IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

This Order establishes the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board on 17 June, 1998.

The purpose of this Order is to commence with effect from:

— 16 June, 1998,sections 19 (renewal of licences), 68 (revocation or amendment of licences) and 70 (review of licences) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 (No. 23) for the purpose of enabling him to make comprehensive Application Regulations under that Act, and 22, 24 to 39 and the Schedule to that Act, for the purpose of enabling him to proceed with the establishment, etc., of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board,and — 30 June, 1998, the remainder of the Act which was not commenced by the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 (Commencement) Order, 1998 (S.I. No. 46), but excluding sections 11 and 13 the commencement of which will be considered later.

These Regulations amend the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992 which give effect to Council Directive No. 76/160/EEC of 8 December, 1975 (O.J. No. L31/1, 5 February, 1976) concerning the quality of bathing water. The effect of the amendments is to adjust the number of bathing areas to which the water quality standards, sampling programmes and pollution prevention provisions of the 1992 Regulations will apply, to a total of 130 bathing areas compared with 124 previously.

These Regulations amend certain provisions of the Waste Management Act, 1998 for the purpose of enabling full effect to be given to requirements of EU legislation in relation to waste. In particular, the Regulations enable a waste permit system to be operated by local authorities in relation to certain waste recovery and disposal activities for the purpose of giving further effect to Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July, 1975 (as amended) on waste

These Regulations provide for the granting of waste permits by local authorities in respect of specified waste disposal and recovery activities in lieu of a licence by the Environmental Protection Agency under section 39 (1) of the Waste Management Act, 1996 . The Regulations also provide for the registration by local authorities of the storage of hazardous waste, in excess of specified amounts, at its place of production and for the registration by the EPA of certain waste recovery activities carried on by local authorities.

These Regulations prescribe the day on or after which the collection of waste oils requires a waste collection permit in accordance with section 34 (1) of the Waste Management Act, 1996 . They also provide for other matters including the prosecution of offences by any person, the transfer of waste, the making of waste management plans, the defrayal of costs incurred by local authorities and the provision of information.

These Regulations implement provisions of a number of EU Directives relating to asbestos waste, batteries and accumulators, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), waste oils and hazardous wastes generally.

The Regulations come into operation on 20 May, 1998 and replace and update a number of Regulations made under the European Communities Act, 1972 which are revoked with effect from that date by virtue of sections 1 and 6 of the Waste Management Act, 1996 .

These Regulations amend the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations, 1997, which provide for the commencement and operation of the system of licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency of waste recovery and disposal activities under Part V of the Waste Management Act, 1996 . The Regulations prescribe the day on or after which further specified classes of waste disposal and recovery activity require a waste licence in accordance with section 39(1) of the Act, and provide for related amendments of the 1997 Regulations.