The Environment Minister for Northern Ireland, Alex Attwood, is reconsidering the decision taken by the previous Environment Minister to oppose the creation of an independent Environment Protection Agency.
Currently, Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without an autonomous unit, even though the creation of an independent Environment Agency has been recommended by a Government review.
Mr Attwood said: "The time is now to revisit this issue and I am calling on key interests to let me have their views on options for a new independent Environment Agency."
Options being considered include improving Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) regulation, transferring all its functions to an independent agency or moving responsibilities from other departments to the Agency.
Friends of the Earth Director, James Orr, welcomed publication of the discussion document, saying, "For friends of the Earth, and the many people who suffer environmental injustice in Northern Ireland, the need for an independent Environmental Protection Agency had never gone away."
