The Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduced measures to reduce and control emissions to air, land and water from specified industrial processes, through a legislative regime by the issuing of 'authorisations' for these processes. Responsibility for issuing and regulating the authorisations was split between Local Authorities and the Environment Agency.
The regulation for these processes was revised with the introduction of the Pollution, Prevention and Control Act 1999, and now the operators of specified installations are required to obtain a permit to operate, from the appropriate enforcing authority.
Detailed conditions are attached to the permits on the operation of the process and may set limits to minimise the emission of pollutants to the environment and require regular monitoring of emissions.
The processes requiring a permit are detailed in both the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000 (as amended).
It is illegal to operate a process without the operator holding a permit.
All the processes are regularly inspected to ensure that they are meeting their operating conditions.
Dover District Council has issued permits for a number of processes including vehicle respayers, waste oil burners, cement works in addition to Petrol Vapour Recovery permits for petrol stations.
Details of the processes, which have been permitted, are kept on a Public Register, which is kept at the Council Offices and is available for inspection during office hours or by request. Alternatively, the list of processes is available online on the Council's consultees web page.
It is advisable to contact the Environmental Protection Team to make an appointment if you wish to view the Public Register.
Further information regarding the Pollution, Prevention Control regime can be obtained from the Environmental Protection Team tel 01304 872428 or by contacting the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs www.defra.gov.uk
