External emergency plan
18.—(1) Where planning permission has been granted or deemed to be granted for relevant development in respect of a Category A waste facility, the Department shall draw up an external emergency plan specifying the measures to be taken off-site in the event of an accident.
(2) The external emergency plan shall have the following objectives—
(a)to contain and control major accidents and other incidents so as to minimise their effects, and in particular to limit damage to human health and the environment;
(b)to implement the measures necessary to protect human health and the environment from the effects of major accidents and other incidents;
(c)to communicate the necessary information to the public and to the relevant services or authorities in the area; and
(d)to provide for the rehabilitation, restoration and clean-up of the environment following a major accident.
(3) The public concerned will be provided with early and effective opportunities to participate in the preparation and review of the external emergency plan referred to in paragraph (1) and the Department shall make arrangements to inform the public concerned of proposals to prepare and review the plan, including information about the right to participate in that process and how to do so.
(4) The Department shall afford the public concerned a reasonable timescale to express comments and shall have due account to the comments received in reaching its decision on the preparation or review of the plan.
(5) Information on safety measures and the action required in the event of an accident at the site shall be provided by the Department to the public concerned, free of charge.
(6) The information referred to in paragraph (5) shall contain at least all matters specified in Schedule 4.
(7) The information referred to in paragraph (5) shall be reviewed by the Department at least every three years and updated as necessary.
(8) Where the Department becomes aware of an accident involving a Category A waste facility which is likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment of, and any resultant risks to human health in, another Member State, the Department shall forward the information provided to it pursuant to a condition imposed by virtue of paragraph regulation 13(6) to the other Member State concerned.