The Client
Our client has an environmental permit with the Environment Agency (EA) and was sent a Regulation 61 Notice. A Regulation 61 Notice sets out the information that is required from a business in order for the EA to be able to carry out a review of the company’s permit, in line with updated BRef documents (Best Available Techniques Reference Document).
BRef documents stipulate particular industry requirements that a company needs to adhere to, and they are produced and updated by the European Commission. This is the regulatory mechanism by which environmental permits are kept up to date with environmental best practice for that particular sector.
The Environment Agency was required to review our client’s permit due to the publication of the revised BRef documents and the associated revised BAT Conclusions for Food, Drink and Milk.
Our client needed help to complete the relevant paperwork, in order to demonstrate compliance with Best Available Technique, and they required support in understanding what the permit required of them.
Client Benefits
We provided a flexible approach, offering two ways of completing the relevant forms: We take and complete the forms, or offer tailored 1-2-1 sessions where our expert consultants cross-reference the relevant BRefs.
Our client opted for a more involved approach of sit-down sessions with our consultant, where they received a breakdown of their BRef requirements.
We explained the industry requirements in layman’s terms, making the process clearer and less daunting. We helped the client to demonstrate their compliance by gathering data and making notes expanding on what the BRef notes really asked of them.
This 1-2-1 approach, where we deconstructed the BRef requirements, kept the client involved with the whole process, allowing them to take a proactive and more independent approach to their compliance.
The Challenges
One of the challenges was to increase the client’s level of expertise around compliance issues, as they had competing health and safety responsibilities, as many operatives often do. We obtained the necessary information from operatives in a tight timeframe, as we understand that such individuals often have uncompromising work schedules.
The Solution
Our flexible approach means that we can work effectively with individuals with tight work schedules and competing priorities.
Regulation 61 identifies gaps where compliance can be improved. Our consultancy was able to help raise areas where our client was not in compliance with applicable legislation, and we completed an Environmental Legal Compliance Audit, to develop the client’s knowledge of compliance concerns.
Getting the relevant information from operatives is easier when everyone is aware of their responsibilities under the applicable legislation. As such, EMS developed the client’s legal register, which outlined legislation relevant to operations and activities. EMS also identified minor gaps in compliance that could be remedied in a cost-effective way. For example, a one-off boundary noise assessment, facilitated by our wide service provision.
Testimonial
Thank you to Becky and the team for all of the time you have spent with us so far. From training to helping us submit our Reg 61 and site improvements, the whole team have been extremely engaging since we began working with you.
