Submissions to the Environment Agency’s 2017 Pollution Inventory must be made by the end of next month, according to a reminder issued by Vicky Price, a chartered surveyor at the Hereford office of Berrys.
She also urged farmers to get any planned agency-based permit applications, or other changes, sorted by April 1, 2018, ahead of any increase in EA charges for Environmental Permitting services.
The annual inventory provides information about releases and transfers of substances from regulated industrial activities and is required for operators with an Environmental Permit, such as those rearing poultry with 40,000 or more places or keeping 2,000 or more production pigs (over 30kg).
“The inventory can be completed using the online reporting system, Pollution Inventory Electronic Data Capture (PIEDC),” said Ms Price (pictured above). “Alternatively, farmers can complete the paper form and post it back to their local Environment Agency office.”
In addition to helping her producers complete their inventory on time, however, she is also advising clients of the EA’s proposal to increase charges for Environmental Permitting services.
“Public consultation on the new charges is open until January 26 with the aim of implementing the new fees on April 1, 2018,” she said, listing the following rates which farmers could be facing in less than three months’ time.
- Application fee £8,020
- Minor variation £2,406
- Substantial variation £7,218
- Transfer £1,324
- Surrender £4,812
“The current variation application fee of £380 would go up to £2,406, or even £7,218 for larger variations,” she warned. “These are substantial increases and farmers with projects in the pipeline line should consider making permit applications or changes sooner rather than later to avoid the hike in charges.”
Access PIEDC website – www.gov.uk/government/collections/pollution-inventory-reporting
See new EA charges – https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/engagement/environmentagency-charging-proposals-fromapril2018/
