Battlefield Incinerator draft permit - objection period now extended to 20 April

The Environment Agency has now issued the draft environmental permit for the proposed Battlefield incinerator.

This is an expected development. Environment Agency staff refer to Veolia as its 'customer', the EA has invested in Veolia as part of its pension fund, 2008-9:

see http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0709BQDT-e-e.pdf

and appears to considers it its job to issue permits rather than refuse them.

OBJECTIONS NEED TO BE IN BY TUESDAY 20 APRIL. After Safe Waste in Shropshire complained to the Environment Agency about the short period of time allowed to object and which included the Easter holiday, the EA has 'generously' extended this period by 4 days (2 working days) from the original 16 April! . [Note that this is the 3rd time that public consultations for this proposed facility have been timed over public holidays, presumably to deter credible objection as much as possible.]

Environment Agency consults on Battlefield permit

The Environment Agency is to launch a consultation on its draft decision to issue an environmental permit for an energy from waste facility (EWF) at Battlefield in Shrewsbury.

The Battlefield facility needs a permit from the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2007. This permit will make sure that it operates without causing significant harm to the environment and human health.

We have received an application from Veolia ES Shropshire Ltd for an environmental permit for the facility, which burns waste at high temperatures, using the resulting energy to generate electricity.

Having considered the application and all other relevant information and responses, we now wish to consult the public again before we make a final decision. This will allow people to give us their views on the draft permit and explanatory decision document. The consultation period will last for 20 working days from Friday 19 March to Friday 16 April 2010.

Copies of the draft decision document and the documentation associated with the application can be seen on public registers held at the following locations:

· The Environment Agency office at Riversmeet House, Newtown Industrial Estate, Northway Lane, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 8JG

· Shropshire Council, Public Protection Department, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ND

The documents are also available to view at our office in Shrewsbury:

· The Environment Agency office at Hafren House, Welshpool Road, Shelton, Shrewsbury, SY3 8BB

To make an appointment to inspect these documents free of charge during office hours (9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday) call the External Relations Team at Hafren House on 01743 283410 or Shropshire Council’s Public Protection Department on 01743 254157.

Alternatively, people can request an electronic copy of the documents, or talk to a member of staff about the draft permit, by calling External Relations at Hafren House 01743 283410 who can arrange this for you.

The documents may also be seen at Shrewsbury Library or Shrewsbury Reference Library (both at Castle Gates, SY1 2AQ) and at The Lantern, Meadow Farm Drive, Harlescott SY1 4NG.

Any comments on the content of the draft decision document should be made in writing by Friday 16 April 2010 to the Environment Agency, Permit Support Centre, Quadrant 2, PO Box 4209, Sheffield, S9 9BS.

Area Manager, Toni Dumolo says “No final decision has been taken on the question of issuing the permit at this stage. The public’s response to the draft permit and decision is a necessary and important part of the process.

“We will only issue a permit if we are satisfied it contains the necessary conditions and control measures to ensure protection of human health and the environment. Conditions in the permit will also ensure compliance with all relevant EU legislation including strict air emission and monitoring standards for facilities of this type.

“If we decide to issue the permit, this will be only the first stage in our regulation of the facility. When it is up and running, we will monitor its environmental performance, including emissions to air, to ensure that permit conditions are not breached.”

MORE INFORMATION Contact Lyn Fraley or Emily Poyser on 0121 711 5829/5855
(these numbers can also be used during an emergency to contact a duty press officer)

Emily Poyser
Communications Officer (Media)
Environment Agency - Midlands Regional Office

Tel: 0121 711 5855 / 5829
Tel (Internal): 722 5855
Mobile: 07747 472 100
Address: Sapphire East 550 Streetsbrook Road Solihull B91 1QT
www.environment-agency.gov.uk