The Environment Agency is calling for comments on whether its proposed new Standard Permitting scheme correctly identify the risks associated with a range of waste management activities.

These permits are aimed at "providing operators with quicker, easier and more cost-effective regulation whilst maintaining current environmental standards; freeing up resources to deal with the riskiest operators.

"The new Environmental Permitting system is in keeping with our role as a modern, flexible regulator - encouraging operators to protect the environment, taking tough action on those who don’t, and rewarding those who do by freeing them up from regulation and helping them reduce costs," said Environment Agency Director of Environment Protection Tricia Henton.

Under the proposed system, Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) and Waste Management Licensing (WML) will be streamlined into the one regime - Environmental Permitting. This hope is that this will create a common approach to permit applications, maintenance, compliance, surrender and enforcement.

The Environment Agency will publish a summary of responses and the finalised documents before the regulations come into force in April 2008.


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