In light of the public meeting being held by BATNEEC (Dumfries Ltd), on 22 March 2000, here is the current position of the proposal, both planning and environmental aspects.

At the present time, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), has not received any application for authorisation to operate this proposed process and consequently cannot comment on any detailed aspects of the process or its operation.

Dumfries & Galloway Council has not received any planning application for the process.

BATNEEC Dumfries Ltd has made a planning enquiry in order to formulate a draft Environmental Statement, which they will require to submit with their full planning application. SEPA is a statutory consultee in the planning process.

The firm will also require an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) Authorisation (under current legislation) from SEPA in order to operate the proposed plant. SEPA has suggested to the firm that they make their application for this authorisation simultaneously with their planning application.

SEPA and Dumfries & Galloway Council, in conjunction with other statutory consultees in the planning process, including Scottish Natural Heritage, have formed a Working Group, in order to monitor the development of BATNEEC (Dumfries) Ltd?s draft Environmental Statement. This group will be in a position to identify gaps and/or overlaps in the detail of the statement, thereby providing both the developer and other interested parties, with an authoritative statement of requirement before any planning application is submitted.

On receipt of an application for IPC Authorisation from the project, SEPA will place this information and any SEPA response to a Planning Consultation on its public register at both its Dumfries and East Kilbride offices. It is at this point, interested parties can make representations. For more information on SEPA?s role in this issue contact Stephen Flood tel 01387 720502, or email stephen.flood@sepa.org.uk.

Editors Note
Sepa's participation in the working group and subsequent comments on the Planning Application, once made, will take account of the development of the Waste Strategy Area Group and Area Waste Plan for this part of the country. For details on how these are intended to function please refer to: The National Waste Strategy, published by SEPA in December 1999 - copies available from all SEPA offices