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Difference Between Civil and Criminal Law
Classification of Powers of Appointment
Director of Public Prosecutions
Jury Qualifications and Disqualifications
Alternative Roles for Solicitors
Private Information Given to Solicitor
Becoming a Solicitor Without a Degree
The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009 came into force on the 1 March 2009 to implement the provisions of the European Commission’s Environmental Liability Directive into the laws of England and Wales.
The aim of the Environmental Damage Regulations is to prevent and remedy damage to land, water and biodiversity. They reinforce the “polluter pays” principle by making businesses financially liable for threats or damage or actual damage caused.
The term environmental damage is defined by the regulations as damage to:
Protected species or natural habitats or a site of special scientific interest
Surface water or ground water
Land
The Regulations apply on land in England and Wales, on the seabed around the UK up to the limits set out by the Continental Shelf Act 1964, and to waters in the Renewable Energy Zone which extends approximately 200 miles out to sea.
The following individuals are affected by and should understand the regulations fully:
Private businesses
Individuals involved in farming
Individuals involved in manufacturing
Individuals involved in construction and demolition
Individuals involved in waste management
Individuals involved in the forestry industry
Charitable and voluntary organisations
Public sector bodies such as schools, hospitals and government departments or agencies
The Environmental Damage Regulations are based on the “polluter pays principle” so those individuals who are responsible for an environmental damage are required to prevent and if needs be remedy damage.
The new regulations have therefore removed the cost of preventing and remedying the damage from the UK Government Environmental agencies and thus the taxpayer.
Obligations are placed on the above operators to put in place precautionary measures to avoid environmental damage and to take remedial action if it occurs.
The aim of the Regulations is to create an incentive to operators of activities that are likely to cause environmental damage to take steps to avoid this environmental damage and to possess adequate funds in the form of insurance to pay for the clean-up of any environmental damage caused.
In order to comply with the Regulations if your activities threaten to cause, or have caused, environmental damage you must:
Take steps to prevent the damage (or further damage) occurring
Inform the Environment Agency or other authorities who will provide information on what must be done to prevent the damage and or remedy the damage
If the Environment Agency has to remedy the damage themselves then the body which has caused the damage will be liable to pay the costs incurred by the Environment Agency.
In England and Wales the Environmental Damage Regulations are enforced by the Environment Agency, Natural England, local councils and the Secretary of State. Which body administers and enforces the regulations depends on the scale of the damage involved.
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