STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.

S.I. No. 208 of 1999.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACT, 1992 (URBAN WASTE WATER TREATMENT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1999

S.I. No. 208 of 1999.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACT, 1992 (URBAN WASTE WATER TREATMENT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1999

In exercise of the powers conferred on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government by sections 6 and 59 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (No. 7 of 1992) , which said powers were delegated to me by the Environment and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 428 of 1997 ), and for the purpose of giving effect to provisions of the Council Directive of 21st May, 1991 (No. 91/271/EEC)⁽¹⁾ as amended by the Commission Directive of 27th February 1998 (No. 98/15/EC)⁽²⁾ I, DAN WALLACE, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, hereby make the following Regulations:--

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Urban Waste Water Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations, 1999.

2. The Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Urban Waste Water Treatment) Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 419 of 1994 ) are hereby amended by the deletion of Part II of the Second Schedule thereof and the substitution therefor of the following Part:

“Part II

Requirements for discharges from urban waste water treatment plants to sensitive areas. One or both parameters may be applied depending on the local situation. The values for concentration or for the percentage of reduction shall apply.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations amend the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Urban Waste Water Treatment) Regulations, 1994 by clarifying certain technical aspects in relation to methodologies for monitoring for compliance with requirements of the Regulations regarding the discharges from waste water treatment plants.

These Regulations give effect to EU Commission Directive 98/15/EC of 27 February 1998 (including Corrigendum of 2 June 1999, O.J. No. L 139/34).

⁽¹⁾ O.J. No. L.135/40, 30 May, 1991.

⁽²⁾ O.J. No. L.67/29, 7 March, 1998.

⁽¹⁾ Reduction in relation to the load of the influent.

⁽²⁾Total nitrogen means the sum of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (organic and ammoniacal nitrogen) nitrate-nitrogen and nitrite-nitrogen.

⁽³⁾These values for concentration are annual means as referred to in paragraph 4(c) of the Fifth Schedule. However, the requirements for nitrogen may be checked using daily averages when it is proved, in accordance with paragraph 1 of that Schedule, that the same level of protection is obtained. In this case, the daily average must not exceed 20 mg/1 of total nitrogen for all the samples when the temperature from the effluent in the biological reactor is superior or equal to 12° C. The conditions concerning temperature could be replaced by a limitation on the time of operation to take account of regional climatic conditions.”

⁽³⁾ These values for concentration are annual means as referred to in paragraph 4(c) of the Fifth Schedule. However, the requirements for nitrogen may be checked using daily averages when it is proved, in accordance with paragraph 1 of that Schedule, that the same level of protection is obtained. In this case, the daily average must not exceed 20 mg/1 of total nitrogen for all the samples when the temperature from the effluent in the biological reactor is superior or equal to 12° C. The conditions concerning temperature could be replaced by a limitation on the time of operation to take account of regional climatic conditions.”.