The Planning (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

External emergency plan

19.—(1) Where planning permission has been granted or deemed to be granted for relevant development in respect of a Category A waste facility, the council 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 accidents 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 council 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 council shall afford the public concerned a reasonable timescale to express comments and shall take due account of 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 council 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 council at least every three years and updated as necessary.

(8) Where the council 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 council must immediately notify the Department. Such notification must include a copy of all information provided to the council pursuant to a condition imposed by virtue of regulation 13(6).

(9) The Department, upon being notified under paragraph (8), must forward a copy of the information referred to in paragraph (8) to the other Member State concerned.