Environment Agency: GB Intensive Farming Permit Risk Assessment Update Issued

• The Environment Agency has updated its intensive farming permit risk assessment guidance, replacing the old ammonia screening tool with SCAIL Agriculture.
• A new 1% ammonia screening threshold applies to farms within 5 km of Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, and Ramsar sites.
• Revised criteria for biomass boiler air emissions assessments allow poultry farms to use pig farm criteria in some cases, potentially avoiding a full assessment.
• A completed ammonia screening assessment is now mandatory for new permit applications or variations affecting ammonia emissions.
• The Environment Agency assesses ammonia emissions against three standards, using specific emission factors, and requires agreement for any bespoke factors.

Lawyers advising intensive farming clients must be acutely aware of these updated requirements, particularly the new SCAIL Agriculture tool for ammonia screening and the 1% ammonia screening threshold for sites within 5km of sensitive areas.

The Environment Agency has issued significant updates to its guidance concerning risk assessments for environmental permits in GB intensive farming, particularly impacting new applications and variations under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. A central change involves the replacement of the previous ammonia screening tool with SCAIL Agriculture, which is now the default method for assessing ammonia emissions. This new tool incorporates updated screening distances, which are determined by mass emissions, and clarifies the overall process and values utilized in the assessment.

Crucially, the updated Environment Agency intensive farming guidance introduces a more stringent 1% ammonia screening threshold for farms situated within a 5-kilometer radius of sensitive ecological sites, specifically Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), and Ramsar sites. This distance, previously undefined, is now explicitly set at 5km in the 'Ammonia screening thresholds' table. Furthermore, the agency has refined its stance on biomass boiler air emissions assessment GB, offering revised criteria. Notably, poultry farms that do not meet the initial set of biomass boiler assessment criteria may now utilize the criteria established for pig farms, potentially negating the need for a full air emissions assessment if those alternative conditions are satisfied.

These revisions are directly linked to updated guidance on 'ammonia emission factors for pig and poultry screening, modelling and reporting,' which the Environment Agency uses for verification. Farmers and their legal advisors must be aware that requesting an ammonia screening assessment is now a mandatory step when applying for a new intensive farming permit or seeking to vary an existing one if the proposed changes could impact ammonia emissions. The clarified guidance aims to streamline the process while ensuring environmental protection.

Farmers seeking a bespoke permit for intensive farming operations are now required to meticulously follow this updated guidance for their risk assessments. The primary objective of these assessments is to ascertain whether emissions from the farm are likely to adversely affect human populations or specific environmental components, referred to as 'receptors.' To facilitate this, the Environment Agency offers pre-application advice, which includes discussions about the permit's scope and content, and outlines the necessary information for the agency to process the application effectively.

A completed ammonia screening assessment is an essential prerequisite at certain stages of the permit application process. During pre-application discussions, the permitting officer will advise on what information to provide to the Environment Agency to assist in their evaluation. This includes details that help the agency determine the most appropriate 'emission factors' based on the specific livestock type and housing system employed on the farm. Applicants can consult the standard ammonia emissions factors used by the agency as a baseline for screening assessments.

Should a farm utilize a housing system not listed within the standard ammonia emission factors, applicants may be required to furnish evidence of a site-specific ammonia emission factor as part of their permit application. While standard emission factors can be adjusted in certain scenarios, any use of bespoke emission factors necessitates prior agreement from the Environment Agency. The agency will generally apply standard emission factors for SCAIL Agriculture ammonia screening unless an alternative has been formally approved.

The Environment Agency's rigorous assessment of ammonia emissions involves evaluating them against three distinct standards to gauge the potential risk of air pollution. These standards are critical for ensuring that intensive farming operations do not unduly harm the surrounding environment. Further details on critical levels and loads, which are integral to this assessment, are comprehensively explained by the Air Pollution Information System, providing a scientific basis for the agency's evaluations.

Lawyers advising intensive farming clients must be acutely aware of these updated requirements, particularly the new SCAIL Agriculture tool for ammonia screening and the 1% ammonia screening threshold for sites within 5km of sensitive areas. The revised criteria for biomass boiler air emissions assessments also represent a key area for compliance. Understanding these changes is vital for ensuring that permit applications or variations meet the Environment Agency's stringent environmental protection standards and avoid potential delays or rejections.

Lawyers advising intensive farming clients must be aware of the updated Environment Agency guidance for environmental permits, particularly the new SCAIL Agriculture tool for ammonia screening, the 1% ammonia screening threshold for sites within 5km of sensitive areas, and revised criteria for biomass boiler air emissions assessments, to ensure compliance during permit applications or variations.

Source: Original reporting via GOV.UK