PART 3Authorisations
Authorisations generally17
1
When the Department receives an application for an authorisation that might lead to the discharge of a pollutant, it must ensure that all necessary investigations have been carried out to ensure that it grants any authorisation in accordance with regulation 14 or 15.
2
If it grants an authorisation, it must include conditions requiring all necessary technical precautions to be observed to ensure the objectives of regulations 14 and 15 are achieved.
3
An authorisation may not be granted without examination of—
a
the hydrogeological conditions of the area concerned;
b
the possible purifying powers of the soil and subsoil; and
c
the risk of pollution and alteration of the quality of the groundwater from the discharge,
and without establishing whether the input of pollutants into groundwater is a satisfactory option in the best interests of the environment.
4
An authorisation may only be granted if the Department has checked that the groundwater (and, in particular, its quality) will undergo the requisite investigations under (1).