Planning Advice Note 51: planning, environmental protection and regulation

Glossary

Agenda 21 A comprehensive programme of action needed throughout the world to achieve a more sustainable pattern of development for the 21st century. See also Local Agenda 21.

Sustainable Development: The UK Strategy 1994 (Cm 2426).

BAT Best Available Techniques-the main basis for determining standards under IPPC and the PPC Regulations.

BMPs Best Management Practices include a range of techniques which aim to reduce the impact of surface water discharge.

BPEO Best practicable environmental option.

CAR Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2005

CoPA Control of Pollution Act 1974.

Critical group For a given source, the critical group of members of the public whose exposure is reasonably homogeneous and is typical of people receiving the highest dose from the given source.

Critical load A quantitative estimate of exposure to pollutants below which no significant harmful environmental effects result. Critical load maps can be compared with current deposition maps to show areas where environmental damage occurs. Sustainable Development: The UK Strategy 1994 (Cm 2426).

Dangerous Substance A substance contained either in Lists I or II of Directive 76/464/ EEC. The potentially most dangerous substances are contained in List I on account of their toxicity, persistence and bio-accumulation. List II contains further substances which can also pose a threat to the environment in certain circumstances.

Decisions ( EU) Directly applicable in law, but addressed specifically to named individuals, companies or Member States. Not often used in the environmental field.

Directives ( EU) Set out the aims to be achieved by domestic legislation while leaving the way in which this is done to be decided by individual Member States. Most EC environmental laws take the form of Directives.

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment.

Environment Consists of all, or any, of the following media, namely, the air, water and land; and the medium of air includes the air within buildings and the air within other natural or man- made structures above or below ground. The Environmental Protection Act 1990.

EU European Union.

General Binding Rule( CAR) A general binding rule is a de facto authorisation under the CAR Regulations for activities which present a small risk to the water environment. No registration or licensing is required.

Groundwater Water held in water-bearing rocks, in pores and fissures underground.

Harm Harm to the health of living organisms or other interference with the ecological systems of which they form part and, in the case of man, includes offence caused to any of his senses or harm to his property. The Environmental Protection Act 1990.

HMNII Her Majesty's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

HNDA High Natural Dispersion Area.

HSC Hazardous Substance Consent under the Town and Country Planning (Hazardous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 1993.

HSE Health and Safety Executive.

IPC Integrated Pollution Control is an approach to pollution control in the UK, which recognises the need to look at the environment as a whole, so that solutions to particular pollution problems take account of potential effects upon all environmental media.

LAPC Local Air Pollution Control is for prescribed processes (Part B processes) giving rise to less significant air pollution, not subject to Integrated Pollution Control.

Local Agenda 21 Initiative to carry forward action proposed in Agenda 21.

NAQS The National Air Quality Strategy is a system of local air quality management set out in Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. Local authorities will be required to carry out periodic reviews of air quality and assess the present and future quality against the standards and objectives of the NAQS. A key provision of the strategy is that the management of local air quality should be within the remit of local authorities.

NVZ Nitrate Vulnerable Zone.

Permitted Development Rights A form of general planning permission, granted under the General Permitted Development Order, enabling certain types of generally minor development to be undertaken without the need for a specific planning consent.

Pollutant A substance which is present at concentrations which cause harm or exceed an environmental quality standard.

PPC Pollution Prevention and Control

Process Any activities carried on in Great Britain, whether on premises or by means of mobile plant, which are capable of causing pollution of the environment. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 Part 1.

RBD River Basin District- area containing all inter-related water bodies, used for planning water resource management under the Water Framework Directive.

RBMP River Basin Management Plan- water resource management plan for 6-year period, defined in WFD.

Regulations ( EU) Set exactly the same law throughout the entire Union and apply directly in all Member States: they do not have to be implemented by means of national legislation. Regulations are used where it is essential that identical measures apply in all Member States, for example, where products circulate throughout the Community.

SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment.

SEDD Scottish Executive Development Department

SEERAD Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department

SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

SNH Scottish Natural Heritage.

Suitable for Use Principle This requires remediation action only to prevent significant harm or pollution of controlled waters occurring on the basis of a cost effective means being available, taking into account the actual or intended use of the site.

Sustainable Development Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Our Common Future 1987.

WEWS The Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003

WFD The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/ EC).

Wholesomeness Defined for public water supplies in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. Defined for private water supplies in the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 1992.