Results of Environment Agency Consultation on Charges
Following consultation, the Secretary of State for Environment has approved the increases and technical changes for the 2006 charging period. Most fees and charges for regulated businesses in England and Wales for 2006 will rise by 2.8%. The main changes to the fees and charges for 2006 are detailed below.
Waste industry charges
An extension of the risk-based approach sees “EP OPRA” (Environmental Protection – Operator Performance and Risk Appraisal) based charges introduced to Waste Management Licensing. 70% of charge-payers will see an increase of 2.8%.
Other Environmental Protection charges
The EA is reinforcing the incentive for good operator performance by introducing compliance rating as an additional component to EP OPRA scores.
• A simpler approach to licensing for WML mobile plant together with associated charges
• A reduction in charges for WML fixed applications
• New charging categories for non-hazardous dredging and deposit of waste in land as a recovery activity - both will be charged under WML and not PPC (Pollution Prevention and Control)
• Risk-based charges for PPC surrender applications in place of fixed charges.
Charges will be introduced that allow the EA to recover costs from operators associated with their licence applications that attract significant comment and high public interest. There will also be increased and additional charges to meet the cost of implementing improved security arrangements associated with high activity radioactive sources.
Water abstraction charges
The EA is introducing a new charging scheme that reflects the requirements of the Water Act 2003. The annual increase ranges from 3% to 7.5%, which includes the general increase of 2.8 per cent together with specific regional costs for things such asset maintenance.
Further information is available from the Environment Agency website at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/444669/587179/504799/?lang=_e
Source: www.environment-agency.gov.uk (accessed 03/05/06)