European Union (Large Combustion Plants) Regulations 2012.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: These Regulations may be cited as the European Union (Large Combustion Plants) Regulations 2012.
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paragraphs: These Regulations come into operation on 7 January, 2013.
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paragraphs: (1) A word or expression which is used in these Regulations and which is also used in the Directive has, unless the context otherwise requires, the same meaning in these Regulations as it has in the Directive.
(2) In these Regulations—
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paragraphs: (1) These Regulations apply to combustion plants, the total rated thermal input of which is equal to or greater than 50 MW, irrespective of the type of fuel used.
(2) These Regulations do not apply to the following combustion plants—
(a) plants in which the products of combustion are used for the direct heating, drying, or any other treatment of objects or materials,
(b) post-combustion plants designed to purify the waste gases by combustion which are not operated as independent combustion plants,
(c) facilities for the regeneration of catalytic cracking catalysts,
(d) facilities for the conversion of hydrogen sulphide into sulphur,
(e) reactors used in the chemical industry,
(f) coke battery furnaces,
(g) cowpers,
(h) any technical apparatus used in the propulsion of a vehicle, ship or aircraft,
(i) gas turbines and gas engines used on offshore platforms,
(j) plants which use any solid or liquid waste as a fuel other than the following—
(i) vegetable waste from agriculture and forestry,
(ii) vegetable waste from the food processing industry, if the heat generated is recovered,
(iii) fibrous vegetable waste from virgin pulp production and from production of paper from pulp, if it is co-incinerated at the place of production and the heat generated is recovered,
(iv) cork waste, and
(v) wood waste with the exception of wood waste which may contain halogenated organic compounds or heavy metals as a result of treatment with wood preservatives or coating and which includes, in particular, such wood waste originating from construction and demolition waste.
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paragraphs: The Agency is the competent authority in the State for the purposes of Chapter III of the Directive and these Regulations.
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paragraphs: (1) An operator of an combustion plant to which these regulations apply must hold a current licence issued by the Agency.
(2) In the event of a breach of the licence conditions, the operator shall—
(a) inform the Agency immediately,
(b) immediately take the necessary measures to ensure that compliance is restored within the shortest possible time, and
(c) take any appropriate complementary measures that the Agency considers necessary to restore compliance.
(3) Where a breach of licence conditions poses an immediate danger to human health or threatens to cause an immediate significant adverse effect upon the environment, and until compliance is restored in accordance with paragraphs 2(b) and 2(c), the operation of the combustion plant or part thereof shall be suspended.
(4) In the event of an accident at an installation the operator shall—
(a) inform the Agency immediately,
(b) immediately take measures to limit the environmental consequences and to prevent further possible incidents or accidents, and
(c) take any appropriate complementary measures that the Agency considers necessary to limit the environmental consequences and to prevent further possible incidents or accidents.
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paragraphs: (1) Where the waste gases of two or more separate combustion plants are discharged through a common stack, this shall be considered as a single combustion plant and the capacities added for the purpose of calculating the total rated thermal input.
(2) Where two or more separate combustion plants which have been granted a licence for the first time on or after 1 July 1987, or the operators of which have submitted a complete application for a licence on or after that date, are installed in such a way that, taking technical and economic factors into account, their waste gases could in the judgement of the Agency, be discharged through a common stack, this shall be considered as a single combustion plant and the capacities added for the purpose of calculating the total rated thermal input.
(3) For the purpose of calculating the total rated thermal input of a combination of combustion plants referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, individual combustion plants with a rated thermal input below 15 MW shall not be considered.
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paragraphs: (1) Waste gases from combustion plants shall be discharged in a controlled way by means of a stack, containing one or more flues, the height of which is calculated in such a way as to safeguard human health and the environment.