DEFRA consultation on Local Authority environmental permitting fees.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is conducting a review of Local Authority (LA) environmental permitting fees and charges for regulation of industrial plant in England.  Consultation closes 3rd November. https://consult.defra.gov.uk/industrial-pollution-control/la-epr-fees-charges

LAs regulate certain industrial facilities providing permits which set conditions to control, minimise or avoid local pollution and which set emission limits for certain activities. There are charges for granting or in certain cases for varying a permit and annual substance fees levied by LAs on permitted operators. The fees and charges levied reflect the cost of regulating activity required for the facility.

The aim of the review is to see if:

• the level of fees and charges are set at the correct level
• there are ways to reduce burdens for LA regulators and/or for industry
• there are ways to streamline administrative processes within Government to reduce the burden on the tax payer.