Hydrogeological risk assessments for landfills

Starting date: 12 January 2010
Closing date: 6 April 2010

Consultation summary

We would like your views on our guidance on how to do a groundwater risk assessment to support your landfill permit application.  Operators applying for a permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations need to show us that they use appropriate measures to manage health and environmental risks.

We have updated our existing guidance on hydrogeological risk assessments for landfills (February 2003). The update has mainly focussed on ensuring that landfill risk assessments will meet the requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Our landfill guidance aims to ensure that operators target their assessments and do not carry out unnecessary work. The level of assessment required aims to be proportionate to the level of environmental risk. We would like to know if you think the guidance will produce fair and accurate assessments of the risks.

How to respond and view the consultation documents

We would prefer you to respond online. If you respond online or provide us with an email address, we will acknowledge your response and send you a summary of responses after the consultation has closed. We will also publish the summary of responses on our website.

• View the consultation documents and respond online

Alternatively you can respond by post to:

Helen Moorhouse, On behalf of Groundwater Policy, Environment Agency, Richard Fairclough House, Knutsford Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 1HT

Or you can email Helen Moorhouse.

What happens next

After the consultation has closed we will compile a report on the consultation feedback and publish it on our website. This will include all the consultation responses. Please tell us on your response if you want us to treat it as confidential.

Your responses will be considered when we produce the final guidance document.