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EPA Enforcement Summary - 2021
Posted 06/09/2022

The Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) continued its work during the year 2021 while also observing the public health restrictions as a result of the Covid pandemic. In the calendar year, 844 licensed Industrial and Waste sites in Ireland were enforced by the OEE. Due to the Covid pandemic, the OEE operated a blended approach to its inspections throughout the year. Data shows that 22% of its inspections were carried out remotely.

PFOA In Fire Fighting Foam
Posted 06/09/2022

Why is it a problem?

Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes
Posted 19/08/2022

What is EPR?

Faced with increasing amounts of waste worldwide, many governments decided that there needed to be a shift in policy approach which places the responsibility for the post-consumer phase of certain goods on the producer. According to the OECD, Extended Producer Responsibility is a policy approach under which producers are given significant responsibilities, both financial and/or physical, for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.

EPA Clarifies Use of Technical Amendments
Posted 19/08/2022

On the 1st of June 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published guidance as to what facility alterations are not likely to be accommodated by a Technical Amendment (TA) to Waste/Industrial Emission Licences.

Proposed changes not likely to be accommodated by way of a TA include the following:

EPA Greenhouse Gas Projections
Posted 19/08/2022

On June 1st 2022, the EPA released GHG emissions data projections from 2021 to 2040. The Agency projections data have indicated that there is a need for urgent policy implementation in order to comply with the 2030 emissions reduction targets set out by the European Union.

Water Abstraction Must Be Registered With The EPA
Posted 27/04/2022

The requirements for registration of water abstractions are set out in the European Union (Water Policy) (Abstractions Registration) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 261 of 2018). The development of a national register of water abstractions is a requirement of EU law under the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).

Power Generation and Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase by 15% in 2021
Posted 26/04/2022

Background

The EPA is the competent authority for implementation of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) in Ireland.

The EU Emissions Trading System includes large energy users, known as “stationary installations”. These include sites operating in the power generation, cement and oil refining sectors. Also included are large energy users in sectors such as food & drink, pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors.

Who’s Taking Your Waste Refrigerant?
Posted 25/04/2022

Under Irish law, a waste producer retains some responsibility for waste produced even when that waste is handed over to another party. This is also true in the case of waste refrigerants.

As well as having the required training, companies involved in the transportation of waste refrigerant gases/liquids (usually the refrigeration contractor) need to submit a PAN (Prior Annual Notification) to the EPA.

Companies that have recently submitted a PAN are listed here:

EPA Issues Guidance on By-Products
Posted 22/04/2022

Declaring residuals from a production process to be a by-product, as opposed to a waste, can reduce both cost and environmental impact.

The EPA has recently issued step-by-step guidance to assist notifiers on how to submit a by-product notification to the Agency via the EDEN online portal. It includes information on gaining access to the "By-Product Module" and completing the online notification form.

EPA Licence Enforcement In 2021 – Diageo Shows Up On Priority List
Posted 21/04/2022

The EPA recently released its 2021 report on its enforcement activities for the 840 industrial and waste licensed facilities in Ireland and it makes for some interesting reading. The main points are: