The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (DoE NI) is carrying out a consultation on the draft Water Abstraction and Impoundment (Licensing) Regulations 2006. These have been introduced in order to protect the water environment from damage by such activities. They will also implement the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC. There is currently no specific regulatory control or management of water abstraction and impounding in Northern Ireland, so the new Regulations aim to introduce a regime which will protect the water environment and secure efficient and sustainable water use.
Under the new Regulations, two levels of authorisation are proposed. The first applies to those activities with a minimal risk to the water environment, in which case the DoE NI need not be notified providing specific conditions are met. The second involves activities which have the greatest risks. These will require a licence issued by the DoE NI, which will include any terms and conditions they consider necessary.
All responses to the consultation must be made by 4 August 2006.
