. England is now meeting the objectives of the national Air Quality Strategy in ninety five per cent of the country.

The better regulation review consultation seeks input on proposals looking at how air pollution regulations can be delivered more cheaply and effectively without compromising air quality policy or international obligations.

Defra is proposing that three sectors: introducing an odour into natural gas, making powder coatings, and drying vegetable matter, comprising of approximately 156 facilities which carry out these operations, are in future only under statutory nuisance regulation. This is because the way they operate and the potential for pollution does not justify further regulations.

The package as a whole could result in savings to businesses of over £2 million. A detailed study has been conducted to analyse the effects of the different regulatory options on each sector and the impacts they would have on costs and benefits, taking account of the impact on air quality.

Defra has also today launched a consultation on the six-year review of Process Guidance Notes for the mainly-industrial installations regulated by local authorities to control air emissions.  The guidance notes specify pollution control standards for about 20,000 installations in England and Wales.

There are currently 82 guidance notes available and these are published on the Defra website:

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc/localauth/pubs/guidance/notes/pgnotes/index.htm.

The last major review of these guidance notes concluded in 2005, and the current consultation seeks views on what the review should cover and how it should be conducted. 

Further information

The consultations can be found at:

BBR of Part B Activities – www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/brr-partb-activities/index.htm

6-year review of process guidance notes for part B installations - www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sixyear-review/index.htm

Local authorities regulate so-called 'medium-polluting' installations under the Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control regime – often referred to as Part B installations.  The installations are classified into 82 sectors, and a separate guidance note on air pollution standards is issued for each sector.

The operators of all such installations must obtain a permit.  Where the permit is given, local authorities must include conditions aimed at ensuring that the best available techniques (BAT) are used to minimise impacts from air emissions.  Defra issues statutory guidance on what constitute BAT for each sector.

End

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Page published: 14 November 2008