Consultation paper on ‘The Draft Quality of Bathing Water (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008′
The Department of Environment has issued a consultation seeking views on the draft Regulations needed to transpose the revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) into national legislation in Northern Ireland. The directive requires:
· monitoring, assessment and classification of bathing water quality at inland waters, and coastal and transitional waters;
· the development of a system of bathing water profiles as a means of understanding the risks, which can then to be used as a basis for the management of bathing waters;
· the undertaking of management measures in the event of specified pollution incidents;
· the provision of appropriate, timely and standardised information to the public on bathing water quality.
It is anticipated that transposition of this Directive into national legislation will follow the Directive’s requirements closely, there being limited scope for Member States to exercise flexibility. They are set to come into force in phases, the final of which is due to be 24th March 2015.
The consultation will close on 9 May 2008.
The full text of the consultation can be accessed from:
http://www.doeni.gov.uk/foi_details.htm?docid=4688
Further information about the consultation is available from:
http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/other-index/news.htm?act=d&id=18750&ho=1204647642750
Source: www.ehsni.gov.uk and www.doeni.gov.uk (accessed 04/03/08)