PPC Stakeholder Group Meeting

A review of the working of the PPC User group was requested under AOB at the Mtg of 21 Jan 2011, S Bingham to report under item 8.

As the transposition of the IED has moved forward there is a need to engage the PPC USERS Group in the likely outcomes that are being discussed. The likelihood is that the requirements of the directive will be transposed into Scots Law under an amendment  to the existing Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations however the timescale and delivery of this amendment will be carried forward by the Scottish Government and as such all discussion under this item will relate to the requirements of the IED and not the Scottish Regulations.

The principal areas for discussion relate to the impacts arising from activities identified for control under IED, the potential changes in thresholds and the opportunities for movement with regulatory regimes – Part A to Part B, new sectors entering regulation, new standards of regulation, new interpretation and use of Bref Notes and new demands upon SEPA.

Confirmation requested on a new activity :- Non UWWTD Waste Water Treatment Works which will are now identified by IED.

Confirmation requested on the limits and exclusions which will apply to Food Packaging

The Water Framework Directive requires the removal of Priority Hazardous Substances from discharges. The development of the list of PHS has been carried out by the EU over a 4 year period which has led to the identification of a list of substances.

Screening of pollutants was carried out in 2009 this screening is being carried forward to identify high priority sites.

The approach to PHS in the UK is being carried forward in a uniform manner by shared working between the EA and SEPA.

A new EU metals policy is under development – PL will return to the group once this policy is available as a discussion draft.

The CIA requested that interested biodies within the industries represnted be provided with a greater inclusoiun with the UK development process. The CIA then invited PL to address their industry group to discuss PHS.

Internal SEPA guidance on PHS is under development with the final drafts now nearing completion.

Compliance and Assessment Scheme.

Results for CAS were completed for the previous year with most now formalised with most sites found to have positive results. Sites should have been advised of their respective CAS scores. The first year of charging based on the CAS scores is now underway with all excellent site receiving a 5% reduction in subsistence costs while sites which are rated a v poor face a 5% increase in subsistence costs

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CAS will be rolled out to cover other media areas with a manual expected in Autumn of 2011 to cover WML and CAR for2012.

A consultation for the review of CAS is planned for Autumn 2011 to allow implementation of changes by Jan 2012.

Event Descriptions are under review with an expectation that the manual will be available in Autumn of 2011.

CAS figures will be published in mid to late August 2011.

PPC/CAS Stakeholder Event held on 10 March 2011 was deemed to have been a successful and useful meeting for all parties. Some major improvmets to the CAS scheme have been achieved following this Mtg:-

1)       Concern over the ease of movement within the scheme particularly from excellent to poor; A new score table is under development to address this concern.

2)       Concern over poorly worded conditions lead ing to lowering of CAS scores; Licensing project will develop new bank of conditions. Reminder to all to discuss concerns with regulatory staff at time of inspection.

3)       EMC Subjectivity; SEPA to provide more training to aid consistency.

A short survey of the members of the PPC User Group concluded that members found the Mtgs to be very beneficial and welcomed the opportunity to discuss mutual concerns with SEPA staff and other interested parties. All agreed that the Mtgs should continue.

Note if there are any queries on the compliance scheme pls contact:-  sbingham@sepa.org.uk

None raised

RICCARTON Board Room in Edinburgh - 10:00 for 10:30.