News Release Page Title

21 November 2000

SAM FOSTER ANNOUNCES THE POLLUTER WILL PAY

Under the new Water Order, the DOE's Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) intends to introduce charges for industries discharging effluent.

Minister of the Environment, Mr Sam Foster MLA, announcing his plans, said:

"I am publishing two consultation documents today. The first outlines plans to bring into effect the general pollution prevention powers contained in the Water Order 1999.

"The second document is consistent with the principle that the polluter pays. It proposes a cost recovery scheme of fees and charges for those who discharge effluent to waterways and underground strata. All applicants for a discharge consent from the Department will have to pay an application fee to cover the Department's costs in handling the application.

"Those who obtain a discharge consent which is subject to monitoring will also have to pay an annual administration charge. This will cover the ongoing costs of managing the consent and monitoring the discharge. Those with a discharge consent for a limited discharge (not subject to monitoring) will avoid the annual administration charge.

"This system of charges would be introduced in stages. The application fee would be set from April 2001 while the annual charges would follow during the 2002/2003 financial year. Similar charging schemes were introduced elsewhere in the UK in the 1990s.

"In launching this consultation I am taking on board increased public environmental awareness, scientific advances and the requirements of EU Directives."

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The two consultation documents authorised by Minister of the Environment Mr Sam Foster MLA and published today are entitled:

The Department of the Environment's Proposal to Implement its Powers and functions in the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, and

Proposals to Introduce a Cost Recovery Scheme Covering Application Fees and annual Charges for Discharges to Waterways and Underground Strata.

The closing date for consultation responses to both documents is Wednesday 31 January 2001.

The main new or amended pollution prevention measures provided for in the Water Order will:

  • enable the Department to enforce the requirements of pollution prevention notices to guard against pollution and issue works notices requiring persons to carry out anti-pollution works;

  • enable the Department to make more extensive provisions in new pollution prevention regulations which will include industry and agriculture;

  • amend the provisions on applications for discharge consents;

  • give the Department powers to charge application fees and annual maintenance charges for discharge consents and, if necessary, for abstraction licences, to cover its regulatory costs;

  • enable the Water Appeals Commission and the Planning Appeals Commission to hold a joint public inquiry, to consider applications for discharge consents in cases that require consideration by both Commissions;

  • extend the data held on the public pollution control registers to include particulars of discharge consent applications, discharge consent conditions, sampling test data, pollution notices issued by the Department etc; and

  • widen existing powers to licence water abstraction to enable controls to be introduced, should it prove necessary, to protect the aquatic environment in specific catchments or for particular uses or individual abstractions.

  • Further information telephone Paddy Murphy DOE Press Office 02890 540014.