IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

These Regulations amend the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations, 2001 ( S.I. No. 402 of 2001 ), to the effect that 30 June 2002 is the prescribed date for the application of the waste collection permit system provided for under section 34 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 in respect of the collection of animal and poultry slurries and septic tank sludge.

The purpose of these Regulations is to facilitate compliance with the European Court of Justice ruling of 21 September 1999 (Case C-392/96) that the EIA thresholds adopted by Ireland in relation to initial afforestation (70 hectares) and peat extraction (50 hectares) exceeded the discretion available to Ireland under Directive 85/337/EEC on Environmental Impact Assessment in that they did not take account of the nature, location or cumulative effect of projects below these thresholds.

With regard to initial afforestation, the Regulations provide for the introduction of a statutory consent system by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (to coincide with initial afforestation being taken out of the planning control system under the Local Government (Planning and Development) (Amendment) Regulations, 2001 ( S.I. No. 539 of 2001 )). The forest consent system provides for mandatory EIA above the reduced 50-hectare threshold and also provides for the possibility of sub-threshold EIA, where a project is likely to have significant effects on the environment. The threshold for mandatory EIA in relation to peat extraction is reduced from 50 hectares to 30 hectares. Separate Regulations have been made i.e. the Local Government (Planning and Development) (Amendment) Regulations, 2001 ( S.I. No. 539 of 2001 ), to introduce a new planning threshold for peat extraction of 10 hectares. In addition, these Regulations introduce amendments to the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 and the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997 to allow for the possibility of EIA for peat extraction in NHAs and SACs, respectively, below the 10-hectare planning threshold, where a project is likely to have significant effects on the environment.

These Regulations amend the Quality of Shellfish Waters Regulations, 1994 ( SI No. 200 of 1994 ) and require the preparation and implementation of action programmes in respect of all designated shellfish waters.

These Regulations provide for the commencement and operation of a system of permitting of waste collection activities under the Waste Management Act, 1996 .

The Regulations prescribe that on or after 30 November 2001, the collection of waste on a commercial basis requires a waste collection permit from a relevant local authority in accordance with section 34(1) of the Act. The Regulations set out procedures for the making of permit applications, public consultation, consideration by local authorities of submissions in relation to permit applications, and the grant, refusal and review of permits by local authorities. Certain waste collection activities that are subject to controls under other legislation are exempt from the permitting requirement.

These Regulations amend Article 23(1) of the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations, 2000 ( S.I. No. 185 of 2000 ).

They provide that an application for the grant or review of a waste licence may be withdrawn only where the said application concerns a proposed waste activity.

These Regulations provide that 14 September 2001 is the prescribed date by which a waste management plan under section 22 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 must be made.

This Order provides that 14 September 2001 is the prescribed date by which a waste management plan under section 22 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 must be made.

These Regulations revise and replace the Regulations of 1997 and are designed to assist the improved recovery of waste farm plastics. The Regulations impose obligations on producers and suppliers of certain farm plastics for this purpose including obligations, as appropriate, to operate a deposit and refund scheme, to collect waste farm plastics, to takes steps for the recovery of such waste, to register with and provide information to local authorities and to provide information to purchaser. An exemption from these obligations is available to persons who participate in a waste recovery scheme operated by an approved body. The 1997 Regulations were notified to the European Commission in draft form in accordance with EU Council Directive 83/189/EEC