Environmental operational permitting/reporting

Advice on environmental permitting and associated reporting obligations

We recognise the importance of your knowing when you need operational environmental permits, how to obtain them and to be able to manage permitting issues over time. We provide expert advice on a range of operational permitting issues that can arise in project planning, corporate or other transactions or during the ongoing running of a business.

Environmental permits can target a wide variety of different environmental harms, which can be caused by industrial activities (eg water discharges, air emissions, water abstractions and land based waste disposal). Because of the interaction between the different elements of the environment the tendency has increased in the EU for these activities to be dealt with under combined or integrated permits. The permitting processes involved and the permits themselves have consequently in many cases become more and more complex over time.

We advise regularly on:

• Deciding which permits are required for particular activities and from which regulatory authorities
• Completing applications for permits and supporting justifications and explanatory materials and liasing with regulators to agree appropriate conditions and, where necessary, financial provisions; challenging refusals of permits and onerous conditions attached to permits
• Combining / co-ordinating the processes of obtaining environmental permits and associated planning /zoning consents
• Transferring permits including in the context of corporate or real estate transactions
• The extent of reporting obligations and on compliance with such obligations
• Surrendering permits including advising on obligations to carry out remedial works (eg on surrender of landfill permits or EU Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permits).
  
  

For more information on how we can help, contact a member of the Environment Group.