The responses to the consultation will help shape a second, more detailed consultation.
This will provide further details for option 1: attendance linked to charge bands, and other rules associated with the attendance requirements for technically competent managers.
We aim to publish the next consultation in summer 2023.
We received a broad range of views which will help us develop guidance on the attendance requirements for technically competent managers.
We received 75 responses to the consultation:
Operators who apply for an environmental permit for a waste operation must be members of (and comply with) a government approved technical competency scheme. Most existing waste environmental permit holders must also comply with a government approved technical competency scheme through the conditions in their permits.
For operators that show competence through the scheme run by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board, the Environment Agency requires that sites have nominated technically competent manager(s) on site for a specified amount of time each week. This is called the attendance requirement.
The Environment Agency used to calculate attendance requirements using the OPRA risk appraisal guidance. However, except for the sections relating to attendance levels for technically competent managers, this guidance has been withdrawn.
We want your comments on options for changes to the attendance requirements for technically competent managers and on other rules associated with the attendance requirements and implementation timescales.