COVID-19: Environment Agency publishes regulatory position statement on storing treated sewage sludge | Practical Law

COVID-19: Environment Agency publishes regulatory position statement on storing treated sewage sludge | Practical Law

The Environment Agency published a temporary regulatory position statement, Storing treated sewage sludge you cannot move because of COVID-19 restrictions: RPS C6, on 16 April 2020.

COVID-19: Environment Agency publishes regulatory position statement on storing treated sewage sludge

by Practical Law Environment
Published on 17 Apr 2020 • England
The Environment Agency published a temporary regulatory position statement, Storing treated sewage sludge you cannot move because of COVID-19 restrictions: RPS C6, on 16 April 2020.
On 16 April 2020, the Environment Agency (EA) published a temporary regulatory position statement (RPS), which allows sludge producers to store dewatered treated sludge without an environmental permit where COVID-19 restrictions prevent it being moved to agricultural land for use under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1263).
The RPS can be used providing an assessment is made of the environmental risks and the sludge is not stored at the place where it is to be used. Operators should get written agreement from the EA before using the PRS. The RPS does not cover septic tank sludge (which can go to a sewage works) or waste containing sewage sludge (which is covered by the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/1154)).
The RPS means that the EA will not normally take enforcement action provided that operators:
  • Ensure their activities meet the description, and comply with the conditions, in the RPS.
  • Take all reasonable steps to comply with their permits or exemptions.
  • Ensure their activities are not likely to cause environmental pollution or harm human health. In the case of waste activities, operators should not cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals, cause a nuisance through noise or odours or adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest.
The RPS will be withdrawn on 30 June 2020.
For more information on waste permitting and environmental permitting generally, see Practice notes, Waste permitting and Environmental Permitting regime: overview.