CHAPTER 4Standard rules
Preparation and revision of standard rules
26.—(1) A rule-making authority may prepare standard rules for such regulated facilities as are described in those rules.
(2) In preparing or revising standard rules the authority must consult—
(a)such persons or bodies as it considers are representative of the interests of communities likely to be affected by, or persons operating, the regulated facilities described in the rules; and
(b)such other persons as it considers are likely to be affected by or have an interest in the rules.
(3) But the duty in paragraph (2) does not apply in relation to revisions which comprise only minor administrative changes.
(4) The authority must keep under review all standard rules published by it under this regulation and revise those rules when it considers necessary.
(5) The authority must publish on its website all standard rules prepared or revised by it under this regulation.
(6) The duty in paragraph (2) may be satisfied by a consultation carried out partially or wholly before the coming into force of these Regulations.
Standard rules as conditions of an environmental permit
27.—(1) This regulation applies where a rule-making authority has published standard rules under regulation 26(5).
(2) At the request of the operator of a standard facility the regulator may include in the environmental permit authorising the facility a term providing that the relevant rules are conditions of the permit.
(3) If the regulator includes such a term, the relevant rules are conditions of the permit for the purposes of these Regulations, but there is no right of appeal under regulation 31 in relation to such a condition or the relevant rules.
(4) In this regulation “relevant rules” means the standard rules which apply to the standard facility.
Notification of revisions of standard rules
28.—(1) This regulation applies where the rule-making authority proposes to revise standard rules under regulation 26(4).
(2) Before the rule-making authority complies with regulation 26(5), the regulator must notify any operator who holds a relevant environmental permit—
(a)of the proposed revisions;
(b)of the date when the revised rules will be published, which must not be less than 3 months from the date the notification is served; and
(c)that on this date the revised rules will become conditions of the environmental permit.
(3) But the authority may publish the revised rules before 3 months from the date the notification is served if the revisions comprise only minor administrative changes.
(4) The revised rules take effect when published under regulation 26(5).
(5) In this regulation “relevant environmental permit” means an environmental permit which will be affected by the proposed revisions.
Revocation of standard rules
29. The rule-making authority may revoke standard rules, but before doing so must consult the persons and bodies referred to in regulation 26(2).
Variation of an environmental permit: revocation of standard rules
30.—(1) This regulation applies to an environmental permit which includes a standard rules term if the standard rules applying by virtue of that term have been revoked by the regulator.
(2) The revoked rules continue to have effect until the regulator varies the permit under paragraph (3).
(3) As soon as reasonably practicable after the revocation of the rules, the regulator must vary the permit so as to—
(a)remove the standard rules term; and
(b)include such alternative conditions as it considers appropriate.
(4) In this regulation, “standard rules term” means a term of the type mentioned in regulation 27(2).