Responsibilities environment agencies

The UK Environment Agency deals with over 6000 oil pollution incidents each year. One estimate suggests tliat tlie cheiTtical industry contributes to 50% of all ah pollution witli proportions approximating to sulphur dioxide (36%), carbon dioxide (28%), nitrogen oxides (18%), carbon monoxide (14%) and black smoke (10%). Motor spirit refining is responsible for ca 26% of emissions of volatile organic compounds to the atmosphere. In 1996 there were over 20 000 reports of water pollution incidents with 155 successful prosecutions. 

NRA (national RIVERS AUTHORITY) The National Rivers Authority were the body responsible for the management of water resources and the control of water pollution in England and Wales. They are now part of the Environment Agency. 

The presence of the pressure groups has made some companies nervous about issuing CERs, which depending on the attitude of the company could require it to reveal all. In this respect, FOE UK has established a name-and-shame website where it amasses all the information it can find on emissions, incidents and non-compliance on a company-by-company basis. It is claimed that the FOE website receives many more visits than the Environment Agency, responsible for policing pollution. On the other hand, some proactive companies have seen fit to cooperate with the pressure groups rather than face confrontation. 

Based on an agreement, the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) is responsible for ... 

A central element of Euro-limpacs is the involvement and integration of stakeholders to ensure that the scientific results of the project are of the most practical value to the user community. The user community includes national govermnents, the European Environment Agency, the European Commission, and especially government agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing policy at the catchment scale. 

The government body with responsibility for prevention of environmental pollution in the UK is The Environment Agency (EA). The EA has considerable powers, similar to those of the inspectors from the HSE powers which far exceed those of the police, for example, in their ability to enter and search premises without a search warrant. As with safety, there are many very good reasons for a chemicals company to put every effort into avoiding polluting the environment. 

In 1996 the NR A (now part of the Environment Agency) undertook a review on public safely access to the coastal environment. The overall purpose of that research (Environment Agency, 1996 and 1997) was to assist the authority to define a consistent policy for responding to public safety issues and to provide a system for determining appropriate responses. While this research has not resulted in any formal policy, it is worth noting that as a result of this work the Agency now has a process of Public Safety Risk Assessment which is mandatory for all new EA projects. 

When 200 L of cyanide were spilled into the River Wey in Surrey, England in May 1999, peroxide was added to the river to save the fish. The peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen and raises the pH of the polluted water, causing the cyanide to break down more rapidly. The fish were saved by the additional oxygen added. The Environment Agency s Thames Region now includes peroxide crystals, or sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, in their response kits for cyanide spills (OSHS, 1999). 

The Environment Agency was established in 1995 and was given the duty to protect and improve the environment. It is the regulatory body for environmental matters and has an influence on health and safety issues. It is responsible for authorizing and regulating emissions from industry. 

During preparation of the on-site plan, the operator should consult with the local authority emergency planning unit, the Environment Agency (or SEPA) and the local emergency services, particularly the local Eire and Rescue Service, on the content of the on-site plan to ensure the offsite response available is adequate to deal with the incident. 

Details of on-site personnel with responsibilities for environmental protection and how they will interface with the emergency services and Environment Agency. 

Tlie Environment Agencies of England and Wales (EA) and the Environment Protection Agency of Scotland (SEPA) were established by the Environment Act 1995 and now have responsibility for waste regulation. 

Regulatory waste management responsibilities of the environment agencies... 

Once the waste contractor has been selected, the waste producer should regularly inspect the disposal site. Some companies carry out a Duty of Care visit annually others are less frequent at three years. It is important for the waste producer to ensure they have a current copy of the carriers registration and waste contractor s licence. The most important licence condition that the waste producer should check is that the disposal site is licensed to dispose of the type of waste generated by the producer, and that the carrier can handle that waste. The Environment Agency has the responsibility for enforcing the site licence conditions. Any queries, concerns or unanswered questions should be directed to the Agency. 

The Environment Agency (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) are responsible for both authorising and regulating emissions for industry as a whole and are also responsible for enforcing and providing guidance in relation to any form of environmental pollution. 

The Environment Agency argues that the key to reducing the environmental risk from a fire (or other incident) is to have a contingency or pollution incident response plan in place. The plan need not be expensive to prepare, but could minimise the consequences of an incident. 

Water Resources Act - this iegisiation is in piace to controi discharge to watercourses to avoid pollution. Responsibility for discharges iies with the Environment Agency. It is an offence to cause or knowingly permit ... 

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