EEF responded
positively to the proposed implementation of the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) Regulation. Our response focused on the appropriateness and workability of the proposals.
Under the proposal Part A(2) activities, will now be affected by the extension to the scope of reporting. We have sought assurance that reporting responsibilities will be made as straightforward as possible; and that, during this initial stage of implementation, local authorities act more in an advisory capacity to new sectors than in a strict regulatory role.
We also argued that the risk based approach to applying quality assessment checks to the data submitted to the various competent authorities by operators must be consistently applied. We consider a review of quality assessment performance by competent authorities essential to ensure consistency and confidence in the process.
We congratulated the Environment Agency for progressively adding to the England and Wales Pollution Inventory over recent years. By managing implementation in a timely manner Part A(1) operators do not have substantial new obligations under UK-PRTR. Operators in England and Wales are therefore well placed to comply with UK-PRTR from the outset.