Welcome to our latest newsletter which we hope you find informative
Our latest newsletter contains information on: Civil penalties for F-gas; Medium Combustion Plants; Environment Agency guidance updates. We can support you with all the various topics so please contact us to discuss your needs! We have also dropped in some non-environmental management related news as well – we know the topics can be a bit dry!!!!
NEW PENALTY REGIME FOR F-GAS VIOLATIONS STARTS THIS APRIL
Following a consultation held during autumn 2017 a new civil penalties scheme will go live as of April this year for infringements of the EU Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulation.Civil penalties can be used instead of court action and, consequently are easier to apply than criminal prosecutions. From the implementation date it will be possible to impose a range of penalties from £1,000 to £200,000, depending on the seriousness of the offence.
Offences are covered under part 29 of The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2015 and refer back to specific articles under the EU regulation. Offences include: intentional release of fluorinated greenhouse gas; placing prohibited products and equipment on the market; breaching quota limits for substances.
Further guidance on F-gas can be found on the DEFRA website.
MEDIUM COMBUSTION PLANTS DIRECTIVE REQUIREMENTS ENACTED
The requirements of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) have now been introduced by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and the Environment Agency are now producing guidance.
The aim of the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) is to reduce air pollution by bringing in emission controls for combustion plants in the 1-50MW thermal input range. The Directive requires all plant in scope to be registered or permitted and sets limits on the levels of pollutants that such plant can emit. It also requires operators to test emissions from their plant to demonstrate compliance with emission limits. The controls will apply to new plant from December 2018. Existing plant must be permitted from 2024 (and comply with requirements from 2025) or 2029 (and comply from 2030), depending largely on size.
In the UK the MCPD effectively plugs the 1 to 20MW gap as 20 to 50MW plants are currently captured under the Local Authority regime (LAPPC); such permits will however now fall under the Environment Agency as the Government appointed regulator and will need to achieve compliance with MCPD requirements. Enjoying our newsletter? Let us know here.
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY UPDATED GUIDANCE
The Environment Agency have been busy this February publishing updated guidance… click here for more.
BILLY “WHIZZ” MONGER STILL DREAMING OF RACING IN F1
Following a crash in a Formula 4 race that resulted in amputation of both legs below the knee, 18-year-old Billy Monger is getting back into racing. Billy has been with the Carlin racing team in Guildford for testing ahead of his F3 debut at the end of March. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Billy said:
“It’s been my dream to race in F1 since I was eight. I don’t see why that should change just because I’ve changed. It’s a big challenge but I like to push myself. The accident has toughened me up and made me realise what’s important. It’s spurred me on to get to F1.”
“I don’t feel like my career path has changed. Before the crash we were looking at F3 as the ideal step up for this season. But I have to pinch myself when I think I’ve managed to get back to where I wanted to be after something so serious.”