Anyone operating an activity that is listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Environmental Permitting regulations 2010 requires a permit.

Anyone wanting to operate an A1 activity needs to apply to the Environment Agency, and anyone wishing to operate a Part A2 or Part B activity must submit an application, with the appropriate fee, to us. The permit application is then considered, making reference to government guidance to determine whether to issue or refuse the permit application. If a permit is issued it will include conditions which set down how the pollution shall be minimised.

It's the operator’s responsibility to determine whether the regulations apply to their activity, and, if so, whether it is a Part A1, A2 or Part B activity. Operators should satisfy themselves that they comply with the law.

Regulated processes include:

• Installations or mobile plants carrying out listed activities
• Waste operations
• Waste mobile plants
• Mining waste operations

Listed activities include:

• Energy – burning fuel, gasification, liquefaction and refining activities
• Metals – manufacturing and processing metals
• Minerals – manufacturing lime, cement, ceramics or glass
• Chemicals – manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals or explosives, storing chemicals in bulk
• Waste – incinerating waste, operating landfills, recovering waste
• Solvents – using solvents
• Other – manufacturing paper, pulp and board, treating timber products, coating, treating textiles and printing, manufacturing new tyres

Please note that waste operations or waste mobile plant carried on other than at an installation, or by Part A or Part B mobile plants, are regulated by the Environment Agency, as are mining waste operations.