The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016

PART 3 Discharge of functions in relation to a regulated facility

Discharge of functions

32.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (7), and paragraph 12 of Part 2 of Schedule 23—

(a) functions in relation to a regulated facility that is or will be operated in England are exercisable by the Agency;

(b) functions in relation to a regulated facility that is or will be operated in Wales are exercisable by the NRBW.

(2) Subject to paragraph (4), in relation to waste mobile plant—

(a) if the principal place of business of the operator is in England, functions are exercisable by the Agency;

(b) if the principal place of business of the operator is in Wales, functions are exercisable by the NRBW;

(c) if the principal place of business of the operator is not in England or in Wales, functions are exercisable by—

(i) the appropriate agency that granted the environmental permit authorising the operation of that waste mobile plant, or

(ii) if no permit has been granted, the appropriate agency in whose area waste mobile plant is first intended to be operated.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies—

(a) where by virtue of paragraph (2) functions in relation to waste mobile plant are exercisable by the Agency, and that waste mobile plant is operated at a site in Wales, or

(b) where by virtue of paragraph (2) functions in relation to waste mobile plant are exercisable by the NRBW, and that waste mobile plant is operated at a site in England.

(4) Where this paragraph applies, functions under regulations 36, 37 and 57 and paragraph 9 of Schedule 23 are exercisable in relation to the waste mobile plant referred to in paragraph (3) by both the Agency and the NRBW.

(5) Functions in relation to a regulated facility of the following description or class are exercisable by the local authority in whose area the regulated facility is or will be operated—

(a) a Part A(2) installation;

(b) a Part B installation or Part B mobile plant, but not in respect of any of the following regulated facilities carried on at the installation or by means of mobile plant—

(i) a waste operation that is not itself a Part B activity;

(ii) a mining waste operation;

(iii) a water discharge activity;

(iv) a groundwater activity;

(c) a small waste incineration plant;

(d) a solvent emission activity.

(6) If the principal place of business of the operator of Part B mobile plant is in England or in Wales, functions in relation to that regulated facility are exercisable by the local authority in whose area the place of business is.

(7) If the principal place of business of the operator of Part B mobile plant is not in England or in Wales, functions in relation to that regulated facility are exercisable by—

(a) the local authority which granted the environmental permit authorising the operation of the regulated facility, or

(b) if no permit has been granted, the local authority in whose area the regulated facility is first operated, or is intended to be first operated.

(8) In this regulation, “functions” includes relevant functions.

Direction to a regulator: discharge of functions by a different regulator

33.—(1) An appropriate authority may direct—

(a) the appropriate agency to exercise such local authority functions as are, and for such period as is, specified in the direction, or

(b) a local authority to exercise such appropriate agency functions as are, and for such period as is, specified in the direction.

(2) A direction under this regulation may include such saving and transitional provisions as the appropriate authority considers necessary or expedient.

(3) A direction under this regulation may be made in respect of a description or class of regulated facility or a specific regulated facility.

(4) A direction under paragraph (1)(b) may only be made in respect of—

(a) an installation, but not in respect of a mining waste operation carried on at an installation, or

(b) mobile plant.

(5) When giving a direction under this regulation the appropriate authority must notify the persons in paragraph (6) of the direction and publish the direction on its website.

(6) The persons are—

(a) where the appropriate authority is the Secretary of State, the Agency,

(b) where the appropriate authority is the Welsh Ministers, the NRBW, and

(c) any local authority or other person whom the appropriate authority considers is affected by the direction.

(7) An appropriate authority must not comply with a duty under paragraph (5) in a case where the authority considers that to do so would be contrary to the interests of national security.

(8) In paragraph (1) (ignoring any direction under this regulation)—

“appropriate agency functions” means functions which are exercisable by the appropriate agency by virtue of regulation 32 or paragraph 2 of Schedule 2;

“local authority functions” means functions which are exercisable by a local authority by virtue of regulation 32 or paragraph 2 of Schedule 2.

Review of environmental permits and inspection of regulated facilities

34.—(1) The regulator must periodically review environmental permits.

(2) The regulator must make appropriate periodic inspections of regulated facilities.

Specific provisions applying to environmental permits

35.—(1) Schedules 7 to 25 have effect.

(2) To the extent that the operation of a regulated facility of a description or class mentioned in any of Schedules 7 to 25 requires an environmental permit, the requirements of that Schedule apply in relation to that regulated facility.