IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

These Regulations, which amend and supplement the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations, 1990, change the permitted sulphur content of allowable fuels from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent, and confine the transport of prohibited fuels within the restricted area to loads in excess of 3 metric tonnes in weight.

These Regulations also introduce a requirement that solid fuels may only be placed on the market, sold or distributed within the restricted area in a sealed bag. Information must be printed on the bag or, up to 28 February 1993, on a label firmly attached to the bag, relating to the packer of the fuel(s) and a declaration that the contents comply with the Regulations.

The Regulations come into effect on 1st November, 1992.

These Regulations prescribe emission limit values relating to sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust for certain combustion plants in accordance with Directive 88/609/EEC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants from such plants.

The Regulations also give directions as to the best practicable means for limiting the emissions concerned and specify procedures for monitoring, evaluating and determining emissions.

This Order revokes, with effect from 1st November 1992, the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 (Transfer of Appeals) Order, 1978 pursuant to section 16 (2) of the Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act, 1990 .

These Regulations provide for various procedural and other matters under the Water Pollution Acts in regard to licence applications and reviews and appeals to An Bord Pleanana in these respects. Time limits are provided for decisions on licence applications by local and sanitary authorities and time limits for determinations in the case of appeals received on or after 1 March, 1993 are also provided as an objective for An Bord Pleanala. The Regulations specify the fees payable in the case of applications, reviews and appeals (including oral hearings). Fees are also prescribed for copies of any entry in a register of licenses to be kept by local and sanitary authorities under the Acts.

Part VI of the Regulations makes further provision for the control of discharges of harmful substances to groundwaters in implementation of Directive 80/68/EEC on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances.

The Regulations come into operation on 1st November, 1992.

This Order brings into operation, from 1st November 1992, those provisions of the Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Act, 1990 , which are set out in article 2 of the Order.

These Regulations amend the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1990 in connection with environmental impact assessment for development proposed to be carried out by or on behalf of local authorities. They provide also that the carrying out of works necessary to secure compliance with the Building Regulations, 1991 will be exempted development in the case of certain housing development for which planning permission was granted before 1st June, 1992.

This Order is made under the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967 , as amended, designating the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund as an Organisation to which Part VIII of the Act applies and makes provision for the purposes of the Act as respects inviolability, exemptions, facilities, immunities, privileges and rights in relation to the organisation.

These Regulations prescribe bathing water quality standards and the bathing areas to which they apply, together with the sampling programmes, arrangements for the display of results and the methods of analysis and inspection to be used by local authorities to determine compliance with the standards. The Regulations, 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, replace the European Communities (Quality of Bathing Water) Regulations, 1988 and the European Communities (Quality of Bathing Water) (Amendment) Regulations, 1989, which previously provided the basis for implementation of the Directive. The new Regulations extended the bathing water quality standards, sampling and other requirements to 94 bathing areas.