MCERTS Manual Stack Emissions Testing Guidance Published
New guidance has been published by the Environment Agency for laboratories that analyse stack emissions which have been obtained by manual sampling. Alongside a number of other requirements the guidance requires laboratories to be UKAS accredited to the ISO 17025 standard. The guidance is part of the Environment Agency MCERTS (Monitoring Certification) scheme and is entitled Performance standard for laboratories carrying out testing of samples from stack emissions monitoring. The guidance, amongst others, covers technical requirements, test methods and method validation, sampling and reporting of results. We can assist with all your stack and emissions monitoring requirements – call us to discuss your needs!
Sector Specific Template Fire Prevention Plans in Development
The Wood Recyclers Association (WRA) has begun work with the Environment Agency to develop a Waste Wood Template to help operators in the sector get approval for non-standard site-specific Fire Prevention Plans (FPPs). The template will define acceptable ‘alternative measures’ to ensure that the overall objectives of the FPP guidance are still met. The WRA propose to include appropriate calculation methods for storage and pile sizes for different fraction sizes of wood. The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) has also announced that it is developing sector-specific fire prevention plan guidance. Work on the guidance for the metals recycling industry commenced in January. Fire prevention plans are a requirement under new waste permit applications. At Madexa we are experts in environmental permitting – contact us today to discuss your requirements!
Compliance with European Environmental Law post-Brexit?
A draft negotiating position paper produced by MEPs says that any Brexit deal “must include an explicit mechanism to ensure that the UK is bound to avoid damage to the EU environment, inter alia through trans-boundary emissions and impact on species migrating between the UK and the EU”. The document also warns that the European parliament would vote against any Brexit deal unless the UK promised to maintain current environmental protection standards. Existing legislation, states the document, “cannot simply disappear on the day of Brexit and will require transitional measures” and, in addition “calls on the UK to continue to respect environmental and climate change commitments”. Click here for further info.
SEPA consult on waste recovery for quarry restoration
Following discussions with operators and legal advice, SEPA now believes that there is scope for the issue of a waste management licence for a recovery activity. If implemented, regulatory practice would reflect that already in place elsewhere in the UK. Currently, a quarry restoration project utilising waste materials has been subject to control by SEPA either through a Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) permit for an inert landfill or the registration of an exemption under Regulation 17 of the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (particularly paragraphs 9 and 19). A consultation has started and will close on 31st March 2017. Madexa ERS have extensive experience with waste recovery permits for quarry restoration – contact us today!