Matt Carthy
Question:104. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if EPA licensing of dairy farms is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41314/20]
View answerTuesday, 8 December 2020
Questions (104)
Written answers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) already closely monitors the agriculture sector.
The Industrial Emissions Directive, 2010/75/EU (IED), is the primary instrument in place to control and mitigate the environmental and human health impacts arising from industrial emissions in Ireland. Under both the IEC and the 1992 EPA Act, activities that require an Integrated Pollution Control or an Industrial Emissions Licence include pigs and poultry operations, milk processing and slaughter houses.
To ensure consistent standards across EU Member States, licence conditions require the use of best available techniques (BAT). BAT standards are prepared by the European Commission.
When a new BAT standard is adopted all licence conditions for existing installations falling under the main activity have to be reconsidered and if necessary, updated to ensure compliance within 4 years. Plant or side operators are legally required to meet emission levels specified in the BAT standard, unless a detailed derogation request based on costs and benefits is received, assessed and formally approved by the EPA.
Before the EPA decides on a licence application under the IED, it must carry out a thorough assessment of the application. This includes, in many cases, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) as required under the EIA Directive, and an appropriate assessment as required under the Habitats Directive. The assessment process is multidisciplinary, involving specialists from different environmental areas such as noise, water quality, and air emissions. Prediction modelling is also undertaken to determine local environmental impacts.
The Office of Environmental Enforcement within the EPA is responsible for enforcement of the EPA licences. The IED contains mandatory requirements on environmental inspections and requires site visit frequencies ranging from every year to every 3 years, depending on environmental risk-based criteria.