Closed Consultations
Public consultation
The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory was the subject of a Public Consultation process which was designed to guide the final content, layout of this site. You can view the original consultation here and SEPA's response here. It is anticipated that this site will be developed and delivered in a number of discreet phases and over a number of years to finally provide all the requirements of the Aarhus Convention.
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Marine fish farm consultation
The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) was discussed at the joint marine fish farm industry (MFF)/Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Liaison Group meeting which was held at SEPA’s Dingwall office on the 3rd of September 2004. In order to facilitate the calculation or measurement of the SPRI emission returns the SPRI project team decided to consult with MFF industry representatives on the proposed calculations and the factors and assumptions within them. At this meeting SEPA undertook to prepare a summary consultation paper on the emission calculations listing the proposed calculation method for each SPRI substance. This consultation was distributed to marine fish farm (MFF) interested parties on the 15th of September 2004 and the consultation closing date was set for the 13th of October. SEPA specialists from the aquaculture and marine science teams were also party to this consultation process.
SEPA responded to the comments received from the MFF industry in two parts. Part1 addressed the general comments received on the SPRI project itself and Part 2 addressed the representations received on the proposed substance calculation or measurement formulae for determining annual mass emissions of pollutants from MFFs.
From the calendar year 2005 each company operator of MFFs will report electronically by e mail to SEPA. In February of each year the annual mass emission of pollutants from MFFs will be calculated within SEPA’s SPRI database.
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SPRI General guidance note
A series of sector specific guidance notes have been produced jointly by SEPA and the Environment Agency, working in close liaison with an appropriate consultative committee composed of industry sector experts. The principal objective of the guidance is to help operators submit more reliable and consistent returns concerning their annual mass emissions. The representatives on the consultative committee have been responsible for seeking and feeding back views and comments from within the sector as the guidance has been drafted.
The present notes represent the versions agreed with the industry sector
The Food and Drinks guidance note is related to completing the SPRI return form and also gives general advice on determining emissions released from industrial sites. Technical guidance notes are scheduled for development over the next two years covering inter alia the sector industry interests of combustion, petroleum, metals, cement, lime, incineration, paper/pulp, and chemicals.
The guidance has been produced by the Environment Agency for joint consultation with SEPA with the principal objective of helping operators submit returns concerning their annual mass emissions to air and water.
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2nd Public Consultation on Development of the Inventory
Background
The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) started in 2002. It was designed to ensure that the statutory requirements of the European Pollutant Emission Register were met. In 2003, following commitment given by Ministers in the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive asked the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to enhance the SPRI to include a wider range of activities and substances. The 2003 SPRI public consultation included a question on whether a common SEPA/Environment Agency substance and threshold list should be created. The responses were all in favour.
The Agencies’ 2005 joint consultation
The 2005 public consultation is a collaborative effort between SEPA, the Environment Agency and the Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland (EHS). All three agencies have reviewed and approved its content. At SEPA’s request, the revised UK list includes some substances of particular relevance in Scotland.
The Environment Agency reviews its substance and threshold list every three years. It is now proposed that the whole of the UK should adopt this approach. 2005 is a planned review year for the Environment Agency, and SEPA and the EHS have agreed with the Environment Agency a common UK substance and threshold list for this joint consultation. This common list will enable comparisons of substance releases across the UK . This facility has not previously been available.
SEPA, the Environment Agency and the EHS will continue to work together to ensure that the common UK approach is enhanced and that the respective inventories are developed consistently. This collaboration will also help the UK establish the national Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, which is a future requirement arising from the UK’s adoption of the Aärhus Convention.
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