The Scottish Setting Safety Company (SEPA) says it’s looking for views on proposed adjustments to how environmental actions are regulated in Scotland.
Earlier this 12 months, SEPA consulted on how a brand new framework can be applied to streamline and simplify the regulation of actions throughout the 4 fundamental regulatory regimes: water, waste administration, radioactive substances and industrial actions, at present often known as air pollution, prevention and management (PPC). General, round 84% of respondents agreed to the proposed method on the kind, tier and wording of the actions and authorisations.
Now, regulated companies, commerce associations and different stakeholders are being inspired to have their say on proposed adjustments to utility and subsistence fees and the authorisation situations utilized to actions regulated utilizing a registration-level authorisation.
SEPA’s two new consultations will inform the following steps for implementing the Built-in Authorisation Framework for regulation of waste administration, water and industrial actions. The framework, established by the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Rules 2018 (EASR 2018), goals to offer an easier, built-in system for environmental regulation that’s simpler for companies and people to know.
Sandra Powerful, Head of Allowing at SEPA, mentioned: “Our newest consultations on regulatory charging and commonplace situations current a chance for companies to have their say and assist us guarantee environmental regulation stays honest and proportionate.
“We wish to hear from the companies and organisations that we regulate, business our bodies, and different people within the setting. Your views will assist us develop an efficient and constant regulatory framework to higher shield the setting whereas supporting companies to make knowledgeable choices about finishing up regulated actions and enhancing the transparency of how we regulate.”
Updating fees and introducing commonplace situations
Whereas most fees will stay the identical beneath the brand new framework, there could also be a rise or lower in utility and/or subsistence fees for some regulated actions the place there are proposed adjustments to authorisation stage or regulatory effort.
SEPA’s charging session outlines the proposed adjustments and explains the reasoning behind the introduction of any new fees, reminiscent of the place a brand new exercise is being regulated. It additionally highlights different adjustments to regulatory charging that can be launched beneath EASR 2018, together with adjustments to charging descriptions to make it simpler to know the costs that apply to a particular exercise.
The session on commonplace situations units out the proposed guidelines that operators should adjust to beneath the brand new framework for actions regulated utilizing a registration stage authorisation. Using commonplace situations helps take away inconsistencies in how companies are regulated, benefiting operators by making a stage enjoying discipline and serving to SEPA help companies make knowledgeable choices whereas making certain the setting is protected.
stakeholders are invited to hitch SEPA at a collection of on-line session info occasions, starting 12 September 2024.
You’ll be able to reply to the consultations on-line by way of SEPA’s Session Hub. The session on charging closes on 13 October and commonplace situations closes on 24 November.
