Consultation on Transposition of Article 6 of the Groundwater Directive
Defra
Area 2B Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London, SW1P 2AL
28 May 2008
Dear Consultee,
Consultation on Transposition of Article 6 of Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC)
1. I am writing to invite views on the proposed approach to transposition of Article 6 of the Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC).
2. In December 2006 a new Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC) (GwD) was adopted and came into force on 16 January 2007. The GwD is a “daughter” of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and clarifies certain objectives of the WFD relating to prevention and control of groundwater pollution.
3. The new Directive requires that Member States of the European Union bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to transpose its requirements. However, the timetable in the WFD requires earlier action on certain aspects of the new GwD and, therefore, the proposals set out in this consultation relate to Article 6 of the GwD concerning “measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater”. Other elements will be consulted on and transposed at a later date.
4. The approach to transposition, on which we are consulting proposes amendments to the 1980 Groundwater Regulations. Anyone who discharges substances which can give rise to groundwater pollution or who are currently regulated under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 will have an interest in these proposals. Amended regulations are also a necessary stepping-stone in bringing groundwater authorisations into the Environmental Permitting Programme.
5. Though complex, the proposed amendments are ultimately not great and the impact for most people regulated, should be minimal and the overall costs are expected to be neutral.
6. The full consultation documents together with a list of consultees can be found on Defra’s website: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/wfdgroundwater-transpose-article6/
- Consultation document
- Consultee letter
- List of consultees
- Executive summary of post-conciliatory RIA
- Extended IA for transposition of Article 6 of GwD
7. If you wish to obtain a copy of this consultation, please contact
Graeme Henton
Water Quality Division
Defra
Area 2B Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London, SW1P 2AL
Email: graeme.henton@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0207 238 5405
Responses
8. Please send response to
Graeme Henton
Water Quality Division
Defra
Area 2B Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London, SW1P 2AL
And copied to:
Water Branch
Climate Change and Water Division
Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff, CF10 3NQ
Or sent by email to GroundwaterConsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk and copied to water@wales.gsi.gov.uk.
9. Responses should be received by 20 August 2008
10. We would be interested in any comments you may have on the approach to transposition and the proposal to amend the Groundwater Regulations 1998 and on any issues which you believe would arise if they were put into effect.
11. Specific issues on which detailed comments would be useful include the following:
- Whether the proposal would deliver workable and appropriate protection for groundwater.
- The practical consequences of taking this approach.
- Any associated costs and benefits.
Any other comments on costs, benefits or impacts relating to the proposal, or on the assumptions in the impact assessment, would also be helpful. Where possible please provide explanation and examples to support comments made.
12. In line with Defra's policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive from English and Welsh consultees may be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. The information they contain may also be published in a summary of responses
13. If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in email responses will not be treated as such a request. The Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or email requests (Tel: 020 7238 6575, email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk). Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours' notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs. For security reasons personal callers must make an appointment to view responses.
14. This consultation has been prepared in line with the Government's code of practice on consultations. Please see link www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/index.html
15. If you have any comments or complaints about the consultation process, rather than on the issues in the consultation paper, please write to:
Marjorie Addo
Defra Consultation Co-ordinator
Nobel House
Area 7C
17 Smith Square
London, SW1P 3JR
Email: consultation.coordinator@defra.gsi.gov.uk
We welcome your views and comments on the consultation document. If you have any queries please contact us as above.
Yours sincerely,
Graeme Henton
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Page last modified: 30 May 2008
Page published:
28 May 2008