PPC

Pollution Prevention and Control Regulation (PPC) aims to control pollution from certain industrial activities. In England and Wales, the PPC Regulation has been incorporated into the framework of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) since April 2008.

Apart from combining with the Waste Management Licensing Regulations to form a new regulation, there is no major changes to the PPC aspects. A permit issued under the PPC Regulations will in future be regarded as having been issued under the EPR.

The PPC Regulations covers three systems of pollution control, i.e.:

  • Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), for activities in Part A(1) e.g. Activities that involve burning any fuel in an appliance with a rated thermal input of 50 or more megawatts;
  • Local authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC), for activities in Part A(2);
  • Local authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC), for activities in Part B.

Operators of installations carrying out activities that fall within the Regulations are required to hold an operating permit. The operating permit will specify the conditions under which the specified activity can be carried out. Part A(1) and A(2) activities, may have permit conditions in relation to releases to air, water and land, waste minimisation, energy efficiency and site restoration. Part B activities are regulated only in respect of releases to air.

Regulators i.e. Environment Agency for Part A(1) and Local Authorities for Part A(2) and B will set permit conditions which are based on the ‘Best Available Techniques’ (BAT), which will balance the cost to the operator against benefits to the environment.

Legislative Documents

For full version of the EPR, refer to:-

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007

Government Guidance Notes

ERP Guidance published by Defra is available on:-

The Environmental Permitting Core Guidance